1. What is the Capacity-Inflow Ratio?

The Capacity-Inflow Ratio (CI) is the ratio of the reservoir capacity to the total inflow of water in the reservoir. It provides important information about the storage capacity relative to the water inflow rate, helping in reservoir management and water resource planning.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Capacity-Inflow Ratio formula:

Where:

• \( CI \) — Capacity-Inflow Ratio
• \( C \) — Capacity of Reservoir (m³)
• \( I \) — Inflow Rate (m³/s)

Explanation: The formula calculates the ratio between the reservoir's storage capacity and the rate at which water flows into the reservoir, providing a dimensionless value that indicates the relationship between storage and inflow.

3. Importance of Capacity-Inflow Ratio

Details: The Capacity-Inflow Ratio is crucial for reservoir design, water resource management, flood control planning, and determining the efficiency of water storage systems. A higher ratio indicates greater storage capacity relative to inflow, which can be beneficial for drought mitigation.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the reservoir capacity in cubic meters (m³) and the inflow rate in cubic meters per second (m³/s). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a high Capacity-Inflow Ratio indicate?
A: A high CI ratio indicates that the reservoir has substantial storage capacity relative to the inflow rate, which can provide better water security during dry periods.

Q2: What is a typical range for Capacity-Inflow Ratio?
A: The ratio varies significantly depending on the reservoir's purpose and location. There's no fixed "normal" range as it depends on specific hydrological conditions and reservoir design objectives.

Q3: How is reservoir capacity measured?
A: Reservoir capacity is typically calculated using topographic surveys and bathymetric mapping to determine the volume of water that can be stored at different water levels.

Q4: What factors affect inflow rate?
A: Inflow rate is influenced by precipitation patterns, watershed characteristics, seasonal variations, land use changes, and climate conditions in the catchment area.

Q5: Can this ratio be used for flood control planning?
A: Yes, the Capacity-Inflow Ratio is an important parameter in flood control planning as it helps determine how much floodwater a reservoir can store relative to the inflow during storm events.