Author(s): J. M. I. Jenzer Althaus; G. De Cesare; A. J. Schleiss
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Reservoir sedimentation; Physical experiments; Water jets; Jet mixing; Sediment release; Prototype set-up
Abstract: Reservoir sedimentation is worldwide a problem and requires a sustainable solution. The idea of maintaining sediment in suspension by a jet induced artificial turbulence and releasing it through the water intake was tested in laboratory experiments. Therefore, two jet configurations and the influence of their geometrical parameters and the jet discharge on the sediment release were investigated: (i) a circular jet configuration with four jets arranged in a circle on a horizontal plane and (ii) a linear jet configuration with four jets arranged on a line parallel to the front wall. Turbidity measurements accompanied by flow velocity measurements give information about the efficiency and its reasons. The circular jet arrangement was more efficient than the linear arrangement and reached with the highest tested discharge (ΣQj = 4050 l/h) an evacuated sediment ratio of 0.73. An optimal parameter set was identified having a release efficiency of between 1.5 and 2 compared to no jets, depending on time and discharge. The optimal jet configuration indicates best installation and discharge practice of the jets when fighting against reservoir sedimentation. A pilot prototype set-up underlines the experimentally found promising results.
Year: 2011