Author(s): A. C. G. Menendez; Ch. L. Andrade
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Sediment; Flushing; Mobile barrage; Intake; Radial gates; Spilling flaps; Spillweir; Lowering; Diversion
Abstract: Experimental results of a 1: 25-scale physical model of water intake works of the Verde river located eastern of the Ecuador Republic are presented. Three radial gates with spilling flaps are the main structures on the stream for regulating headwater levels to guaranty a constant diversion flow to the intake of 9 m3/s to add the hydropower generation of the Hydroelectric San Francisco project. Therefore, several verification and optimization tests on the variants of the water intake hydraulics system both for low and high flood discharges occurring during the hydrological year were done in order to define the best hydraulic performance of the system. The test results of the radial gates and spilling flaps under different operation conditions and the modifications to preliminary design of the intake system are described in the present paper. To reach the diversion flow required for the project the left spilling flap was eliminated and changed for a spillweir and the central and right spilling flaps pivot level were displaced to a lower elevation. On the other hand, as the complement to this study tests that simulated extraordinary floods were carried out and the flushing efficiency of the sediment deposited upstream of the mobile barrage was also qualitatively verified. As a conclusion of the obtained results during the test and data processing, an automatic operation by sensors of the radial gates and spilling flaps in relations with the regulations of headwater level is recommended for the prototype.
Year: 2005