Experimental Validation of Numerical Model of Flow in Pump-Intake Bays

Rajendran, Veera; Constantinescu, George; Patel, V. C.

doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9429(1999)125:11(1119)

Cited by 69 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Vortex formation has been a subject of research interest [15]- [17] as vortices can be both useful, such as for cyclone separators [18], [19], and harmful, such as to hydraulic machinery and structures in hydropower plants [20], [21]. However, the application of vortices for hydropower generation, GVHP, has not been considered in detail to date.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Parametric Experimental Investigation of the Operating Conditions of Gravitational Vortex Hydropower (GVHP)

Power¹,

McNabola²,

Coughlan³

2015

JOCET

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Abstract-Globalenergy consumption is growing considerably, raising such issues as increased energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, reduced security of supply, and growing fuel costs. Renewable resources, such as hydropower, offer an alternative energy source to meet the growing demand. Small hydropower (SHP) has been a major focus of hydropower research in recent years, as many of the large scale hydroelectric opportunities around the world have already been exploited. In particular, low head SHP is gaining interest as traditional turbines, such as the Kaplan and Pelton turbines, are typically limited to heads greater than 3m. Gravitational vortex hydropower (GVHP) is one such low head hydropower solution. GVHP exploits the energy available in a vortex flow, enabling hydropower generation at heads as low as 0.7m. A vertical axis turbine is placed in the centre of a vortex flow and rotates with the flow, thus generating mechanical energy. This paper describes a parametric experimental investigation of the operating conditions of GVHP. Various flow rates, inlet conditions, blade sizes and blade numbers were tested and the turbine rotational speed, vortex height and applied resistance force were recorded for each setting. The power input, power output and efficiency were then calculated and compared for the various settings. It was found that the turbine efficiency increases with blade size and blade number for the blade configurations tested. Maximum power outputs were found for the largest flow rate tested and when there was a considerable resistance force applied to the turbine. Finally, of three inlet heights tested, a height of 25 cm above the tank base (35% of the overall tank height) was found to be optimum for turbine performance. These results have implications both for future research and for practice, with energy generating applications in low head rivers and in wastewater networks.Index Terms-Clean energy, experimental model, gravitational vortex hydropower (GVHP), low head, new energy device.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Parametric Experimental Investigation of the Operating Conditions of Gravitational Vortex Hydropower (GVHP)

Power¹,

McNabola²,

Coughlan³

2015

JOCET

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“…The discharge headers of the FSC pumps are represented by two 90 o elbows, and there are 15 and 18 cells along the perimeter and length, respectively, of each elbow. This representation of a pump is similar to that used by Rajendran et al (1999), Ansar et al (2000) and Constantinescu and Patel (2000) for simulating pump-sump hydrodynamics. Note that the 0.5 m-diameter pipe transporting fish from the FSC to the holding tank ( Figure 1) was not considered, as its submerged depth is very small.…”

Section: Description Of Computational Meshmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, most turbulence models, including the k-e, do not compute the correct location and strength of eddies (Rajendran et al, 1999;Constantinescu and Patel, 2000;Khan et al, 2006). The errors in the predicted location of eddies are generally small.…”

Section: Velocity Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Computational fluid dynamics modelling of forebay hydrodynamics created by a floating juvenile fish collection facility at the Upper Baker River Dam, Washington

Khan¹,

Roy²,

Rashid³

2008

River Research & Apps

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The Upper Baker River Dam utilizes a combination of a floating surface collector (FSC) and a guide net to facilitate the downstream migration of anadromous juvenile fish. The FSC generates attraction currents by withdrawing water from the forebay, upstream of the guide net. The withdrawn water is discharged at the rear of the FSC by two pumps. A three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the forebay of the dam is presented in this paper. The objective was to investigate forebay hydrodynamics generated by the FSC and operation of the powerhouse. The CFD model, consisting of approximately one million computational cells, was validated against field data. Model results were analyzed, using a recently proposed strain-velocity-pressure (SVP) hypothesis, to identify hydrodynamic cues responsible for attracting juvenile fish to the FSC. The CFD model indicates that the FSC pumps generated high velocity jets dominate the circulation pattern downstream of the guide net. Upstream of the guide net, the velocities are weak, except in the region impacted by attraction currents. The sweeping and normal velocities on the guide net are smaller than those suggested by regulatory agencies for designing screens at juvenile fish collection facilities.

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“…Their results showed that the numerical model can reproduce the flow pattern in a sump pump but should be validated with experimental observations. Rajendran et al [4] installed a vertical suction pipe in a rectangular channel, measured the flow characteristics with a particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiment, and performed a numerical analysis. Rajendran and Patel [5] performed detailed measurements of vortices in the pump intake bay of a laboratory model comprising a vertical intake pipe with a bell mouth by PIV to improve the understanding of vortex formation in the bay.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effective Height of a Floor Splitter Anti-Vortex Device under Varying Flow Conditions

Park

Rhee

2016

Preprint

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Abstract:A pump station is a very important flood control facility for mitigating inundation of urban lowland areas. It is not easy to secure a site to increase the capacity of a pump station in an urban area because of various limitations or to maximize the discharge capacity of the pump sump. Adding a facility to improve the pump capacity of a pump station may affect the flow characteristics, such as unexpected increases in the flow velocity and vorticity, and cause severe problems with operating the pump station. To solve those problems, anti-vortex devices (AVDs) have been developed and adopted for appropriate design standards. The Korean design criteria for AVDs are based on experience and foreign standards because not enough data on the AVD are available. In this study, the flow in the sump was numerically simulated at various AVD heights to collect information on improving the design and efficiency of a pump station. Consequently, an appropriate height for the AVD and changes in the flow pattern and vortex in the pump sump were determined and compared with 12 cases of inflow conditions with respect to the vertical location.

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Experimental Validation of Numerical Model of Flow in Pump-Intake Bays

Cited by 69 publications

References 6 publications

A Parametric Experimental Investigation of the Operating Conditions of Gravitational Vortex Hydropower (GVHP)

A Parametric Experimental Investigation of the Operating Conditions of Gravitational Vortex Hydropower (GVHP)

Computational fluid dynamics modelling of forebay hydrodynamics created by a floating juvenile fish collection facility at the Upper Baker River Dam, Washington

Effective Height of a Floor Splitter Anti-Vortex Device under Varying Flow Conditions

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