The flow patterns and sediment deposition in the forebay of a forward-intake pumping station

Abstract

In Northwest China, the concentration of sediment in the Yellow River is high. The flow patterns in the forebay and inlet tank of a pumping station on the river are disordered, and sediment deposition endangers the normal operation and safety of the pumping station. To address this problem, the three-dimensional two-phase water–sediment flow in the forebay of the pumping station is modeled using fluid simulation software, and diagrams of the sediment content and velocity streamline in the flow layers of different sections are obtained. Combined with the multiphase flow theory of mixtures and the realizable [Formula: see text] turbulent kinetic energy equation, the location and formation mechanism of each vortex, as well as the area and degree of sediment deposition in the forebay, are analyzed. The actual engineering and numerical simulation results are compared to verify the accuracy of the simulation, and the operating conditions of each pump port under different unit operating conditions are proposed. The results show that the deposition of sediment has different effects on the outlets of the pumps, but its impact on pump Nos. 4, 5, and 6 is small. After desilting, the velocity uniformity and deflection angle of pumps 4, 5, and 6 are improved to a certain extent. This study provides specific guidance for the construction and reconstruction of a pumping station forebay to avoid the impacts of backflow areas and sediment deposition to a certain extent.

Numerical Analysis of Water–Sediment Flow Fields within the Intake Structure of Pumping Station under Different Hydraulic Conditions

“…Pump stations have played a very significant role in flood control and drainage, agricultural irrigation, and interbasin water transfer. Due to special geological characteristics, the annual average sediment content of the Yellow River is as high as 30-150 kg/m 3 , the highest worldwide [1,2]. Therefore, in the arid area of northwest China, the safe and efficient operation of pumping stations in the Yellow River Basin has been greatly threatened.…”

“…Cundong Xu et al [21] reconstructed the 3D geometric model of the intake structure using reverse engineering techniques, which can more realistically restore the structural dimensions and siltation morphology of the research object and reduce the distortions of numerical simulations using design dimensions. Haidong Wang et al [2] explored the mechanism of vortices and sediment deposition in the forebay of the pumping station through numerical simulation. They applied ADCP to measure the in situ flow field, which verified the reliability of the numerical simulation.…”

Analyzing Water and Sediment Flow Patterns in Circular Forebays of Sediment-Laden Rivers

“…Therefore, it becomes imperative to implement judicious measures to address flow pattern concerns in the forebay and minimize sediment accumulation [5]. The ultimate aim of these measures is to optimize forebay flow patterns, increase the sustainability of engineering use, and inhibit the occurrence of countercurrents and vortices while effectively mitigating sediment deposition [6].…”