Experimental investigation of 90° intake flow patterns with and without submerged vanes under sediment feeding conditions

Abstract

In this study, two experiments were conducted in a 90° water intake to study 3D flow patterns and sediment distribution using submerged vanes under sediment feeding and live-bed conditions. One column three vanes were installed at a 20° angle maintaining for a water discharge ratio of qr ≈ 0.1. Three-dimensional mean and turbulent velocity components of flow in a 90° channel intake were measured using acoustic Doppler velocimetry (ADV). Flow characteristics of the intake structure area with no vanes were compared with these conditions. Results showed that three vanes with a single column reduced the amount of sediment by 20% during intake diversion. In the downstream corner of the intake, high velocities were measured where scouring occurred. The vanes affected the intensity of secondary flow, turbulence energy, flow separation, and moved sediment deposition downstream of the main channel.