Experimental Analysis of Temperature-Control Curtain Regulating Outflow Temperature in a Thermal-Stratified Reservoir

Abstract

The construction of reservoir dams has changed the environment and natural properties of the river course, and deep-water reservoirs present an obvious phenomenon of thermal stratification. Low-temperature outflow water in spring and summer will have a negative impact on the downstream ecological environment. Therefore, it is necessary to take selective withdrawal measures to regulate low-temperature outflow water. The temperature-control curtain project has the advantages of low cost, convenient construction and wide application. Based on the topographic data, a laboratory test model for regulating outflow temperature by a temperature-control curtain is established. A high-power electric heating system is adopted to form a nonlinear thermal stratification. The accuracy of the test data is verified by the prototype observed water temperature. The main parameters affecting the outflow temperature are investigated, including thermal stratification, flow height above the temperature-control curtain, water level, and discharge flow. The results show the following: firstly, the outflow temperature mainly depends on the thermal stratification, decreases with the increase of water level, and increases with the increase of discharge flow; secondly, the effect of a temperature-control curtain on improving the outflow temperature is directly related to the thermal stratification in different months, and the improvement effect is better in spring and summer; finally, the improvement effect increases with the decrease of flow height above the temperature-control curtain, increases with the increase of water level, and decreases with the increase of discharge flow.