Assessment and Prediction of Air Entrainment and Geyser Formation in a Bottom Outlet: Field Observations and CFD Simulation

Abstract

Air entrainment at the intake of a bottom outlet often gives rise to air pockets in its conduit and formation of geysers. The outlet in question comprises a bulkhead gate, gate shaft, horizontal conduit, and exit. Operations show that it suffers from appreciable flow fluctuations and blowouts in the tailwater, which leads to gate operation restrictions. For the purpose of understanding the hydraulic phenomenon, both prototype discharge tests and three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of two-phase flows are performed. The operational focus of the facility are small and large gate openings. The CFD results reveal that, with air entrained in the gate shaft, continual breakup and coalescence of air bubbles in the conduit typify the flow. At small openings below 1 meter, the air–water flow is characterized by either distinct blowouts of regular frequency or continuous air release. In terms of geyser behaviors inclusive of frequency, the agreement is good between field and numerical studies. At large openings, the gate becomes fully submerged, and the flow is discharged without air entrainment and blowouts. The paper showcases the air–water flow features in a typical bottom outlet layout in Sweden, which is intended to serve as an illustration of the study procedure for other similar outlets.