Análisis hidráulico de una estructura aforadora de garganta larga para flujo con sedimentos utilizando CFD

Abstract

Introduction: There are many flumes available, but few have been designed for flow measurement in natural streams, where natural erosion leads to increased sediment levels, causing erroneous readings. Objective: Analyzing the hydraulic behavior of a modified long-throated flume to determine the optimal location for taking readings in the presence of excessive sediment, using the programs HEC-RAS® v.5.0.7, Iber® v.2.5.2 and ANSYS® CFX® v.2020 R2. Methodology: In this study, a long-throated flume was designed and analyzed for a maximum flow rate of 50 L∙s-1 using the WinFlume® v.1.0.6 program. Four structures were constructed, each equipped with a steeper slope of 5 %, 10 %, 20 %, and 30 %, and an additional four variants were implemented with a reduction in the hydraulic area at the throat inlet. Five measurement locations were chosen starting from the beginning of the steeper slope for a hydraulic analysis in one, two, and three dimensions. Result: The optimal location for plotting flow (Q) vs. flow depth (h) curves is located at 2/5 parts at the start of the steeper slope, with a slope of 10 % and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.99986. Limitations of the study: The geometric models of the proposed flume have only been analyzed numerically, so a second stage at the laboratory level must be carried out. Originality: There is a limited number of studies dedicated to the analysis of long-throated flumes operating under conditions with sediment-laden flows Conclusions: A long-throated flume with a steeper slope proves to be a practical solution for decision-making concerning water management, aiming to enhance its efficiency.