Abstract
Existing studies on sediment retention ponds (SRPs) have examined the effects of pond layout, inlet and outlet geometry and the installation of baffles on the performance of the SRPs. However, the effects of a temperature difference between the ambient water in the pond and the inflow are often neglected, and the buoyancy forces arising from these differences in temperature can potentially change the flow in the pond and hence its hydraulic performance. This study has experimentally evaluated the effect of these temperature differences on the flow field and residence time in a retention pond for a range of temperature differences. As expected a cold inflow sinks to the bottom of the pond while a hot inflow remains at the surface, but in both cases the inflow flows more rapidly towards the outlet than is the case for isothermal inflow. A counter-current was observed at the bottom or the surface of the pond for colder or hotter influents, respectively. These thermally induced flows significantly reduced the residence time of the pond, reducing the hydraulic performance of the pond and causing severe short-circuiting. The results have also shown that the temperature differences in the pond decrease with time, yet small temperature differences persist with the pond remaining thermally stratified.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.