Investigating the effect of a skimming wall on controlling the sediment entrance at lateral intakes

Abstract

Sediment entering lateral intakes depends on the flow pattern at the intake entrance. Using a structure in front of the intake entrance can change this pattern and as a result the entering sediment. One of the effective method to change the pattern and manage sediment entering a lateral intake is to use a skimming wall. The removal of sediments from the intake entrance using a skimming wall led to reduction of sediment volume at the intake. To guide flow into the diversion canal and increase skimming wall performance a spur dike was utilized at the opposite side of the intake channel. In this study, the effect of the skimming wall's angle with the bank, a combination of spur dike and skimming wall and discharge changes on controlling sediments entering the intake, intake ratio and bed topography were investigated experimentally. The effect of a skimming wall with three angles (10°, 14°, and 18°) and a combination of skimming wall and spur dike on opposite sides of the intake were investigated. Conducting dimensional analysis, non-dimensional ratios were extracted and test variables were specified. Results showed that in the case of having a skimming wall combined with a spur dike, the amount of sediment entering the intake decreased by 81%, 78.5% and 76% on average for walls with angles of 10°, 14° and 18° respectively. Combining a skimming wall and spur dike has a higher effect on reducing sediments entering the intake compared with a skimming wall alone by about 15%.