Pollutant mixing and transport process via diverse transverse release positions in a multi-anabranch river with three braid bars

Abstract

A multi-anabranch river with three braid bars is a typical river pattern in nature, but no studies have been conducted to describe mixing characteristics of pollutants in the river. In this study, a physical model of a typical multi-anabranch river with three braid bars was established to explore the pollutant mixing characteristics in different branches. The multi-anabranch reach was separated into seven branches, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, and B7, by three braid bars. Five tracer release positions located 2.9 m upstream from the inlet section of the multi-anabranch reach were adopted, and the distances from the five positions to the left bank of the upstream main channel were 1/6B, 1/3B, 1/2B, 2/3B, and 5/6B(B is the width of the upstream main channel), respectively. The longitudinal velocities and pollutant concentrations in the seven branches were measured. The planar flow field and mixing characteristics of pollutants from the bottom to the surface in the multi-anabranch river were obtained and analyzed. The results show that the pollutant release positions are the main influencing factors in the pollutant transport process, and the diversion points and pollutant release positions jointly influence the percentage ratios of the pollutant fluxes in branches B1, B2, and B3 to the pollutant flux in the upstream main channel.