Water delivery performance of Baffle modules using 3D simulation

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of volumetric water delivery structures in irrigation networks is to deliver a semi-constant discharge in a range of water level fluctuations. Neyrpic modules are one of these types of structures used in many countries around the world. In field conditions, they indicate diverse performance in different water level fluctuations. The Baffle module is another structure that has been extensively studied experimentally to be used in low discharges. In this study, the performances of Baffle modules at high discharges were determined using 3D numerical simulation. Preliminary tests determined the appropriate mesh sizes and the turbulence model to be used in the final simulations. The applicability of the numerical model was first verified by comparing its results with that of experimentally available data. Then, it was used to evaluate the applicability of Baffle modules of higher discharges, and the results were compared with that of Neyrpic modules acting under the same flow conditions. The study revealed promising results for applying Baffle modules for higher discharges and indicated many aspects of the usefulness of numerical simulation among which limiting the required number of the experimental tests could be highlighted.