Numerical and Experimental Analysis of the Effect of Flow Discharge Ratio on Flow Separation at 45 Degree Open End Water Intake

Flow separation at water intake is the main cause of head loss and flow discharge reduction. As a result, study of shape and size of separation is very essential when designing an optimum water intake. Water intake is normally built with a 90 degree angle to the main channel flow direction. However, the flow structure in this type of water intake consists of large separation size along with vortex generation. In this study, the effect of the ratio of discharge at water intake to the main channel discharge (Qr) on the location and size of separation is investigated numerically and experimentally. The velocity of the flow at each point is measured in two dimensions using electromagnetic velocity meter. The results from the experimental data indicate that the location and shape of separations are a function of flow discharge ratio (Qr). These results also indicate that at higher ratios of flow discharge, the separation occurs downstream the water intake, whereas at lower flow discharges, the flow separation occurs upstream the water intake. Additionally, the capabilites of numerical turbulence computation models including standard k-e and RNG k-e models are investigated in this study. The computed flow velocity from the turbulence models showed that the result of standard k-e model is approximately close to the experimental data when compared with RNG k-e model