Turbulent Flow in the Vicinity of Side Weirs in Subcritical Conditions

Abstract

Side weirs are installed on the main channels wall in sewage disposal systems and irrigation networks to divert the flow. In this paper, the flow pattern in rectangular channels along a side weir is predicted using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) scheme and the standard k–ε and RNG k–ε turbulence models. A comparison between the numerical and experimental results shows the high accuracy of the numerical model. For example, the values of root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute relative error (MARE) and correlation coefficient (R) for the lateral velocity on z = 0.183 m level are calculated 3.782, 0.399 and 0.993, respectively. According to the simulation results, as the flow approaches to the side weir plane the flow field pressure decreases suddenly and at the end of the side weir the pressure increases. Also, by advancing the flow towards the downstream of the side weir the turbulent kinetic energy of the flow within the rectangular channel decreases. For all levels, the turbulent length scale value suddenly increases by reaching the flow to the end of the side weir.