Hydraulics of Circular Bottom Intake Orifices

Abstract

In this study, the hydraulic characteristics of circular bottom intake orifices were investigated in a hydraulic model. The structure diverts the river-flow to a hydroelectric power plant through circular orifices located at the bottom of the channel. In the model, a series of circular holes of various diameters and locations at the bottom of a channel in the form of single and multiple holes were tested for different flowrates and screen angles (theta) to determine the flow diverting capacity of them. Discharges passing through orifices at known locations (x) and diameters (d) and screen slopes (theta) were measured and recorded along with the related main channel flow rates and depths (h). Using the dimensional analysis approach, an expression for the flow rate diverted from the main channel was derived as a function of related parameters, and their variations with each other were presented graphically and empirical equations were determined. Referring to the graphs and empirical equations, one can determine the discharge capacity of single and multiple intake orifices, which is important to calculate the amount of flow to be diverted from the main channel within the ranges of the related parameters used in this study.