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Industry
Tuan Ta
Research Scientist, Innovation, Thames Water
Kempton Water Treatment Works, Innovation,
Feltham Hill Road,
Hanworth, TW13 6XH, UK.
tuan.ta@thameswater.co.uk
Abstract
In the Water industry, almost all is free surface flow. A slow varying water surface is found
when filling and emptying a water storage tank; still slow turbulent flow is found in the flow
distribution channels, and higher turbulent flow is found in the pump sumps. Understanding
the free surface flow is important for the engineering design and for the process
performance optimisation.
Current computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations experience difficulties with free
surface flow problems. Assumptions have to be made to simplify the problem into single
phase calculations. More models using Volume of Fluid method and Eulerian-Eulerian
multiphase are becoming available but, in these models, there remains the uncertainty in
locating the water surface.
ACUSIMs free surface modelling capability is seen as an alternative. This paper presents
the results of current investigations.
Keywords: Free Surface, Outfall, Pump Station, Vortex, Service Reservoir, Water Jet
1.0
Introduction
Many water treatment processes employ an open top tank operating in a steady flow
condition. As the feed and discharge are equal, the water surface is flat and horizontal.
This steady flow condition ensures the treatment processes to have sufficient time to
operate. The flat water surface has little influence on the flow pattern in the tank and, in
most cases, only allows the removal of floatable (low density, air bubbles) objects. The inlet
and outlet are submerged and as the flow is normally low (velocity <0.1m/s), they do not
affect the water surface. The CFD model of the tank simply assumes the water surface as
either zero shear stress fixed wall or symmetry plane with zero vertical velocity component.
Examples of these treatment plants include the sedimentation tank, the dissolved air
flotation tank, the ozone tank and the disinfection contact tank.
Tanks used for water storage are subject to variations of water level. A service reservoir is
used to store clean water in the water distribution networks. The varying reservoir water
level determines both the flow control and the mixing, which are important for reservoir
operation. Storm tanks are used to hold excessive storm water also operate with varying
water levels. The performance of the storm tank operation can only be evaluated if the
water level is simulated accurately. Simulation of the water surface movement using the
Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is difficult because the vertical dimension is normally much
Altair Engineering 2011
smaller than the horizontal dimension. Furthermore, the water level can only be extracted
from a selected volume fraction value (e.g. 0.7), and the result can be different from that of
other volume fraction values.
Tanks used for distribution of flow are normally operated at higher flow (velocity ~ 1m/s) and
have varying water surface. The main objective of the distribution channel is to deliver flow
to many parallel streams at controlled rates.
The feed channel to an array of filters is an open flow channel. The water surface is flat
but with gradient sloping downward away from the inlet end. The design requires an even
flow distribution (variation < 5%) to each unit, which in turn is determined by the water level.
In many cases, engineering formulae cannot be applied because of the complex geometry
of the arrangement.
The distribution chamber is used to distribute the flow to a number of sedimentation tanks,
and again correct feed is essential. The small (~ the inlet dimension) chamber causes the
varied water surface, which determines the discharge over the weirs to the units. CFD
simulation must be employed for the design calculation.
For the distribution of flow in the large pump suction chamber, (> the inlet/outlet dimension),
the flow pattern is determined by the geometry of the tank. Each outlet, which is the suction
pipe, creates a local downward flow. This downward flow then gives rise to vortices if the
horizontal flow circulation due to the local geometry exists. Simulation of the vortices and/or
potential to vortices is required to determine the lowest operating water level of the suction
chamber. Current CFD simulation assume a flat water surface and simply calculates the
potential of vortex formation. For better results, free surface model is desirable.
Examples of the suction chambers include the pump chamber of water intake, the pumping
station and the sewage transfer station.
Higher flow velocity (>2m/s) flow causes a highly turbulent water surface. This flow
condition is found in the outfall and the sewage tunnels. A Multiphase Eulerian-Eulerian
CFD model is required although recently the VOF model has become more available.
In this paper, the following examples will be discussed
Design of an Outfall
Simulation of the pump suction chamber
Simulation for service reservoirs
The comparison of the simulation and the experimental results are visual only. Quantitative
measurements are presented elsewhere.
2.0
Outfall is used to discharge water into rivers or an open flow area. The concern arises when
the discharge flow is high (> 2m/s) as it may cause structural damage, scouring and
flooding. Figure 1 shows an example of an outfall. The flow (>8m/s) is fed at the two inlets
into a chamber and is subsequently discharged over a weir into the river.
Figure 3 shows the result of the simulation for the option using wedges. The simulation was
carried out using ACUSIM software, part of the HyperWorks suite of CAE software.
1. The model was transient turbulent (Spalart-Allmaras) flow and arbitrary mesh movement
option.
2. The time increment is auto between 10-5 0.1s.
3. Gravity was included.
4. The top surface was specified as free surface option with surface tension. Initially this
surface was flat.
5. Side walls and wedges were specified wall and slip as mesh displacement type.
6. Outlet was outflow and slip as mesh displacement type.
In comparison with VOF model, the free surface option of ACUSIM software gives a clear
indication of the water surface, which is required to determine the height of the outfall walls.
At low flow, however, the free surface hits the outlet weir causing severe mesh distortion
error.
Only recently VOF modelling is becoming robust so that the solution will converge.
Eulerian-Eulerian modelling has also developed. The advantage of this method is that the
flow into an empty outfall could be simulated. In both models, water surface can only be
obtained by assuming a value of volume fraction.
5.0 Conclusions
In comparison with VOF model, the free surface option of the ACUSIM software gives a
clear indication of the water surface, which is required to determine the height of the outfall
walls.
It has been demonstrated that ACUSIM is a solution for simulating free surface flow
problems.