Velocity rate of screw streams in the site of submerged vanes

Introduction. The formation mechanism of longitudinal screw streams (LSS) along the upstream and downstream face of submerged vanes (SV) is considered. Acting along with the artificial transversal circulation (ATC), these streams protect the water intake from the channel sediments. The intensities and directions of LSS and ATC depend on the regime of flow, the planned-geometric characteristics of the vanes. Recommendations concerning the purpose of SV’s rational characteristics in the aspect of steady formation of all three protective streams in the flow for river damless intakes are contradictory and require clarification. The purpose of the study is to analyze the velocity rate of the LSS in SV site at various planned-geometric characteristics of the vane and hydraulic modes of its operation based on a physical model with an erosion-resistant channel (without water separation), as well as to determine an efficient range of setting angles of the SV’s to the tray board in terms of formation of steady and intensive LSS along the upstream and downstream face of the vane. Materials and methods. Model physical hydraulic studies and theoretical calculations were used. Five hydraulic modes of SV’s operation were studied, with various planned-geometric characteristics, using the physical model with an erosion-resistant channel (without water separation). The obtained experimental data were summarized and analyzed. Results. Results of laboratory hydraulic studies of LSS velocity rate in LSS site were presented. Experimental graphic dependence diagrams were plotted characterizing the intensity and direction of the LSS along upstream and downstream faces of the vane. Conclusions. A determining influence of the setting angle of the vane to the tray board (bank line) on the intensity and direction of the LSS in SV’s site was found out. Experimentally, an efficient SV setting angle was determined in terms of the formation of steady and intensive LSS along the upstream and the downstream vane face with practically usable direction.