Numerical Modeling of Venturi Flume

In order to measure flow rate in open channels, including irrigation channels, hydraulic structures are used with a relatively high degree of reliance. Venturi flumes are among the most common and efficient type, and they can measure discharge using only the water level at a specific point within th...

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Main Authors: Mehdi Heyrani, Abdolmajid Mohammadian, Ioan Nistor, Omerul Faruk Dursun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
Series:Hydrology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/8/1/27
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author Mehdi Heyrani
Abdolmajid Mohammadian
Ioan Nistor
Omerul Faruk Dursun
author_facet Mehdi Heyrani
Abdolmajid Mohammadian
Ioan Nistor
Omerul Faruk Dursun
author_sort Mehdi Heyrani
collection DOAJ
description In order to measure flow rate in open channels, including irrigation channels, hydraulic structures are used with a relatively high degree of reliance. Venturi flumes are among the most common and efficient type, and they can measure discharge using only the water level at a specific point within the converging section and an empirical discharge relationship. There have been a limited number of attempts to simulate a venturi flume using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools to improve the accuracy of the readings and empirical formula. In this study, simulations on different flumes were carried out using a total of seven different models, including the standard k–ε, RNG k–ε, realizable k–ε, k–ω, and k–ω SST models. Furthermore, large-eddy simulation (LES) and detached eddy simulation (DES) were performed. Comparison of the simulated results with physical test data shows that among the turbulence models, the k–ε model provides the most accurate results, followed by the dynamic k LES model when compared to the physical experimental data. The overall margin of error was around 2–3%, meaning that the simulation model can be reliably used to estimate the discharge in the channel. In different cross-sections within the flume, the k–ε model provides the lowest percentage of error, i.e., 1.93%. This shows that the water surface data are well calculated by the model, as the water surface profiles also follow the same vertical curvilinear path as the experimental data.
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spelling doaj.art-ee20eb9c77ea46dc8d29e58a920510e22023-12-03T12:24:22ZengMDPI AGHydrology2306-53382021-02-01812710.3390/hydrology8010027Numerical Modeling of Venturi FlumeMehdi Heyrani0Abdolmajid Mohammadian1Ioan Nistor2Omerul Faruk Dursun3Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, CanadaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Inonu University, 44280 Malatya , TurkeyIn order to measure flow rate in open channels, including irrigation channels, hydraulic structures are used with a relatively high degree of reliance. Venturi flumes are among the most common and efficient type, and they can measure discharge using only the water level at a specific point within the converging section and an empirical discharge relationship. There have been a limited number of attempts to simulate a venturi flume using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools to improve the accuracy of the readings and empirical formula. In this study, simulations on different flumes were carried out using a total of seven different models, including the standard k–ε, RNG k–ε, realizable k–ε, k–ω, and k–ω SST models. Furthermore, large-eddy simulation (LES) and detached eddy simulation (DES) were performed. Comparison of the simulated results with physical test data shows that among the turbulence models, the k–ε model provides the most accurate results, followed by the dynamic k LES model when compared to the physical experimental data. The overall margin of error was around 2–3%, meaning that the simulation model can be reliably used to estimate the discharge in the channel. In different cross-sections within the flume, the k–ε model provides the lowest percentage of error, i.e., 1.93%. This shows that the water surface data are well calculated by the model, as the water surface profiles also follow the same vertical curvilinear path as the experimental data.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/8/1/27venturi flumeCFDOpenFOAMRANSturbulence modelnumerical simulation
spellingShingle Mehdi Heyrani
Abdolmajid Mohammadian
Ioan Nistor
Omerul Faruk Dursun
Numerical Modeling of Venturi Flume
Hydrology
venturi flume
CFD
OpenFOAM
RANS
turbulence model
numerical simulation
title Numerical Modeling of Venturi Flume
title_full Numerical Modeling of Venturi Flume
title_fullStr Numerical Modeling of Venturi Flume
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Modeling of Venturi Flume
title_short Numerical Modeling of Venturi Flume
title_sort numerical modeling of venturi flume
topic venturi flume
CFD
OpenFOAM
RANS
turbulence model
numerical simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/8/1/27
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AT ioannistor numericalmodelingofventuriflume
AT omerulfarukdursun numericalmodelingofventuriflume