Simulation and Optimization of Hydraulics parameter in Turbulence Flow of Dam Bottom Outlet Using OpenFOAM
Subject Areas : Business Administration and Entrepreneurship
Mehdi Ghobadi
1
(Master's Degree in Civil Engineering - Water and Hydraulic Structures, Department of Civil Engineering, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran)
Sina Fard Moradinia
2
(Department of Civil Engineering, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran/
Robotics and Soft Technologies Research Center, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran)
Keywords: discharge coefficient, CFD, Dam bottom outlet, OpenFOAM, Genetic Alghorithm,
Abstract :
Abstract
Introduction: The use of numerical methods is widely used in diagnosing the performance of hydraulic systems and optimizing them. Numerical modeling is less expensive than experimental work. Numerical methods can be used to check the accuracy of the results and compare them. In this thesis, the fluid volume method is used to simulate the free surface flow of water inside the lower discharger of Kani Sib Dam. Since the flow inside the dischargers is turbulent, k-ε, k-ε RNG, k-ω SST, k-ω and also LES turbulence models have been used and compared. Also, the discharge coefficient inside the lower discharger and the aeration flow have been investigated and compared.
Methods: To simulate the turbulent flow inside the lower discharger, continuity equations, momentum, energy and equation of state along with equations related to the aforementioned turbulence models have been solved using OpenFoam software. The set of equations of conservation of mass, conservation of momentum and energy for turbulent flow, which are so-called Reynolds averaging equations, are the governing equations of the flow and are used to model the flow by solving them numerically.
Findings: The simulation and optimization of the hydraulic parameters of the turbulent flow in the lower dischargers of the Sib Mineral Dam has been completed using OpenFOAM. The results have been made on the parameters of the lower discharger of Sib mineral dam. And the optimization is done using genetic algorithm. In this research, it was found that with the increase of the hydraulic diameter, the discharge coefficient increases. Also, with the increase of the hydraulic diameter, the core of the water fluid jet inside the discharger undergoes a strong fluctuation, which can increase the shear stress. An excessive increase in shear stress can cause corrosion of the discharge walls. On the other hand, with a further decrease in shear stress, deposition inside the lower discharger increases. At the same time, with the increase in the length of the lower discharger, the discharge coefficient decreases. The optimal selection of the length of the lower drain depends on the height behind the dam. As the opening rate increases, the discharge coefficient also increases and the k- ε turbulence model gives more acceptable results to estimate the results. Finally, for each aeration flow rate, a set of optimal values for the discharge coefficient and the opening rate has been obtained.
