This auticte de: study of 29 existing hydrociectiic intakes: FOR A CONVENTIONAL hydroelectric intake, with a deck slab get above. water level, tie cost of the intake structure Increases with increasing depth of gate sill bslow water level. For maximum economy the cate sill should be set as high as possibl ate silis at a shallow depth, there is a dancer 5 ine, which may entrain air, thus Fedusi Tie problem ten Sone cl sillat as high a evel zs possible for economy, t evel at which vortices ate produced for hedrautic efficiency. “There are very few published reports on experiences with vortices at intakes. and in particular there appear to be few data published on just what can be regarded as the submergence required to avoid vortices. Model studies can be undertaken, but on a small intake the cost of & model study may exceed the cost of the intake structure; Several model studies have been undertaken by Anwart and Denay?, however there isthe suspicion that a consider able scale elfect may be involved, since viscosity and the forees governing entrainment of air are important, as acknowledged by Lawton’, ‘Tae experience gained from a study of the flow. at intakes wich have been designed by Moatres! Engineering ‘0 Lid, af Canada, in the past 20 yeats is included in this atticle, ‘The study was prompted by the observation of Vortex at low reservoir drawdowa on one of the intakes. U1 the 29 intakes studiea, tour were found to have vortices sat low reservoir levels. All intakes studied have the same general configuration as shown in Fig. 1, and theit Characteristics are all within the following limits: Velocity at ate Submeevgence 5 Gate heinntd Gate vedin », hw ratio ‘The factors which appear to affect the formation of a ‘Tprlss agesthe ceomerry ot the approach Wow tothe intake: the velocity at the make; WE Swe he sence. “TEHE Sbvious that an intake with the flow approaching from the side (as shiown in Eig. 2) will be more prone to vortices than one with a syrmmettical approach. However this effect is difficult to measure, particularly since the geometry of tig intake approach channel is, probably Unique to eacif intake. Accordincly, it was decided to Cconseiiteate on investigating the effects of velocity, intake size, and SECS ‘on vortex formation. Ta ondzrdp derive an empirical equation for submergence. it was assubied that the submergate J was a function of a velocity and a dimension 2s shown by the following equati ed) secwds where Cis a coeficient. . or simplicity it was decided to.msusce velocity at the ay ¥VEPdCes a By J.L. Gordon® ° ibes the development of design criteria to avoid vortices at low-head intakes, based on a erent eh Bo Fig. 2 Intake with low approxching from the side inction_d. The submergence could be measured cither from the top of the gate or from the gate centreline. However, after several trials using various values for the: exponents mand mm it became apparent that a better re~ Efonship could be obtsined when submerzence was eyaured from the top ofthe eate as shown in Fig. 1. The Soe amd error proveduce indicated that a reasonable relationship could be obtzined with the exponent m- and m= which produces the equation: S=cv(d)* . @ and the chart shown on Fig. 3. dnc effect of the direction of the approach flow could not nc of th y-gesloaed mis Briel study However, UShrinors dara become availible, we intend to desica re S Kesiatart Mansoor Indre Dision, Montreal Enplnering Co, Ud, Place at eitGta tscotesl Shay P.O, Canada, ceaa ‘ates with vere pote e aes wath ra eres 22) renmentet meinen stereo Fig. 3. Minimum submergence Finis for intakes with both symmetr- ale and lateral-approach flows oe intakes which have a symmetrical approach flaw with a saomervence oF at Teast: 0-3 var e will be increased to: S=04 4 (dt - © which corresponds with the upper limit of the shaded area. on Fig. 3. Some confirmation of the foregoing submergence criteria ‘can be obtained from Lennart’, who gives data an several intakes in Sweden which exhibit vortices. At the Atorp power plant, Lennart reports that “a rather strong surging vortex arose. This sucked down trash towards the racks.” ‘The submergence of the intake at Atorp corresponds to approximately S=0-1 ¥(d)* with the unit at full load. Lennart furiher reports that “at lower discharges the eddy zone decreased correspondinsly and at about 15m?Js it became imperceptible”. At this lower flow the effective submergence increases to S=0-3 V (d)*. For tie Hammarforsen intake, also reported by Lennart, strong vortices were evident at a submergence equivalent to S=0-28 V (d)*, and the flow approached the intake at an angle of at least 30-45” from the perpendicular to the front of the intake. [t would be interesting to kitow if these vortices disappeared when the flow was reduced, inereasing the effective submergence to S=0-4 ¥ (d)*, ‘An idea of the scale effect can be obtained by comparing the submergence critcrin with the results obtained by Denny? from model experiments, Fig. 4 shows the intak plotted on the chart developed by Denny (Fig. 13a ia Ref, 2). All the intakes, with one exception, plot in the region where vortices ‘could ‘be expected from model studies, whereas experience indicates that only four have encountered troublesome vortices. A partial explanation may be in the definition of “vortex problems” hydrosintakes the development of small suctuce rifles or Bois of Wo conerh, pia Us aihe do Tok fo Wakes wih eo eter poles TA 7 hikes wi orties Fig. 4 Intakes plotted on a chart developed by Denny conclusion, it is apparent that farther research is required into the factors which affect vortex formation. Due to the scale effect, this could best be undertaken on several existing hydro intakes where the flow and the reservoir low supply level can be varied as necessary. Referencé 1 foes, Fe, "Vora at Low Hed flake", War Powen 2 Dawe, Ds, F tal ilhe Prevention of Vortices and Swiel at sles Bapr Che Pucedoga tit Got ede, ee io tfecng TAR Law, ‘actors Influencing Flow in Large Conduits", “Rite ihe Tak Soe on oe tang a at ‘Committes on Hydraulic Structures Transactions ASCE, Paper | SENSDT We Nr etait B.SHow Bellare wih resect 1 Tat Finadl 5 Shodan lotro Elecie Powe Puna, Wonsertnt afibe Roya its of Ths, Sth Seeton