Investigation of vortex formation in water intake structures as a numerical model and evaluation of anti vortex structures

Vortex formation in water intake structures can cause serious problems in the structure. Vortexes cause a number of hydraulic problems, such as the reduced service life of the intake structure and the prevention of uptake of water from the upstream. Therefore, the design and use of structures that prevent vortex formation are required. In this study, the vortex formation was investigated by numerical modeling of the opposite water intake structure of a dam. The analysis of the numerical models was investigated by the CFD (Computational Fluid Mechanics) method used in the field of hydraulic structures or fluid mechanics problems. There are 3 units in the water intake structure and the entrance parts are rectangular and the geometric areas of the entrance ports of the 3 units are equal. The distance between the side curtain walls is kept constant and the water flow rate is constant during the analysis of the numerical model. In the numerical model in which vortex formation was examined, the water level was changed over time. The pressure at the inlet of the dewatering structure was varied depending on the height of the water level. The most appropriate network models have been studied during numerical modeling. Froude model analogy was used as the model scale. When the analyzes of the numerical models were examined, it was observed that air vents occurred to the extent that serious damage to the structure and strong vortexes were formed. In order to solve this hydraulic problem, new water intake structure models have been created and air intake and vortex formation have been realized to the tolerable level in the models that prevent this vortex formation. Keywords: Water intake structure, Vortex formation, Air inlet, Anti-vortex structure, . Flow-3D