EFFECTS OF ENTRAINED AIR MANNER ON CAVITATION DAMAGE

Early in 1953 the experiments by Peterka proved that air entrainment has effects on decreasing cavitation damage. This technology has been widely used in the release works of high dams since the inception of air entrainment in the Grand Goulee Dam in 1960. Behavior, mechanism and application of air entrainment for cavitation damage control have been investigated for over half century. However, severe cavitation damage happened due to complex mechanism of air entrainment. The effects of air entrainment are related to many factors, including geometric parameters, hydraulic parameters and entrained air manners. In the present work an experimental set-up for air entrainment was specially designed, the behavior of reducing cavitation damage was experimentally investigated in the three aspects of entrained air pressure, air tube aera and air tube number. The results show that magnitude of reduction of cavitation damage is closely related to the entrained air tube number as well as entrained air pressure, air tube aera, and that the effect through three air tubes is larger than that through single air tube although the entrained air tubes have the same sum of tube aera, that is, 1 ＋ 1 ＋ 1 〉 3. Therefore, it is important to design an effective manner of air entrainment.

Effect of air bubble size on cavitation erosion reduction

Over the past 60 years, the air concentration in water has been considered as a control index of cavitation erosion reduction and widely used in the designs of hydraulic structures. However, the mechanism of air entrainment against cavitation erosion has been paid good attention to. In the present work, the effect of air bubble size on cavitation erosion reduction was experimentally investigated. A device with micron-scale orifice diameters(10, 20 and 50 μm in size) was specially designed to introduce air bubbles into water. The experiments about the effect of air bubble size were conducted by means of a vibratory apparatus, including the behavior of formation and movement for single air bubble, the characteristics of cavitation erosion reduction at different air entrainment conditions. The findings demonstrate that high air concentration has significant effects on cavitation erosion reduction.But, a notable problem was that the size of air bubbles is of outstanding effect on cavitation erosion reduction. Small air bubbles support to alleviate cavitation erosion, even at same air concentration.

Collapse of cavitation bubbles near air bubbles

The cavitation erosion is one of the common damage modes in water engineering.The study of the interaction among cavitation bubbles,air bubbles and the wall is of great significance for understanding the mechanism of the air entrainment to alleviate the cavitation and to enhance the cavitation erosion mitigation effect of aeration.By using the high-speed camera,the regular patterns of the collapse of cavitation bubbles in the vicinity of the wall and the air bubbles are studied in this paper.It is shown that in the vicinity of air bubbles,the cavitation bubbles may only collapse towards or from air bubbles,while under the dual impacts of air bubbles and the wall,the direction of collapse of the cavitation bubbles depends on the combined vector of the impact forces of the air bubbles and the wall.When the air bubbles are very close to the cavitation bubbles,the air bubbles will be penetrated and stretched by the cavitation bubbles,when the distance between them is short enough,the cavitation bubbles and the air bubbles will connect to form gas-type cavitation bubbles,and the collapse strength will be significantly decreased,when there are two air bubbles near the cavitation bubbles,they may even be penetrated successively by the cavitation bubbles.Thus it can be concluded that during the air entrainment to alleviate the cavitation,the number of air bubbles is more important than the total air concentration.

Inception point of air entrainment over stepped spillways

The location of the inception point of the air entrainment directly affects the energy dissipation ratio, the cavitation damage control, and the training wall height designs for a stepped spillway and a stilling basin. In this paper, the boundary layer theory of plates is used to predict the location of the inception point of the air entrainment over the stepped spillways by assuming the steps on the spillways as a kind of roughness. An empirical formula is presented based on the physical model experiments, with the maximum error less than 1% except at one point where the error is 1.6%, as compared to the experimental data. Meanwhile, it is shown that the location of the inception point of the air entrainment for the stepped spillway is much nearer to the top of the spillway than that for a smooth spillways, which explains why the high ratio of the energy dissipation is provided for the stepped spillway.

小底坡、低Fr数泄洪洞掺气坎体型优化研究

位于小底坡、低佛氏数泄洪洞上的掺气坎,其体型设计往往存在较大难度。为了查明小底坡、低佛氏数泄洪洞掺气坎体型优化设计的一般规律,采用大比尺的模型试验,对三维掺气坎进行了系统研究。小底坡上的掺气坎,可用过坎射流最高点至底板的距离Tmax和空腔回水作为其体型优化的主要目标,良好的掺气坎应使空腔回水最少时Tmax也较小。试验结果表明:Tmax的主要影响因素为平均坎高及掺气坎横断面的型式,平均坎高愈小,Tmax愈小;横断面为凸型的凸型坎,可以减弱出射水流横断面上水面线的凹形分布,能使Tmax相对较小;空腔回水的主要影响因素为平均坎高及坎高差,适当增加平均坎高及横向坎高差,对消除空腔回水有利;在小底坡掺气坎体型优化中,三维掺气坎较二维连续坎有明显的优势,特别是凸型坎,容易达到空腔回水少,同时Tmax也较小的优化目标。

底掺气坎对侧空腔长度的影响

侧空腔长度对射流挟气量及水流流态均有重要影响,采用3维数值模拟,分析了底部掺气坎尺寸对侧空腔长度的影响规律。结果表明,侧空腔长度及侧空腔形态受底部掺气坎的体型尺寸影响较大,随着底部掺气坎尺寸的增大,侧空腔长度增大,其主要原因在于底部掺气坎的尺寸会影响射流跌落至底板的位置,影响射流段动水压力的分布,从而影响射流的横向扩散速率。

前置掺气坎式阶梯溢洪道体型布置优化试验研究

对光滑溢洪道、阶梯溢洪道和前置掺气坎式阶梯溢洪道水力特性进行了对比研究。针对阶梯式溢洪道工作水头很高,单宽流量超过50 m^3/s的工程中尚没有成功应用实例的难题,提出采用前置掺气坎式阶梯溢洪道即能保持阶梯溢洪道的较大消能率,又能通过控制掺气浓度保护台阶表面避免发生空蚀破坏,较好的解决了溢洪道体型优化和下游消能防冲问题。对前置掺气坎式阶梯溢洪道水力特性、消能特性、掺气效果、抗空蚀特性进行分析和研究,成果表明,通过掺气坎和台阶的体型优化,各级流量的消能率均达到70%左右,尽管台阶后负压达-2.3 kPa量级,实测溢洪道台阶竖直面后的掺气浓度沿程分布均大于5%,与传统阶梯式溢洪道相比,抗空蚀性能明显提高,与光滑溢洪道相比,消能率提高2-4倍,消能效果良好。

泄洪洞反弧段下游侧墙掺气减蚀试验研究

龙抬头明流泄洪洞采用常规的底部掺气设施,容易在反弧末端下游附近侧墙处形成掺气盲区,从而导致该侧墙的空蚀破坏,反弧末端下游侧墙是龙抬头明流泄洪洞掺气减蚀设计的重点和难点。文中通过大比尺的模型试验,系统分析了侧墙贴角及边墙突扩两类反弧末端侧向掺气设施的水力掺气特性,试验表明,这两类侧向掺气设施均能有效消除反弧末端下游附近侧墙上的掺气盲区,达到减免侧墙空蚀的目的。

掺气减蚀保护作用的新概念

利用针式掺气流速仪测量原型和模型掺气浓度场、流速场,气泡尺寸及其概率分布的研究成果表明,原型水流韦伯数高,形成微小气泡的能力比模型强,气泡上浮慢,接近底部的小尺寸气泡概率及掺气浓度比模型大。初步研究认为:0 2mm或0 5mm以下的微小气泡在掺气减蚀中起着主要作用,可能只要很小掺气浓度即可达到掺气减蚀的效果。因此以小尺寸气泡的掺气浓度,作为判断掺气减蚀保护作用的指标将更为准确。

泄洪洞反弧末端掺气减蚀研究

对高水头、大单宽流量、低佛氏数、小底坡长明流泄洪洞,在反弧段末端采用常规的掺气坎往往难以取得理想的掺气效果,同时,反弧段下游边墙易出现空蚀破坏。本文在大比尺模型试验的基础上,提出了竖向、纵向及横向三维均连续变化的新型掺气坎,并对比分析了掺气坎三维体型的变化对掺气特性的影响。试验表明,空间三维连续变动的V型坎能使挑射水流形成连续变化的空腔长度,较二维掺气坎在上述特点的泄洪洞中能形成稳定的空腔形态、减小空腔回水并提高挟气量。试验同时表明,泄洪洞反弧末端掺气坎后空腔段水流动水压强小、水流空化数低,容易出现空化;同时,反弧段下游水流表面自掺气尚不够充分,底部强迫掺气尚未充分扩散,致使反弧段下游附近边墙存在较大范围的掺气盲区,从而容易导致反弧段下游边墙的空蚀破坏。

侧墙掺气坎空腔长度初探

侧空腔长度是侧墙掺气坎设计时考虑的重点内容。采用模型试验和三维数值模拟,对侧墙掺气坎空腔长度的影响因素进行了探讨。结果表明,用紊流数学模型来模拟泄水道反弧末端侧墙掺气坎的空腔长度是可行的;侧墙掺气坎空腔长度不仅与侧墙掺气坎的体型尺寸有关,还与底部掺气坎的体型尺寸有很大关系。在设计侧墙掺气坎时,需同时考虑底部掺气坎的尺寸。

前置掺气坎式阶梯溢洪道体型特点及工程应用试验研究

为了避免阶梯溢洪道中前几级阶梯表面发生空蚀破坏,将掺气坎应用到阶梯溢洪道体型设计中,形成前置掺气坎式阶梯溢洪道。这既能充分利用阶梯增加沿程消能的优点,又能扩宽阶梯溢洪道的应用范围。工程模型试验成果表明,通过对掺气坎和阶梯的体型优化,各级流量的消能率均达到70%左右。1:40物理模型试验上实测溢洪道阶梯竖直面后的掺气浓度沿程分布均大于5%。研究表明这种新型阶梯溢洪道掺气量与掺气浓度易于控制,底部掺气充分,抗空蚀性能优越,消能率高,可以在高水头、大单宽流量溢洪道中推广应用。

平底泄洪洞掺气设施体型研究

掺气减蚀是减免泄水建筑物空化空蚀的常用方法,但对于一些小底坡泄洪洞,如果采用常规的掺气设施结构,掺气空腔往往会被淹没,使其失效反而成为空化源。小底坡泄洪洞的掺气设施体型设计一直是掺气减蚀研究的难题。文章针对平底泄洪洞的掺气减蚀,通过理论分析和1/30的大比尺模型试验,进行了四个方案的对比研究,提出了一种新型的挑坎下游加设贴坡的掺气设施,有效地抑制了空腔回水,获得了稳定的掺气空腔,并且通气量、气水比等掺气特性指标都有明显改善。

龙抬头明流泄洪洞反弧段下游边墙防蚀探讨

大比尺的模型试验表明:龙抬头明流泄洪洞反弧末端掺气坎后空腔段水流动水压强小、水流空化数低,容易出现空化;同时,反弧段下游水流表面自掺气尚不够充分,底部强迫掺气尚未充分扩散,致使反弧段下游附近边墙存在较大范围的掺气盲区,从而容易导致反弧段下游边墙的空蚀破坏.最后对如何减小或消除该掺气盲区,提出了工程处理措施,可供设计参考.

泄洪洞侧墙的人工强迫掺气减蚀研究

采用常见的底部掺气设施时,反弧段下游附近边墙仍存在较大范围的掺气盲区,从而反弧段下游边墙容易产生空蚀破坏。利用反弧段上游掺气坎空腔进行人工强迫通气的试验表明,增加反弧段前掺气坎的掺气能力,虽能一定程度减小反弧段下游边墙的清水区范围,但难以将其完全消除。反弧段下游边墙清水区直接强迫通气的试验表明,通过边墙通气孔进入水流的气体扩散范围很小,且由于沿边墙高度各点动水压力不一样,很难保障沿边墙高度掺气的均匀性;同时,强迫通气所需的动力设备功率很大。因此,在实际工程中采用人工强迫通气减免反弧段下游侧墙的空蚀难度很大。

底部掺气设施水流掺气量的计算

掺气减蚀是高速水流泄水建筑物减免空蚀破坏的重要措施。为了有效地实现掺气减蚀,必须使通过掺气设施后的强迫掺气水流达到一定浓度的掺气量。利用本文提出的掺气坎射流轨迹的微分方程计算出了掺气空腔长度,并通过掺气坎供气系统的供气量与水流掺气量的平衡,给出了一种通过计算掺气坎射流空腔负压来确定水流掺气量的计算方法。计算结果与试验结果吻合良好。利用该方法,可对通风系统和掺气坎的设计体型进行初步验算,以判别掺气设施能否满足掺气减蚀要求。

掺气减蚀研究的新方向

利用针式掺气流速仪测量掺气浓度场、流速场,气泡尺寸及其概率分布的研究成果表明,原型水流韦伯数高,形成微小气泡的能力比模型强,气泡上浮慢,接近底部的小尺寸气泡概率及掺气浓度比模型大.0.2mm或0.5mm以下的微小气泡可能在掺气减蚀中起着主要作用.完善掺气检测仪器,加强掺气水流中气泡尺寸及其概率分布的观测,比较不同气泡尺寸的掺气减蚀作用,建立多级气泡尺寸的掺气水流数学模型,是今后掺气减蚀研究的新方向.

台阶溢流坝过流掺气减蚀问题的研究

根据大朝山水电站表孔减压模型试验资料,结合原型观测有关资料,对台阶溢流坝掺气减蚀问题进行了分析研究。结果表明,利用表孔宽尾墩+台阶面的过流形式,可以解决台阶面大单宽过流掺气减蚀问题,台阶面水流近底掺气浓度最小在5%以上。高坝试验结果还表明,坝高增加20m,台阶面水流掺气浓度沿程分布规律不变,即该掺气减蚀方法应用范围可推广至坝高131.0m的台阶溢流坝。

水利枢纽溢洪道掺气坎槽体型研究

结合糯扎渡水利枢纽溢洪道掺气减蚀模型试验研究,根据试验资料,利用回归分析,拟合出关系曲线,建立了坎高与水深、流速、溢洪道底坡、挑坎挑角关系的经验公式,并通过已建成的工程实例来验证公式的实用性.该公式对掺气坎槽选型提供了依据,可供设计与模型试验阶段参考.

掺气减蚀减压模型相似律问题的探讨

通过大朝山水电站表孔减压水力学模型试验结果与原型资料对比分析,对掺气减蚀减压水力学模型与原型之间的相似律问题进行了研究。研究结果表明,传统水力学减压试验方法在掺气减蚀减压模型中,由于存在模型和原型之间掺气不相似、初生空化界限不明确等问题,致使模型水流空化特性试验结果与原型差异比较大,只有通过空化部位水流掺气相似得到的减压模型试验结果才能与原型空化达到基本相似的要求。