Sediment Erosion on Pelton Turbines:A Review

The Pelton turbine has been widely used to develop high-head water resources with sediments because of its advantages in life cycle costs.When a flood or monsoon season occurs,the sediment concentration in the river increases suddenly,causing severe erosion to the nozzle,needle,and runner of Pelton turbines.After decades of development,researchers have developed practical engineering experience to reduce the sediment concentration of the flow through the turbine and ensure the safety and efficiency of power generation.Research on the mechanism of sediment erosion,development of anti-erosion materials,and establishment of erosion prediction models have attracted scholarly interest in recent years.Extensive research has been conducted to determine a complete and valuable syndication erosion model.However,owing to the complexity of the flow and wear mechanisms,the influence of specific parameters of erosion and the syndication effect is still difficult to determine.Computational fluid dynamics and erosion monitoring technology have also been evaluated and applied.This paper presents a comprehensive review of the erosion of Pelton turbines,some of the latest technical methods,and possible future development directions.

Ferroan dolomites in Miocene sediments of the Xisha Islands and their genetic model

Carbonate rocks are important reservoirs for global petroleum exploration.The largest oilfield in the South China Sea,Liuhua 11-1,is distributed in the massive carbonate reef area of the Zhujiang(Pearl)River Mouth Basin.Previous studies showed that one 802.17-m-long core from well Xichen-1 in the South China Sea mainly consisted of white and light gray-white organic reefs.Recently,a Miocene whole core(161.9 m long)of well Xiyong-2,near well Xichen-1,was found to contain six layers of yellowish brown,light yellowish gray,iron black,or light yellowish gray-white organic reefs.Scanning electron microscope images of these layers reveal a typical ferroan dolomite rich in Fe(up to 29%),with the high concentrations of Mn,Cu,W,Zn,Cr,Ni,and Co.Systematic X-ray powder diffraction analysis yields a 1.9–6.1 match in phase ratio with ankerite,5.4–26.9 with dolomite,and zero with calcite,which indicate that the samples can be classified as ferroan dolomite.The iron and heavy metals are inferred to be originated from multiple volcanic eruptions of Gaojianshi Island in the Dongdao Atoll during the middle-late Miocene.These elements were dissolved in seawater,likely as a sol,and carried to Yongxing Island in the Xuande Atoll by sea currents and tides enhanced by prevailing winds,and deposited as a part of the sedimentation process in the study area.The ferroan dolomite has Sr content of (125–285)×10^(-6),which is lower than the accepted Sr boundary value of dolomite.This finding suggests that dolomitization occurred during large-scale global glacial regression in the late Miocene.The isolated Xisha carbonate platform,exposed to air,underwent freshwater leaching and dolomitization induced by mixed water,and caused the extensive Fe-Mg exchange along the organic reef profile to form ankerite and ferroan dolomite.These results may help to understand paleoceanographic environmental changes in the South China Sea during the Miocene.

Preparation and Bloating Mechanism of Porous Ultra-lightweight Ceramsite by Dehydrated Sewage Sludge and Yellow River Sediments

To solve the disposal problems of solid wastes, dehydrated sewage sludge and Yellow River sediments were tested as components for production of ultra-lightweight ceramsite. The effects of Yellow River sediments addition on the characteristics of ceramsite were investigated. Ceramsite with different Yellow River sediments additions was characterized using thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, morphological structures analyses, pore size distributions and porosity analyses. Chemical components, especially ratios of Si O2 ＋ Al2O3/Flux, were used to explain the glassy shell formation, physical properties and pores distribution of ultralightweight ceramsite; physical forces for instance expansion force and frictional resistance which combined with Si O2 ＋ Al2O3/Flux ratios were used to explain the bloating mechanism. Results showed that the maximum addition of Yellow River sediments for making ultra-lightweight ceramsite was 35%. Macropores（between 0.226 μm and 0.554 μm） of ultra-lightweight ceramsite were dominant in the pore structures of ultra-lightweight ceramsite and its porosity was up to 67.7%. Physical force of expansion force was constant with the variation of Yellow River sediments content and physical force of frictional resistance was decreased with the increase of Yellow River sediments addition. The relationship between expansion and frictional resistance could determine the expansion rate of ceramsite. Larger pores inside the ceramsite bodies could be obtained as Yellow River sediments additions ranged from 10% to 30%. Ceramsite with higher Yellow River sediments additions of 40%（Si O2 ＋ Al2O3/Flux ratios 4.25） became denser and have lower porosity. Crystal components analysis proved that the sintering process made some components of raw materials transfer into other crystals having better thermostability.

Sediment generation and soil mound denudation in areas of high-density tree throw along a river valley in the Jura Mountains, Switzerland

A preliminary field-based investigation was undertaken in a small(<10 km^(2))river valley located in the mountainous Jura region of northwest Switzerland.The aims of the work were to assess sediment generation and annual sediment transport rates by tree throw on forested hillslopes,and to document surface hydrology characteristics on four fresh soil mounds associated with recent tree throws over a 24-day monitoring period.For the soil mounds,average sediment recovery ranged from 7.7-28.2 g(dry weight),equivalent to a suspended sediment concentration of 145.2-327.8 g L^(-1),and runoff coefficients ranged from 1.0%-4.2%.Based on a soil bulk density value of 1,044 kg m^(-3),upslope runoff generation areas were denuded by an average 0.14 mm by the end of the 24-day monitoring period,representing an erosion rate equivalent to 2.1 mm yr^(-1).A ca.50 cm high soil mound could therefore feasibly persist for around 200-250 years.For tree throw work,the dimensions of 215 individual tree throws were measured and their locations mapped in 12 separate locations along the river valley representing a cumulative area equivalent to 5.3 ha(av.density,43 per ha).Tree throws generated a total of 20.1 m^(3) of fine-sediment(<2 mm diameter),or the equivalent of 3.8×10^(-4) m^(3) m^(-2).The process of tree throw was originally attributed to two extreme weather events that occurred in west and central Europe in late December 1999.Taking the 18-year period since both storms,this represents an annual sediment transport rate of 2.7×10^(-5) m^(3) m^(-1) yr^(-1).Exploring the relationship with wind on fall direction,65.5%of tree throws(143)generally fell in a downslope direction irrespective of hillslope aspect on which they were located.This infers that individual storms may not have been responsible for the majority of tree throws,but instead,could be associated with root failure.Given the high density of tree throws and their relative maturity(average age 41 years),we hypothesise that once trees attain a certain age in this river valley,their physiognomy(i.e.height,mass and centre of gravity)compromises their ability to remain securely anchored.We tentatively attribute this possibility to the presence of bedrock close to the surface,and to the shallow soil profile overlaying steep hillslopes.

Sediment control function of river notches

The purpose of this study is to investigate the control function and mechanisms of natural river notches. Physical and numerical experiments are analyzed in this study for two representative types of sediment events： high intensity and short duration Type A sediment disaster events, and low intensity and long duration Type B moderate non-disaster events. Two dimensionless parameters, sediment trapping rate and reduction rate of peak sediment transport, are defined to evaluate the sediment control function of river notches. Study results indicate that the contraction ratio of the notch has a significant influence on sediment control function, with high contraction ratios resulting in both high sediment-trapping and high reduction rates. River notches provide better sediment control during Type A events than Type B events. The sediment control mechanism of river notches is the result of multiple interactions among river flow, sediment transport, and riverbed variation. Analysis of these interactions supports the significant protection role of river notches on sediment control for disaster events.

Combined effects of massive reclamation and dredging on the variations in hydrodynamic and sediment transport in Lingdingyang Estuary,China

Anthropogenic disturbances associated with the rapid development of coastal cities have drastically influenced the hydrodynamics and sediment transport processes in many large estuaries globally.Lingdingyang Estuary(LE),located in the central and southern part of the Pearl River Delta,southern China with a long history of high-intensity anthropogenic disturbances,was studied to explore the contribution rate and mechanism underlying the alteration in hydrodynamics and sediment transport under each phase of human activity.A state-of-the-art modeling tool(TELEMAC-2D),was used to study the variations in the hydrodynamics and sediment transport,accounting for reclamation-induced shoreline and dredging-induced topography changes.The results indicated that:i)under the influence of successive land reclamation,the general distribution of the Confluence Hydrodynamic Zone(CHZ)in LE varied from scattered to concentrated,and these zones moved 3–5 km seaward.ii)Large-scale channel dredging weakened the residual flow in LE,decreasing the residual flow in the Inner-Lingding Estuary(ILE)by 62.45%.This was initiated by the enhancement of tidal dynamics through changes in the bottom friction caused by dredging in the ILE.In contrast,massive reclamation decreased the residual flow in the ILE by 17.55%and increased that in the Outer-Lingding Estuary(OLE).iii)Despite disturbances related to land reclamation and dredging,the estuarine jet flow in LE remained a turbulent jet system,and the estuarine jet flow became more asymmetrical.In addition,the position of the estuarine jet source moved 6–13 km seaward.iv)Both reclamation and dredging decreased the SSC in the ILE and increased the SSC in the OLE.Reclamation weakened the SSC in the ILE by 62.19%,whereas dredging enhanced the SSC in the OLE by 49%.Spatially,reclamation resulted in an increase in the SSC near the outlets and a decrease in the SSC in the northern portion of the Western Channel.Dredging mainly increased the SSC in the northern part of the OLE.v)The increase in the barotropic pressure gradient was the main factor driving the enhancement of the residual flow and SSC near the outlets.Moreover,the southward location of the“artificial outlets”favored the transport of suspended sediments to the OLE,which was one of the primary reasons for the increase in the SSC in the OLE.Finally,the tidal dynamics of the ILE intensified due to massive reclamation and dredging.The findings of this study indicate that hydrodynamics and sediment transport in LE have greatly changed over the last decades,with reclamation and dredging being the crucial drivers.The insights obtained from this study can serve as a reference for the comprehensive management of the Pearl River Estuary and other large estuaries experiencing similar anthropogenic forcing.

ANALYSIS OF SALTATION CHARACTERISTICS OF BED-LOAD TRANSPORT IN FLOWING WATER

The study of bed-load transport is of great significance both in theory and in practice.This paper discusses the saltation of bed-load solid grains in flowing water.Experiments and theoretic analysis have been made by means of high-speed photographing and advanced data processing technique with a combined method based on mechanical and statistical theories.It indicates that the saltation is the main form of the bed-load transport under ordinary flowing conditions.In the meantime,taking suecessive saltation as the mod- el of bed-load transport,systematic analysis has been made with regard to the kinematic properties and mechanism of saltation.The statistical analysis shows that the probability density functions of the relative height and length of saltation are in conformity with Γ-type distribution,while the probability density func- tions of the relative velocities of saltation are in conformity with the Gaussian distribution.

ON THE STRUCTURE AND MOVEMENT MECHANISM OF FLOW WITH HYPERCONCENTRATION OF SEDIMENT

This paper, based on the information obtained from flume experiments and field observations, concerns with the analyses of the flow with hyperconcentration of sediment containing a certain amount of fine particles. Attention is focused on the classification of flow with hyperconcentration of sediment, the properties of the Bingham shear stress τB and rigidity coefficient η, the movement mechanism of fluid within flow-core and non-flow-core regions, the shear stress distribution and so on. Several formulae have been proposed to indicate vertical velocity distribution of 2-dimensional steady and uniform turbulent flow with hyperconcentration of fluid. The formulae can be applied either to the flow of the Bingham fluid or to that of the Newtonian fluid.