A study on the hydraulics of waste stabilization pond

In this study, tracer tests and organic removal tests were conducted on three different ponds in the purpose of evaluating the influence of the flow velocity and dispersion on the hydraulic efficiency of the pond. The authors have compared the hydraulic flow patterns among ponds with different configurations. Experimental and theoretical analyses were performed. This study indicated that the flow characteristics of square ponds are different from that of baffled ponds; the flow velocity and dispersion are equally important factors which affect the pond hydraulics; the number of inserting baffles can be optimized; and the hydraulic efficiency of multistage ponds is superior to that of baffled ponds.

Safety-efficiency trade-offs in the cotton xylem：acclimatization to different soil textures

The acclimatization of plant xylem to altered environmental conditions has attracted considerable attention from researchers over several decades. Plants growing in natural environments must seek a balance between water uptake and the water loss of leaves from evaporation. Thus, the adaptation of xylem to different soil textures is important in maintaining plant water balance. In this study, we investigated the xylem changes of cotton（Gossypium herbaceum L.） xylem in sandy, clay and mixed soils. Results showed that soil texture had a significant effect on xylem vessel diameter and length of stems and roots. Compared with G. herbaceum growing in the clay soil, those plants growing in the sandy soil developed narrower and shorter xylem vessels in their roots, and had a higher percentage of narrow vessels in their stems. These changes resulted in a safer（i.e. less vulnerable to cavitation）, but less-efficient water transport system when soil water availability was low, supporting the hydraulic safety versus efficiency trade-off hypothesis. Furthermore, in sandy and mixed soils, the root： shoot ratio of G. herbaceum increased twofold, which ensures the same efficiency of leaves. In summary, our finding indicates that the morphological plasticity of xylem structure in G. herbaceum has a major role in the acclimatization of this plant species to different soil textures.

GAS AND OIL POWER DISTRIBUTION RATIO OF A NEW HYDRAULIC BREAKER

The working principle of a new hydraulic breaker operated jointly by gas and hydraulic flow which has a reasonable structure, high efficiency and long piston life-span, is analyzed, and the optimal power distribution ratio of the sealed nitrogen gas to the high-pressure oil in the process of piston impacting is studied. Through theoretical analysis, optimization simulation and detailed calculation, it is determined that the impact system has optimal mechanical performance and highest efficiency when the distribution ratio φ is between 0.3 and 0.5. The theoretical result is also verified by repeated tests.

Treatment and hydraulic performances of the NiiMi process for landscape water

This paper describes the NiiMi process designed to treat landscape water. The main aim of the research was to investigate the feasibility of NiiMi for removing organic and nutriment materials from landscape water. During the batch-scale NiiMi operation, the removal rates of color ranged from 66.7%o-80% , of turbidity from 31.7%-89.3%o, of chemical oxygen demand （COD） from 7%-36.5%, of total phosphor （TP） from 43%-84.2%, of soluble phosphate from 42.9%-100%, of total nitrogen （TN） from 4.2%-46.7%, and of NH4^＋-N from 39.3%-100% at the hydraulic loading of 0.2 m^3/（m^2·d）. Results showed that the removal efficiencies of COD, TP, soluble phosphate and TN decreased with the decline in the temperature. The NiiMi process had a strong shock loading ability for the removal of the organics, turbidity, TP, soluble phosphate, TN and NH4^＋-N. Three sodium chloride tracer studies were conducted, labeled as TS 1, TS2, and TS3, respectively. The mean hydraulic retention times （mean HRTs） were 31 h and 28 h for TSI and TS2, respectively, indicating the occurrence of a dead zone volume of 12% and 20% for TS 1 and TS2, respectively. TS 1 and TS2 displayed the occurrence of short-circuiting in the NiiMi system. The comparison results between TS1 and TS2 were further confirmed in the values obtained for some indicators, such as volumetric efficiency （e）, short-circuiting （S）, hydraulic efficiency （2） and number of continuously stirred tank reactors （N）.

A FAST LAGRANGIAN SIMULATION METHOD FOR FLOW ANALYSIS AND RUNNER DESIGN IN PELTON TURBINES

In the present work, an alternative numerical methodology is developed for a fast and effective simulation and analysis of the complex flow and energy conversion in Pelton impulse hydro turbines. The algorithm is based on the Lagrangian approach and the unsteady free-surface flow during the jet-bucket interaction is simulated by tracking the trajectories of representative fluid particles at very low computer cost. Modern regression tools are implemented in a new parameterization technique of the inner bucket surface. Key-feature of the model is the introduction of additional terms into the particle motion equations to account for various hydraulic losses and the flow spreading, which are regulated and evaluated with the aid of experimental data in a Laboratory Pelton turbine. The model is applied to study the jet-runner interaction in various operation conditions and then to perform numerical design optimization of the bucket shape, using a stochastic optimizer based on evolutionary algorithms. The obtained optimum runner attains remarkably higher hydraulic efficiency in the entire load range. Finally, a new small Pelton turbine （150 kW） is designed, manufactured and tested in the Laboratory, and its performance and efficiency verify the model predictions.

Master equation and runaway speed of the Francis turbine

The master equation of the Francis turbine is derived based on the combination of the angular momentum（Euler） and the energy laws. It relates the geometrical design of the impeller and the regulation settings（guide vane angle and rotational speed） to the discharge and the power output. The master equation, thus, enables the complete characteristics of a given Francis turbine to be easily computed. While applying the energy law, both the shock loss at the impeller inlet and the swirling loss at the impeller exit are taken into account. These are main losses which occur at both the partial load and the overloads and, thus, dominantly influence the characteristics of the Francis turbine. They also totally govern the discharge of the water through the impeller when the impeller is found in the standstill. The computations have been performed for the discharge, the hydraulic torque and the hydraulic efficiency. They were also compared with the available measurements on a model turbine. Excellent agreement has been achieved. The computations also enable the runaway speed of the Francis turbine and the related discharge to be determined as a function of the setting angle of the guide vanes.