Experimental study on the effect of distance of suction tube mouth from sediment surface on the hydrosuction system performance

In recent decades, the hydrosuction technique is known as one of the efficient methods that has been used for dredging sediments deposited in dams’ reservoirs. This technique has obvious advantages compared to other sediment removal techniques such as no need for extra energy (due to the use of the difference between water surface energy at the upstream and downstream of the dam) and the possibility of transporting dredged sediments to a specific area. This technique is influenced by several geometric and hydraulic factors such as the suction tube diameter (Dp), the water head or the difference between the water height at the upstream and downstream of the dam (H), and the distance of the suction mouth from the surface of the sediment (hp). In the current research, the effects of suction opening intervals on sediment (SP class) surface was studied using a physical model. The results of the experiments showed that by increasing the hp factor, the discharge rate of the sediment and also the sediment concentration of the outlet flow would be increased. The results also indicated that the sediment evacuation process continued with the minimum value for hp/Dp=-1.33; for values less than -1.33, the tube obstructed due to accumulation of sediments in the inlet opening.