Physical Simulation of Discharge Flow from Deep Conduit in Dense Reservoir (In Terms of Use in the Gotvand Dam Deep Pipe)

The stratified reservoirs are forming due to natural phenomena such as sediment current or a significant change in the quality parameters of water in terms of salinity, dissolved oxygen, heavy metals, etc. Understanding the outflow pattern and its interactions in stratified reservoir according to different discharges from the deep conduit and application for the operation of its system in Gotvand Dam using by a physical model is the main goals of this research. An undistorted physical model with a 1:40 scale from the deep duct structure with the details was established. This scale is calculated based on the Richardson number and the same density conditions in the model and prototype. Laboratory scenarios of the physical model were designed and implemented in two sections to allow changes water level in the reservoir and maintain it. The results of experiments with different outflow rates revealed that salinity of the layer in front of the deep conduit plays an important role in the salinity of the depleted stream, and other layers in different level of the reservoir have not affect in changing this amount. Also, the pattern of the streamline formed towards the output is under very stable conditions without expanding to other layers. This issue was clearly recorded in addition to measuring by imaging from the model. Regarding the saline outflow from the layer in front of the deep duct, falling of the low dense upper layers was performed and the mixing in other layers was not observed.