Improving Water Diversion Efficiency in Converging Side Weirs through Side Vane Installation: a numerical simulation

Side weirs are important components in irrigation and drainage systems, used for controlling and diverting flow. Given the advantages of side weirs in converging channels, improving the hydraulic performance of these structures is essential. This study aims to enhance the hydraulic performance of converging side weirs through the installation of a side vane. Numerical simulations were conducted using the Flow-3D software with various turbulence models, and the results were validated against experimental data ( ). In this study, three different angles for side vane installation (60, 90, and 120 degrees) at two positions, upstream and downstream of the weir, were investigated. The results showed that installing the side vane at the upstream position of the weir with a 60-degree angle led to a 32% increase in the diversion flow compared to the control scenario (without side vane). The analysis revealed that the reduction in flow velocity downstream of the side weir and the creation of a low-velocity zone around the side vane contributed to more effective flow guidance toward the weir, thereby increasing its efficiency. The practical application of the results of this research is the improvement of converging side weir design and their enhanced efficiency in managing water flows.