The Optimal Selection of Submerged Vanes Geometric Dimensions in Curved Channels with Sediment Flow

One of the major challenges in diverting water from rivers is the intrusion of sediment into intakes, which can cause operational issues and damage infrastructure. Various methods have been explored to mitigate this problem, including the use of submerged vanes. This study employed simulations to evaluate the effectiveness of submerged vanes and the impact of their geometric parameters on reducing sediment inflow. Results showed the sediment transport estimation error for the optimal computational mesh size (2.7cm × 1cm) was 0.55%. The findings indicated that the optimal vane height and length were 0.5 times the flow depth and 2.5 times the vane height, respectively. Additionally, the optimal transverse and longitudinal spacing between vanes, as well as the distance from the nearest vane row to the intake wall, were determined to be 2.17, 5, and 2 times the vane height, respectively. Flow analysis showed that near the bed, the maximum velocity cores were directed toward the outer bend and the intake, whereas at the water surface, these cores became more widely distributed across the channel. Negative vertical velocities were concentrated at the intake entrance. In the absence of submerged vanes, the maximum secondary flow strength was found near the bed across the full channel width. However, when vanes were present, the strongest secondary currents shifted to the left side of the vanes.