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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
Book cover


Predicting Rating Curves for Combined Sewer Overflows

Translated title

Forudsigelse af Q-h relationer for overløbsbygværker

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2023

Submitted on

Pages

100

Abstract

This thesis introduces a practical way to predict rating curves for combined sewer overflow (CSO) structures—the relationship between water level and overflow rate—using the geometry of the structure and the connected sewer system. We identify three factors that matter most: the weir coefficient (how efficiently water passes the overflow crest), the capacity of the discharge pipe, and the hydraulic resistance from debris screens. For two common CSO types—side weirs and stilling pond (basin) structures—we propose methods to estimate the weir coefficient. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of nearly one thousand randomly generated CSO designs, we show that the weir coefficient can be predicted from the Froude number and the geometry of the weir crest. We also determine where a water level sensor should be placed to give the most reliable predictions. We present a method to link the hydraulic resistance of a screen to the flow over a weir, and validate it with laboratory experiments and CFD; the tests also show that resistance increases as the screen clogs. A simple model for the discharge pipe is developed and validated against CFD results. Finally, we predict rating curves for five real CSO structures and compare them with CFD outputs and field measurements. For structures that fall within either of the two studied CSO types, the predicted rating curves are accurate.

Specialet præsenterer en praktisk metode til at forudsige ratingkurver for kombinerede kloakoverløb (CSO)—sammenhængen mellem vandstand og overløbsstrøm—ud fra bygværkets geometri og det tilsluttede kloaksystem. Vi peger på tre vigtigste forhold: overfaldskoefficienten (hvor effektivt vand passerer overløbskanten), kapaciteten af udløbsledningen og den hydrauliske modstand fra eventuelle riste. For to udbredte CSO-typer—sideoverløb og beroligelsesbassin-bygværker—foreslår vi metoder til at bestemme overfaldskoefficienten. Med computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-modeller af næsten tusind tilfældigt genererede CSO-design viser vi, at overfaldskoefficienten kan forudsiges ud fra Froude-tallet og geometrien af overløbskanten. Vi fastlægger også, hvor en vandstandssensor bør placeres for at give de mest pålidelige forudsigelser. Vi udvikler en metode, der knytter den hydrauliske modstand i en rist til strømningen over et overløb, og validerer den med laboratorieforsøg og CFD; forsøgene viser desuden, at modstanden stiger, når risten tilstopper. Derudover opstiller vi en enkel model for udløbsledningen og validerer den mod CFD-resultater. Afslutningsvis forudsiger vi ratingkurver for fem virkelige CSO-bygværker og sammenligner med CFD-resultater og feltmålinger. For bygværker, der hører til en af de to undersøgte CSO-typer, er de forudsagte ratingkurver præcise.

[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]