Generation of Supersaturated Total Dissolved Gases from Low-Level Outlets at Hydropower Facilities
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 12
Abstract
Supersaturated total dissolved gases (TDGs) generated by dams can cause gas bubble trauma and mortality in fish in downstream waters. In this study, we evaluated air entrainment and generation of supersaturated TDG at two submerged low-level outlets (LLOs) at Hugh L. Keenleyside Dam, British Columbia, Canada. Specifically, we determined how air entrainment (less than 1% volume fraction) through the gate well, discharge level through the outlets, and geometry of the stilling basins at the south and north ends of the dam influenced supersaturated TDG generation. A mathematical formulation was developed, incorporating physical processes including air entrainment, bubble breakup, and gas transfer. Numerical modeling was also adopted to validate turbulence and flowfield downstream of the submerged low-level outlets. Despite being 8-m shallower, significantly higher TDG levels were measured in the stilling basin of the south LLO (about 120%) compared to that of the north LLO (). Results show that turbulence in the stilling basin can produce smaller bubbles and increase the mass transfer coefficient across bubbles, which will substantially enhance gas transfer and TDG generation. Higher TDG generated in the shallower LLO was therefore attributed to the water depth generating stronger turbulence flow, with more efficient gas transfer. This study improves TDG prediction and helps inform the development of operational alternatives during periods of high TDG generation to mitigate impacts on the aquatic environment.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada and BC Hydro. The authors would like to thank Rajib Kamal, Greame Billay, Dean Den Biesen, and Zijian Xue for their help in the field, and Perry Fedun for his support in the lab.
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Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 148 • Issue 12 • December 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 1, 2021
Accepted: Jun 30, 2022
Published online: Sep 29, 2022
Published in print: Dec 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Feb 28, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Chemical properties
- Chemistry
- Dams
- Dissolved gases
- Energy engineering
- Energy sources (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Entrainment
- Environmental engineering
- Fluid mechanics
- Gases
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic properties
- Hydro power
- Hydrologic engineering
- Models (by type)
- Numerical models
- Renewable energy
- Stilling basins
- Submerging
- Turbulence
- Water and water resources
- Water treatment
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Cited by
- Pengcheng Li, David Z. Zhu, Ran Li, Yuanming Wang, James A. Crossman, W. Ludwig Kuhn, Production of total dissolved gas supersaturation at hydropower facilities and its transport: A review, Water Research, 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119012, 223, (119012), (2022).