Geysering in Rapidly Filling Storm-Water Tunnels
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 1
Abstract
Events that are referred to as geysers have been observed in storm-water or combined sewer systems and are associated with jets of water rising through manholes to a considerable distance above the ground surface. Visual observations suggest that air may be a significant component of the jet. The mechanisms of geyser occurrence have been previously assumed to originate in inertial oscillations that force water up through vertical ventilation shafts. Recent laboratory investigations indicate that geyser formation is associated with the release of trapped air pockets through partially filled vertical shafts. Pressure data from a storm-water tunnel subject to infrequent geyser events is presented to indicate that measured piezometric heads adjacent to the ventilation shaft never increase to levels approaching the ground surface during a geyser event suggesting that air interactions must be an important part of the process. It is concluded that system design to avoid geyser formation must include the consideration of trapped air within the tunnel system.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to acknowledge the cooperation of Dr. Christopher Ellis (with the St. Anthony Falls Hydraulics Laboratory) and Bruce Irish of the Minnesota Department of Transportation in providing the field data used in this manuscript.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 1 • January 2011
Pages: 112 - 115
Copyright
© 2011 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 24, 2008
Accepted: Mar 29, 2010
Published online: Mar 30, 2010
Published in print: Jan 2011
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