Pressure Recovery in Dividing Open Channels

Abstract

Spatially varied dividing lateral flows are encountered in open channel manifold systems consisting of a series of branch channel outlets, side weirs and channel floor outlets. To account for the uncertainty in the axial momentum transported across the lateral area of the branch in such systems, a pressure recovery factor is proposed. On the basis of limited experiments, the pressure recovery factor is estimated for the particular case of a discrete branch channel junction. The test results are compared with test results of spatially varied dividing lateral flow in closed conduits.