Hydraulic Calculations for Flow in Lock Manifolds

Abstract

A procedure to calculate the flow and pressure distributions within navigation‐lock manifolds is presented. The approach is to treat each port as a discrete element in the flow system. Values of port hydraulic coefficients are established using previously reported laboratory studies of the flow characteristics of single‐port manifolds. Energy‐loss equations are written for the flow path through each port in the manifold. These equations use the port coefficients determined from laboratory experiments and the Darcy‐Weisbach friction factor. The energy‐loss equations are used in conjunction with the continuity equation to form a system of nonlinear equations in which the unknowns are the manifold discharges. These equations are solved simultaneously using a predictor‐corrector numerical scheme to provide a solution to multiported manifolds. The solution technique is verified with model data for manifold designs in existing locks. The solution technique determines the culvert and port discharges and the pressure distributions for these manifolds within acceptable limits.