Flow characteristics around the sluice caisson for tidal power plant investigated by particle image velocimetry

Abstract

This study presents the results of PIV experiments for visualizing the flow characteristics of the sluice caisson of tidal power plant. At throat section downstream, it was observed that turbulent boundary layers are developed along the top and bottom surfaces of the sluice caisson, where active vortex-vortex interactions are apparently visualized. At the outlet of the sluice caisson, the flow came out as likely as jet stream and rose to the water surface slightly far downstream of the sluice caisson. Hence, the upper waters just behind the sluice caisson were not directly influenced by the flow. A slowly fluctuating large vortex cell was found in this region, while the magnitude of vortex was strongly dependent on the flow rate. top and bottom surfaces of the sluice caisson, where active vortex-vortex interactions are apparently visualized. At the outlet of the sluice caisson, the flow came out as likely as jet stream and rose to the water surface slightly far downstream of the sluice caisson. Hence, the upper waters just behind the sluice caisson were not directly influenced by the flow. A slowly fluctuating large vortex cell was found in this region, while the magnitude of vortex was strongly dependent on the flow rate.