Flow Over Notches and Weirs

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Flow Over Notches and Weirs A notch is an opening in the side of a tank or reservoir which extends above the surface of the liquid. It is usually a device for measuring discharge. A weir is a notch on a larger scale - usually found in rivers. It may be sharp crested but also may have a substantial width in the direction of flow - it is used as both a flow measuring device and a device to raise water levels.

Weirs have the following applications: Serving as emergency spillways for regulating high-return event

flows overtopping dams and detention ponds Regulating the flow in channels Approximating the flow over roadways acting as broad-crested weirs

when flow exceeds a culverts capacity Approximating the flow allowed through an unsubmerged culvert

operating under inlet control.


Culvert

Measuring flow


The lowest point of structure surface or edge over which water flows is called the crest, whereas the stream of water that exits over the weir is called the nappe. Depending on the weir design, flow may contract as it exits over the top of the weir, and, as with orifices, the point of maximum contraction is called the vena contracta.

A common weir


Types of weir Weir can be identified by:

1. the shape of their opening or notch; 2. the edge of the opening- can be either sharp- or broad crested or of

other geometry.

Example of some common weirs based on their cross section (edge of the opening):


Weir Assumptions We will assume that the velocity of the fluid approaching the weir is small so that kinetic energy can be neglected. We will also assume that the velocity through any elemental strip depends only on the depth below the free surface. These are acceptable assumptions for tanks with notches or reservoirs with weirs, but for flows where the velocity approaching the weir is substantial the kinetic energy must be taken into account (e.g. a fast moving river).

A General Weir Equation To determine an expression for the theoretical flow through a notch we will consider a horizontal strip of width b and depth h below the free surface, as shown in the figure below.


Elemental strip of flow through a notch

integrating from the free surface, , to the weir crest, gives the expression for the total theoretical discharge


This will be different for every differently shaped weir or notch. To make further use of this equation we need an expression relating the width of flow across the weir to the depth below the free surface.


Rectangular Weir

For a rectangular weir the width does not change with depth so there is no relationship between b and depth h. We have the equation,


A rectangular weir

Substituting this into the general weir equation gives

To calculate the actual discharge we introduce a coefficient of discharge, , which accounts for losses at the edges of the weir and contractions in

the area of flow, giving


Coefficient of Discharge for Rectangular Weir:

Coefficient of discharge for rectangular weir, given by Rehbock is,

Where P is the height of weir crest in meter.

H is the head over crest in meter.


The above equation is valid for P from 0.1 to 1.0 m and H from 0.024 to 0.6 m.

'V' Notch


For the "V" notch weir, the relationship between width and depth is dependent on the angle of the "V".

"V" notch, or triangular, weir geometry.

If the angle of the "V" is then the width, b, a depth h from the free surface is

So the discharge is


And again, the actual discharge is obtained by introducing a coefficient of discharge


Trapezoidal weir


The equation for flow through trapezoidal notch is obtained from the equations for rectangular and V-notches.


In the forgoing theory, it has been assumed that the velocity of the liquid approaching the notch is very small so that its kinetic energy can be neglected; it can also be assumed that the velocity through any horizontal element across the notch will depend only on its depth below the free surface.

This is a satisfactory assumption for flow over a notch or weir in the side of a large reservoir, but, is the notch or weir is placed at the end of a narrow channel, the velocity of approach to the weir will be substantial and the head h producing flow will be increased by the kinetic energy of the approaching liquid to a value

x = h + v12/(2g),

where v1 is the mean velocity of the liquid in the approach channel. Note that the value of v1 is obtained by dividing the discharge by the full cross sectional area of the channel itself, not that of the notch. As a result, the discharge through the strip will be


dQ = b dh(2gx).


Examples

1. Deduce an expression for the discharge of water over a right-angled sharp edged V-notch, given that the coefficient of discharge is 0.61. A rectangular tank 16m by 6m has the same notch in one of its short vertical sides. Determine the time taken for the head, measured from the bottom of the notch, to fall from 15cm to 7.5cm.

Answer:

From your notes you can derive:


For this weir the equation simplifies to

Write the equation for the discharge in terms of the surface height change:


Integrating between h1 and h2, to give the time to change surface level

h1 = 0.15m, h2 = 0.075m


2. Develop a formula for the discharge over a 900 V-notch weir in terms of head above the bottom of the V. A channel conveys 300 litres/sec of water. At the outlet end there is a 90 V-notch weir for which the coefficient of discharge is 0.58. At what distance above the bottom of the channel should the weir be placed in order to make the depth in the channel 1.30m? With the weir in this position what is the depth of water in the channel when the flow is 200 litres/sec?

Answer:

Derive this formula from the notes:


From the question:

= 90 Cd 0.58 Q = 0.3 m3/s, depth of water,

giving the weir equation:

a) As H is the height above the bottom of the V, the depth of water = Z = D + H, where D is the height of the bottom of the V from the base of the channel. So


1. Find Z when Q = 0.2 m3/s

Flow Over Notches and Weirs

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