Experimental and Numerical Modelling of Air Entrainment in Eco-hydraulics

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Air entrainment in free-surface flows is ubiquitous in eco-hydraulics. The entrained air influences the dissolved oxygen level and is very useful in water treatment to sustain microorganisms for water purification and in rivers and streams for sustaining a healthy aquatic life. However, excessive air entrainment in fish passages can result in gas-bubble disease and adversely affect fish migration. Aeration also occurs in oceans during the wave breaking process. Wave energy is said to be the largest source of renewable energy and could contribute 10% of the global electricity demand by 2050. Methods to extract the energy from the wave breaking process needs to be explored. These examples highlight the practical relevance of studying air-water flows. Self-aeration is an uncontrolled process and the dynamics of air-water flows is complex. Researchers have largely studied air-water flows experimentally and to a limited extent using numerical tools. While the studies have brought forth the complexity in the flows, the internal turbulence mechanism is not fully understood. This is due to the limitations in the commonly used single-phase flow instruments, which need to be improved or modified for use in air-water flows. The Achilles heel in the computational study of air-water flows is the air-entrainment model. To achieve success, an improved understanding of the physical processes that govern the flow is required. With the availability of improved instrumentation and enhanced computational facilities, it is now possible to begin a research program to develop practical tools that are required to predict the supersaturation of gases in rivers, to prevent fish-kill and to reduce odour in urban sewer systems. A novel experimental and numerical research program is proposed to predict/control turbulence and air entrainment in free-surface flows. We will focus on flow fields that represent most of the complexities that one encounters in practical situations. We have chosen 3 flow fields: Hydraulic Jumps, Fish Passages and Breaking Waves. These flows have common features: high turbulence, free-surface breakup, air entrainment followed by bubble generated turbulence. Experimental studies using Bubble Image Velocimetry supported by complementary numerical modeling will be used. The major goals include: (i) Improve our understanding of aerated flows by conducting experimental studies using state-of-the-art instrumentation and (ii) Develop computational fluid dynamics based models suitable for air-water flows. The physical processes that are responsible for aeration, air bubble interactions and breakup will be analyzed in the flow fields. The study will aid to improve the design of drop shafts, fish passages, spillways and urban hydraulic systems. The new tools will help to reduce future reliance on expensive physical model testing. Over the 5-year cycle, 14 HQP (4 PhD, 5 MSc, 5 BSc) will be trained.