Performance of the analytical solutions for Taylor dispersion process in open channel flow

- A third-order analytical solution is deduced.
- The analytical solutions are evaluated by numerical simulations.
- The traditional truncation is found insufficient for the first estimation.

SummaryThe present paper provides a systematical analysis for concentration distribution of Taylor dispersion in laminar open channel flow, seeking fundamental understandings for the physical process of solute transport that generally applies to natural rivers. As a continuation and a direct numerical verification of the previous theoretical work (Wu, Z., Chen, G.Q., 2014. Journal of Hydrology, 519: 1974-1984.), in this paper we attempt to understand that to what extent the obtained analytical solutions are valid for the multi-dimensional concentration distribution, which is vital for the key conclusion of the so-called slow-decaying transient effect. It is shown that as a first estimation, even asymptotically, the longitudinal skewness of the concentration distribution should be incorporated to predict the vertical concentration correctly. Thus the traditional truncation of the concentration expansion is considered to be insufficient for the first estimation. The analytical solution by the two-scale perturbation analysis with modifications up to the second order is shown to be a most economical solution to give a reasonably good prediction.