Free-surface elevation in open vortex flow controls

Among many practical applications in hydraulic engineering, rotational separators of a suspension and vortex flow controls may serve as especially interesting examples. This form of motion, despite some evident regularity, is a complex phenomenon so to describe it one should make use of CFD tools or pursue an experimental approach to the subject. Both of these possibilities are not very convenient, so any rational method that provides a possibility for calculating the velocity field and pressure distribution is welcome. For the considered class of technical objects, the family of kinematic models is to the purpose. The velocity field is described in this case by some algebraic relations, assumed arbitrarily on the basis of a qualitative evaluation of this field and the model constant is calculated from a delivered and dissipated energy in the energy balance. This method was effectively used in the description of rotational separators and pressure flow controls operation. This paper presents an application of such an approach to open flow regulators.