Effects of Diversion Wall on the Hydrodynamics and Withdrawal Sediment of A Lateral Intake

Lateral intake is widely built in water transfer and water supply projects. Hydrodynamics and withdrawal sediment characteristics of a lateral intake are crucial to safe and stable operation. In this study, an experiment model and a 3-D simulation model were established and validated. Hydrodynamic characteristics were investigated and improved by experiment. Additionally, the withdrawal sediment flow rate \({Q}_{s}\), withdrawal sediment quantity \(\mathrm{V}\), maximum withdrawal sediment flow rate \({Q}_{sm}\) were obtained by numerical simulation. Under different sediment thickness \({h}_{s}\) scenarios, the diversion wall was beneficial to inhibit sediment entering the intake. The range of \(\mathrm{V}\) was from 52.3 to 69.26 ton under the scenarios without the diversion wall, and the range of \(\mathrm{V}\) was from 50.97 to 67.51 ton under the scenarios with the diversion wall. The larger the \({h}_{s}\) was, the higher \(\mathrm{V}\) and \({Q}_{sm}\) were, the more obvious inhibitory effect of the diversion wall on withdrawal sediment was. Meanwhile, the mechanism analysis of withdrawal sediment change was explained. Under different withdrawal flow rate \({Q}_{in}\) scenarios, the inhibitory effect of the diversion wall on withdrawal sediment was also applicable. When \({Q}_{in}\) increased from 10 to 60 m³/s, the range of \({Q}_{sm}\) was from 0.556 to 8.319 ton/s under the scenarios without the diversion wall, and the range of \({Q}_{sm}\) was from 0.524 to 8.038 ton/s under the scenarios with the diversion wall. The larger the \({Q}_{in}\) was, the more obvious inhibitory effect was. This research represents an advance in lateral withdrawal sediment and provides support for further engineering studies.