PDDRC Computer Controlled Unit for Transient Drainage Processes in Storage Reservoirs

The Computer Controlled Unit for Transient Drainage Processes in Storage Reservoirs, "PDDRC", allows to investigate transient drainage processes in storage reservoirs, to simulate a rainwater retention basin and to study the operation of a surge chamber.

The unit includes two reservoirs and a transparent surge chamber. The upper reservoir includes an adjustable weir and the lower reservoir includes an overflow and a drainage line with two valves. The surge chamber is installed in this line. The drainage line of the surge chamber includes a gate to generate water hammers.

The water inlet line to the upper reservoir includes a computer controlled pump, a valve to regulate the inlet flow and a flow sensor. The overflow and the surge chamber include two drains.

The unit allows to study three different configurations and several experiments: consecutive storage reservoirs, rainwater retention basin and surge chamber.

In the first configuration, the transient drainage processes are shown in two storage reservoirs, where the lower reservoir is behind the upper reservoir. The upper reservoir simulates a storage reservoir, where the adjustable weir is used as a free overfall. The lower reservoir simulates a storage reservoir with overflow.

The delayed drainage processes can be studied in the "rainwater retention basin" configuration. The upper reservoir simulates a drainage channel with a gate, which is simulated with the adjustable weir. The lower reservoir simulates a rainwater retention basin and the discharge is adjusted by using two valves in the drainage line.

A water hammer is produced in the "surge chamber" configuration by rapidly closing the gate in the drainage pipe. The oscillation can be seen as a pendulum movement of the water level in the surge chamber.

The water level in the two reservoirs and the water level fluctuations in the surge chamber are measured by three pressure sensors. These measurements allow to represent the pressure curves and course of the water levels.

The unit includes a protective cover to prevent spillages.

This Computer Controlled Unit is supplied with the EDIBON Computer Control System (SCADA), and includes: The unit itself + a Control Interface Box + a Data Acquisition Board + Computer Control, Data Acquisition and Data Management Software Packages, for controlling the process and all parameters involved in the process.