COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS MODELING OF THE PUEBLO DAM RIVER OUTLET WORKS

摘要

The Southern Delivery System (SDS) Pueblo Dam Connection Project consists of a connection to the existing Pueblo Dam River Outlet Works with a stainless steel tunnel liner that expands from a 4-by-4-foot square connection to a 90-inch-diameter pipe. The 90-inch pipe leads to downstream valves for river releases and a wye turnout to the SDS transmission pipeline. The peak discharge for the existing Pueblo Dam River Outlet Works is 1,120 cubic feet per second (cfs), which equates to a maximum velocity of 70 feet per second (fps) at the connection. This paper discusses the results of the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling performed on both the existing Pueblo Dam River Outlet Works prior to modifications associated with the SDS Project, and the modified outlet associated with SDS Pueblo Dam Connection. Design provisions included in the contract documents that were developed to reflect the recommendations developed from the CFD models are discussed. For example, special guidelines were specified to minimize deflections between joints, offsets, and weld groove thicknesses within the stainless steel tunnel liner section to minimize the possibility for cavitation under high discharge flow conditions.