THE USE OF PHYSICAL MODELING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AT EVERGLADES PUMP STATIONS

摘要

South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) contracted northwest hydraulicrnconsultants (nhc) to conduct physical hydraulic model studies of two outflow pumpingrnstations in the Everglades. Two separate Froude-scaled, geometrically similar,rnundistorted three-dimensional model studies were conducted at approximate scales ofrn1:16. Each model included 500 feet of the redirected canals upstream of the stations, thernpump station sump, and the pump suction piping up to the impeller of each pump.rnTesting the existing design of both stations with the new intake canal layout identifiedrnseveral performance problems and determined the cause of the documented vibration andrnerosion of the concrete floor in the pump bays. Pump intake modifications wererndeveloped using models to correct the performance deficiencies. These cost effective andrninnovative solutions included the use of the stop logs to control the formation of surfacernvortices, converging sidewalls and false back walls with center splitters and pump inletrnvanes to reduce flow pre-swirl entering the pumps and eliminate subsurface vortexrnformation. Prototype pump performance testing with the modified pump bays confirmedrnthat the modifications improved pump intake flow hydraulics with flow capacity andrnhead meeting or exceeding previous pump operation and vibration was within acceptancernlevels.