San Antonio River Navigation Lock Chamber
The objectives of this study are to construct the hydraulic model of the San Antonio River Navigation Lock Chamber and to use it as a design aid to reduce the hazardous impacts of filling and emptying of the lock chamber on the vessels. The main goal of this model study is to evaluate the chamber performance during filling and emptying of the chamber. The chamber performance indicators are surface currents and turbulence, and hawser forces on mooring lines. This project has been commissioned by HDR Inc.
Homme Dam Safety Improvements Park River, N. Dakota
A physical model was constructed of the Homme Dam spillway and outlet channel in Park River, North Dakota to verify the adequacy and test the optimality of the proposed outlet-channel riprap protection, and to determine the spillway rating curve. The study showed that the proposed outlet channel protection withstood the probable maximum flood (PMF) without damage to the spillway structure and with only minor damage to the outlet protection. An even more economical design of the outlet channel protection was proposed and tested, leading to cost saving of about $200,000.
Siphon Intake to the Brasfield Dam Hydroelectric Facility
This study addressed the combined concerns of discharge water quality and intake vortex suppression in a three-megawatt hydroelectric plant with 41 feet of head and siphon intake for 1,000 cfs. Our studies indicated that for water quality protection, the withdrawal should be as shallow as possible. This necessitated an intake model test for design vortex suppression devices. The suppression device considered was an underwater grid which was proven to eliminate vortices even with just three feet submergence.
UNOCAL Pump Sump Hydraulic Model
Based on the engineer's preliminary design, SAFL constructed and tested a recirculating model of the proposed intake sump. The sump included two vertical turbine mixed-flow wet-pit pumps, withdrawing water followed by two large diameter inlet pipes. Our testing and recommendations led to design changes to improve the velocity distribution of the proposed intake screens and pump intakes themselves. Photos show the recirculating flow set-up, intake bellmouth and sump structure.
Busse Woods Reservoir and Drop Structure
The Busse Woods Reservoir and Drop Structure are located in Cook County near Chicago Illinois. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) planned to modify the conventional Soil Conservation Service drop structure and stilling basin to increase flood storage and decrease downstream flooding. In order to maintain both low flow and retain higher flows, IDOT proposed that a 2.3 ft high fixed gate be placed at 1.2 feet above the existing crest. SAFL was contracted to build and test a physical model of the altered spillway. The model was used to determine the beam elevation to achieve the design reservoir flood stage. A movable bed was included to evaluate the need for riprap to protect the stilling basin end sill from higher exit velocities.
Starved Rock Lock and Dam, Navigation and Sediment Study
SAFL assisted the City of Peru, Illinois, with its investigation of construction and operation of a new hydroelectric facility at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam on the Illinois River. The City's objective was to sell power to the local electric utility and use profits as a continuous revenue stream for the City. As a result of the FERC licensing procedure, the City was required to address US Army Corps of Engineers concerns regarding navigation and sedimentation which might result from changes in flow. SAFL built a physical model in its 155 ft by 28 ft river model basin for this study. For the navigation part, SAFL engineers cooperated with Waterways Experiment Station engineers who navigated a radio controlled tow boat and barge through the locks, with and without the hydro plant and for low through flood flow conditions. The study showed that changes in currents were small and caused only minor effects on navigation at the downstream lock entrance.
