View in EDS

Pressure and velocity of a wedge aerator at the bottom outlet.

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Title:	Pressure and velocity of a wedge aerator at the bottom outlet.
Authors:	Song, Tantao¹ (AUTHOR), Deng, Jun¹ (AUTHOR), Xu, Weilin¹ (AUTHOR), Liu, Chao¹ (AUTHOR), Wei, Wangru¹ (AUTHOR) weiwangru@scu.edu.cn
Source:	Journal of Hydraulic Research / Journal de Recherches Hydraulique. Jun2026, Vol. 64 Issue 3, p384-397. 14p.
Subjects:	Fluid pressure, Velocity, Cavitation, Backwater, Hydraulics, Flow stability (Fluid dynamics)
Abstract:	Bottom aerators are used to form cavities and prevent cavitation. However, on small slopes and low Froude numbers, backwater formation can compromise their effectiveness. This study introduces a wedge aerator installed at the end of a pressurized bottom outlet, splitting the flow into upper and lower layers to stabilize the air cavity. Systematic experiments were performed to optimize the hydraulic characteristics of the wedge aerators. The results indicated that increasing the wedge height extended the cavity length and reduced the backwater. At optimal heights, the lower flow layer functions as a hydrodynamic cushion, mitigating backwater under low Froude numbers. The turbulent flow stability downstream is influenced by the wedge height, which is inversely correlated with the backwater intensity. A higher wedge aerator can stabilize the bottom pressure with negligible side-wall effects. These findings advance the understanding of wedge aerators hydraulics and support more effective design strategies for high-speed bottom outlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
	Copyright of Journal of Hydraulic Research / Journal de Recherches Hydraulique is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database:	Engineering Source

Description
Abstract:	Bottom aerators are used to form cavities and prevent cavitation. However, on small slopes and low Froude numbers, backwater formation can compromise their effectiveness. This study introduces a wedge aerator installed at the end of a pressurized bottom outlet, splitting the flow into upper and lower layers to stabilize the air cavity. Systematic experiments were performed to optimize the hydraulic characteristics of the wedge aerators. The results indicated that increasing the wedge height extended the cavity length and reduced the backwater. At optimal heights, the lower flow layer functions as a hydrodynamic cushion, mitigating backwater under low Froude numbers. The turbulent flow stability downstream is influenced by the wedge height, which is inversely correlated with the backwater intensity. A higher wedge aerator can stabilize the bottom pressure with negligible side-wall effects. These findings advance the understanding of wedge aerators hydraulics and support more effective design strategies for high-speed bottom outlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	00221686
DOI:	10.1080/00221686.2026.2635126