Low flow regime measurements with an automatic pulse tracer velocimeter (APTV) in heterogeneous aquatic environments

    Authors

    N. B. Chang; A. J. Crawford; G. L. Mohiuddin;J. Kaplan

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Flow Meas. Instrum.

    Keywords

    Acoustic Doppler velocimeter; Automatic pulse tracer velocimeter; Hydraulic flume; Velocimeter; Velocity; Wetland; Dispersion coefficient; THROUGH EMERGENT VEGETATION; ADV MEASUREMENTS; TRANSPORT; SEDIMENT; WETLANDS; ACCUMULATION; EVERGLADES; TURBULENCE; AQUIFER; ESTUARY; Engineering, Mechanical; Instruments & Instrumentation

    Abstract

    Cost-effective velocity measurements at lab and field scales are required for understanding and modeling the flow characteristics in aquatic environments such as constructed wetlands, coastal marshes, lakes and reservoirs. This paper presents a new measurement device-the automatic pulse tracer velocimeter (APTV) that is designed to measure water velocities for low flow regimes (0.2-5.0 cm s(-1)) in heterogeneous aquatic environments using NaCl pulse tracer measurements. Hydraulic data collected in a laboratory-scale flume and field-scale constructed wetland were analyzed to determine velocity, directional flow and dispersion coefficients measured by using a cross-type and arc-type APTV. Acoustic Doppler velocimeters (ADVs) were used to collect calibration measurements in a hydraulic flume to gain fundamental understanding in support of field experiments. To test the effects of vegetation, four scenarios of laboratory-scale tests having both submerged and emergent artificial vegetation were conducted in a flume including; (1) no artificial vegetation (NAV), (2) submerged artificial vegetation (SAV) (3) emergent artificial vegetation (EAV), and (4) mix artificial vegetation (MAV). Directional flow detection and simulated storm event flow tests were conducted using an arc-type APTV data in the flume to gain perspectives of APTV performance in variable flow conditions. Cross-type APTV pulse data were eventually analyzed to determine dispersion coefficients based on the tracer curves. Finally APTVs were tested alongside an ADV for a three-day duration in a constructed wetland nearby the Everglades, Florida. Operating advantages of the APTV compared to other similar sensors were summarized in the end to enhance the application potential. Results indicate that APTVs are ideal device for affordable measurements of velocities in a 02-4.5 cm s(-1) with the prediction of both velocity field, direction and dispersion coefficients, and capable of autonomous deployment and control in a sensor network. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Flow Measurement and Instrumentation

    Volume

    42

    Publication Date

    1-1-2015

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    98

    Last Page

    112

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000352174400011

    ISSN

    0955-5986

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