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4. Visual observation of flow patterns within a scale-model sediment tank.
Experiment Set 4
Discussion and Conclusions
The following preliminary conclusions were reached:
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A pressure recovery effect creates more exit flow at the end of the pipe farthest from the source than at the source end. The net effect of this unbalanced flow pattern may be circular flow in the sediment tank and non-optimal tank performance. However, the magnitude of this effect may not match "simple theory" which assumed uniform flow patterns.
Further Experiments
Further experiments will seek again to clarify the magnitude of the differential flow and test various "corrective" designs to see if more uniform flow will result. Dye tests using he model will be the primary method of testing in the next phase, although other tests may also be proposed.