Effects of Diversion Wall on the Hydrodynamics and Withdrawal Sediment of A Lateral Intake

Lateral intake is widely built in water transfer and water supply projects. Hydrodynamics and withdrawal sediment characteristics of a lateral intake are crucial to safe and stable operation. In this study, an experiment model and a 3-D simulation model were established and validated. Hydrodynamic characteristics were investigated and improved by experiment. Additionally, the withdrawal sediment flow rate $${Q}_{s}$$ Q s , withdrawal sediment quantity $$\mathrm{V}$$ V , maximum withdrawal sediment flow rate $${Q}_{sm}$$ Q sm were obtained by numerical simulation. Under different sediment thickness $${h}_{s}$$ h s scenarios, the diversion wall was beneficial to inhibit sediment entering the intake. The range of $$\mathrm{V}$$ V was from 52.3 to 69.26 ton under the scenarios without the diversion wall, and the range of $$\mathrm{V}$$ V was from 50.97 to 67.51 ton under the scenarios with the diversion wall. The larger the $${h}_{s}$$ h s was, the higher $$\mathrm{V}$$ V and $${Q}_{sm}$$ Q sm were, the more obvious inhibitory effect of the diversion wall on withdrawal sediment was. Meanwhile, the mechanism analysis of withdrawal sediment change was explained. Under different withdrawal flow rate $${Q}_{in}$$ Q in scenarios, the inhibitory effect of the diversion wall on withdrawal sediment was also applicable. When $${Q}_{in}$$ Q in increased from 10 to 60 m3/s, the range of $${Q}_{sm}$$ Q sm was from 0.556 to 8.319 ton/s under the scenarios without the diversion wall, and the range of $${Q}_{sm}$$ Q sm was from 0.524 to 8.038 ton/s under the scenarios with the diversion wall. The larger the $${Q}_{in}$$ Q in was, the more obvious inhibitory effect was. This research represents an advance in lateral withdrawal sediment and provides support for further engineering studies.