[en] The Piano Key Weir (PKW) is a kind of labyrinth weir with a geometry that uses overhangs to reduce the base length. The PKW can thus be directly placed on the crest of an existing dam. Together with its high discharge capacity for low heads (up to four times as high as an ogee-crested weir of same length), this geometric feature makes the PKW an interesting solution for dam rehabilitation and for new dam projects with a high level of constraints (design discharge, available space, reservoir storage, ...). PKW has been initially designed in 2001 and built for the first time in 2006 by “Electricité de France (EDF)”. Even if the first experimental studies confirmed its appealing discharge capacities, the flow upstream, over and downstream of this complex structure is still poorly described.
Following a 3 years intensive experimental and numerical study of PKW hydraulics, the paper presents a general description of the hydraulic behavior of the PKW. It aims to explain the influence of the large set of geometric parameters on the discharge capacity. The assumptions of the study link various phenomenons depicted in the literature about PKW and an evaluation of their relative influence on the PKW efficiency is given. The role of the crests shape, the crests submersion, the nappes interactions, the crests approach conditions, the position of the control section and the head losses are analyzed. Design advices are also given.
Research Center/Unit :
Aquapôle - ULiège
Disciplines :
Civil engineering
Author, co-author :
Machiels, Olivier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur MS2F > HECE (Hydraulics in Environnemental and Civil Engineering)
Erpicum, Sébastien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Services généraux (Faculté des sciences appliquées) > Scientifiques attachés au Doyen (Sc.appliquées)
Archambeau, Pierre ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur MS2F > HECE (Hydraulics in Environnemental and Civil Engineering)
Dewals, Benjamin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur MS2F > Hydraulics in Environmental and Civil Engineering
Pirotton, Michel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département Argenco : Secteur MS2F > HECE (Hydraulics in Environnemental and Civil Engineering)
Language :
English
Title :
On the Piano Key Weir hydraulics
Publication date :
2012
Event name :
2nd IAHR Europe Conference
Event place :
Munich, Germany
Event date :
2012
Audience :
International
Main work title :
Proceedings of 2nd IAHR Europe Congress
Editor :
Rutschmann, Peter
Grünzner, Markus
Stephan, Hötzl
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Funders :
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. Read more
Save & Close
Accept all
Decline all
Show detailsHide details
Cookie declaration
About cookies
Strictly necessary
Performance
Strictly necessary cookies allow core website functionality such as user login and account management. The website cannot be used properly without strictly necessary cookies.
This cookie is used by Cookie-Script.com service to remember visitor cookie consent preferences. It is necessary for Cookie-Script.com cookie banner to work properly.
Performance cookies are used to see how visitors use the website, eg. analytics cookies. Those cookies cannot be used to directly identify a certain visitor.
Used to store the attribution information, the referrer initially used to visit the website
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. Websites use cookies to help users navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. Cookies that are required for the website to operate properly are allowed to be set without your permission. All other cookies need to be approved before they can be set in the browser.
You can change your consent to cookie usage at any time on our Privacy Policy page.