Ελληνικά

Environmental Hydraulics

Course Description:

Introduction: concepts and definitions, pollution and transport processes of pollutants in water and air ambients. The one-dimensional equation of molecular diffusion: derivation and analytical solutions. The one-dimensional equation of advection-diffusion: derivation and analytical solutions. Mixing in rivers: turbulent diffusion and dispersion. Physical, chemical and biological processes. Numerical models for simulating the water quality: numerical solution of the one-dimensional dispersion equation, application in the pollutant dispersion in a river. Turbulent buoyant flows: jets, plumes, buoyant jets. Diffusers, application to the disposal of effluents. Design of effluent discharge systems.

Prerequisite Knowledge

It is recommended that the students have the basic knowledge of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics.

Course Units

# Title Description Hours
1 Introduction Introduction: Basic definitions. Practical problems in Environmental Fluid Mechanics. Pollution and transport processes of pollutants in water and air ambients. Near and far field. The effect of flow field on the pollution, the fundamental flow equations describing the hydrodynamic behavior (equations of flow field) and the pollution (equations of quality characteristics), and the respective mathematical models. 1Χ3=3
2 One dimensional equation of advection-diffusion and analytical solutions Molecular diffusion. The one-dimensional equation of molecular diffusion: derivation based on Fick’s law and analytical solutions. The one-dimensional equation of advection-diffusion: derivation and analytical solutions. 2Χ3=6
3 Mixing in rivers: Turbulent diffusion and dispersion Mixing in rivers: turbulent diffusion and dispersion. The equation of advection-diffusion for turbulent flow. Longitudinal dispersion. The one-dimensional equation of dispersion. Analytical solutions and applications. 1Χ3=3
4 Physical, chemical and biological processes Chemical, physical and biological processes (basic definitions, reaction kinetics) and processes at interfaces: processes at the interface of air-water (aeration models) and at the interface of water-suspended solids (models of suspended solids). Introduction of processes in the one-dimensional equation of dispersion. 1Χ3=3
5 Numerical models for simulating the water quality Numerical simulation using finite differences. One-dimensional models of water quality and applications. Pollution (deoxygenation) of river. Numerical solution of the one-dimensional dispersion equation. Application in the dispersion of pollutant in river. 2Χ3=6
6 Turbulent buoyant flows Disposal of effluents in coastal waters and buoyant flows, near and far field. Basic definitions and flow parameters. Turbulent jets, plumes, buoyant jets. Investigation with dimensional analysis. Calculation of basic flow parameters for different ambient conditions (effect of stratification and cross flow). Diffusers. Application to the disposal of effluents. Disposal of thermal waters and brine from desalination plants. 3Χ3=9
7 Design of effluent discharge systems Submarine outfall pipes. Application to the disposal of effluents using a software. Hydraulic design of a diffuser. 3Χ3=9

Learning Objectives

  1. Understanding the transport processes of pollutants in water and air ambients and of their mathematical description.
  2. Solution of the one-dimensional equation of advection-diffusion for calculating the concentration of a pollutant which is dispersed in a river taking into consideration physical, chemical and biological processes.
  3. Approach of turbulent buoyant jets using dimensional analysis.
  4. Calculation of the dilution of effluents for different ambient conditions and acquisition of the necessary knowledge for the design of effluent discharge systems.

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods Classroom lectures. Solution of simple examples and problems in the classroom. Discussion of case studies in the classroom.
Teaching media Use of blackboard. Powerpoint slides. Calculations with a computer using Excel software and computational codes.
Computer and software use The students with the support of the teachers solve in the classroom simple exercises using mostly EXCEL.
Problems - Applications Yes
Assignments (projects, reports) The students start in the classroom working on 3 projects in groups of 2-4 persons. For each project they write a Technical Report which is corrected by the teachers and is returned.

Student Assessment

  • Final written exam: 70%
  • Assignments (projects, reports): 30%

Textbooks - Bibliography

  1. N. E. Kotsovinos & P. V. Angelidis. Hydraulics of the Environment. Volume I, Spanidis editions, Xanthi 2008. (in Greek).
  2. Fischer et al. (1979). Mixingininlandandcoastalwaters, Chapters 9, 10.
  3. J.H.W. Lee&V.H. Chu (2003). Turbulent Jets and Plumes. ALangrangian Approach.Kluwer Academic Publishers. Socolofsky, A. and Jirka, G. (2002). Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Part I:Mass Transfer and Diffusion, Lectures, Institute for Hydromechanics, KIT; http://www.ifh.uni-karlsruhe.de/lehre/envflu_I/Course_script/course_script.htm.
  4. Lecture notes.

Lecture Time - Place:

  • Thursday, 08:45 – 12:30,
    Rooms:
    • Ζ. Κτ. 1 Πολ., Αιθ. 15