Flow aeration, cavity processes and energy dissipation on flat and pooled stepped spillways for embankments

The design floods of several reservoirs were recently re-evaluated and the revised spillway outflow could result in dam overtopping with catastrophic consequences for some embankment structures. Herein a physical study was performed on flat and pooled stepped spillways with a slope typical of embankments $(\uptheta = 26.6^{\circ })$ and four stepped configurations were tested: a stepped spillway with flat horizontal steps, a pooled stepped spillway, and two stepped spillways with in-line and staggered configurations of flat and pooled steps. The focus of the study was on the flow aeration, air–water flow properties, cavity flow processes, and energy dissipation performances. The results demonstrated the strong aeration of the flow for all configurations. On the in-line and staggered configurations of flat and pooled steps, the flow was highly three-dimensional. The residual head and energy dissipation rates at the stepped chute downstream end were calculated based upon the detailed air–water flow properties. The results showed that the residual energy was the lowest for the flat stepped weir. The data for the stepped spillway configuration with in-line and staggered configurations of flat and pooled steps showed large differences in terms of residual head in the transverse direction. Altogether the present results showed that, on a $26.6^{\circ }$ slope stepped chute, the designs with in-line and staggered configurations of flat and pooled steps did not provide any advantageous performances in terms of energy dissipation and flow aeration, but they were affected by three-dimensional patterns leading to some flow concentration.     

Energy dissipation estimates in oscillating grid setup: LDV and PIV measurements

The dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy has been increasingly used as a scaling parameter to integrate microbiological accrual and metabolic rates with fluid-flow motion in natural and engineered aquatic ecosystems. The estimation of turbulent kinetic energy under field conditions and the generation of energy dissipation rates under controlled laboratory conditions with microbiological organisms are necessities required to integrate environmental/ecological laboratory protocols with a moving fluid in the environment. Turbulent fluid-flow conditions were generated in an oscillating grid setup, and turbulence variables were quantified using laser-Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measuring techniques. The rate of dissipation of the turbulent kinetic energy in the setup ranged from 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁴ m²/s³ and was similar to the levels of energy dissipation commonly reported in engineered and natural aquatic ecosystems. Time-averaged velocities were close to zero with the root-mean-square velocity ratios about 1, indicating nearly isotropic fluid-flow conditions in the setup. The velocity spectra, obtained by stationary LDV measurements for the vertical and horizontal velocity components across the setup revealed the existence of inertial subrange with the frequency power scaling law of “ω ^−5/3.” The estimated Eulerian frequency spectrum followed the theoretical functional relation and confirmed the applicability of inertial dissipation method for the estimation of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates. PIV was used for a direct estimation of dissipation by evaluating spatially distributed velocity gradients. The direct dissipation estimate in conjunction with the estimated Eulerian frequency spectrum provided evaluation of a “universal” constant, α, commonly used for the estimation of an energy dissipation rate over the inertial subrange of the Eulerian spectrum. The results demonstrated a range of values, rather than a universal constant, of α with a lognormal probability distribution for vertical and horizontal velocity components. In order to encompass a 0.955 probability range under the lognormal distribution the universal constant, α, should be in the range 2.91 ≥ α _u ≥ 0.43 and 4.44 ≥ α _w ≥ 0.42 for horizontal and vertical velocity components, respectively.     

Experiments on mixing and dissipation in internal solitary waves over two triangular obstacles

A series of laboratory experiments was undertaken in a stratified two-layer fluid to investigate the energetics of the interaction between an internal solitary wave (ISW) and triangular obstacles, as well as to determine the partitioning of ISW energy and its subsequent dynamics. The ISW energy was dissipated as a result of internal breaking and turbulent mixing induced by wave instability. Tests involving different combinations of triangular obstacles in various heights and intervals and ISW of different amplitudes were performed. The wave features resulting from the interaction of an ISW and double obstacles were found to differ from those of single obstacle. The incident energy of an ISW was either reflecting back from the obstacles, dissipated through turbulent mixing, or transmitted over the double obstacles. Reduction in wave energy increased as the intervals between obstacles reduced. For two obstacles in different heights, energy dissipation was greater in the case with a higher obstacle ahead of a lower one. However, the overall performance was dependent on the relative height of the obstacles, relative water depth of the upper and bottom layer, in addition to the intervals between the obstacles.     

The application of artificial neural networks to flow and phosphorus dynamics in small streams on the Boreal Plain,with emphasis on the role of wetlands

Historically, management strategies in Canada's boreal forest have focused on forest polygons and terrestrial biodiversity to address ecological considerations in forest management. The Forest Watershed and Riparian Disturbance (FORWARD) project examines the problem from a watershed perspective rather than a forest polygon viewpoint. The main objective of this study was to devise an artificial neural network (ANN) modeling tool that can predict flow and total phosphorus (TP) concentration for ungauged watersheds (where daily flow is not monitored). This dictates that all inputs should be easily accessed via a public domain database, like the Environment Canada weather database, without the need to install flow gauges in each modeled watershed. Daily flow and TP concentration for two of the project watersheds were modeled using ANNs. The two watersheds (1A Creek, 5.1 km² and Willow Creek, 15.6 km²) were chosen to reflect variations in wetland area and composition in the study area. Flow was modeled with a feed-forward multilayer perceptron ANN trained with the error back-propagation algorithm. Simulated values for flow were then used, as inputs, to model TP concentration using the same neural networks algorithm. One hidden layer with three slabs; each operating with a different activation function was utilized to simulate the conceptual differences between base flow, snowmelt, and storm events. Time domain analysis was conducted to identify possible model time-lagged inputs reflecting the time dependency of the modeled variables. Spectral analysis was used to address data hystereses. Our results highlight the capabilities of ANN in modeling complex ecosystems and highly correlated variables. Results also indicated that more research towards the phosphorus dynamics in wetlands is required to better represent the impact of wetland area and composition on the water-phase phosphorus in ANN modeling.     

Energy and Economic flow in homegardens in Subtropical Yunnan,SW China: A case study on Sanjia village

We studied the energy and economic flow of six types of homegardens in Sanjia village, SW China. Our study showed that the energy input of six types of homegardens averaged 99.11-175.65 x 10¹⁰J/ha, the energy output was 102.30-159.83 x 10¹⁰J/ha and the ratio of input/output ranged between 1:0.880-1:1.416. The ratios of input to output of home-gardens that prioritized cultivation of crops were higher than for homegardens that prioritized animal husbandry or other economic activities. The economic ratio of input/ output of six types of homegardens varied between 1:0.997-1:1.376 and the economic output ranged between 2480.0-10131.5 RMB/yr. We concluded that the homegarden systems of Sanjia village are high in the input and output of energy and cash flow, and can provide a basis for designing models of farm economy in rural subtropical areas.     

Effect of the ultraviolet/chlorine process on microbial community structure,typical pathogens,and antibiotic resistance genes in reclaimed water

• UV/chlorine can effectively remove VBNC pathogens, ARGs and MGEs in reclaimed water. • Microbial community was changed with reduced diversity during UV/chlorine process. • CRBs-carried MGEswere the predominant groups during UV/chlorine process. • No direct co-selection strategy was shared between UV/chlorine and resistome. Urban wastewater contains a wide range of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which are a serious concern if reusing treated wastewater. However, few studies have explored the microbial communities in reclaimed water using ultraviolet (UV)/chlorine treatment and assessed the changes of the resistome. This study investigated the occurrence of typical pathogens, ARGs, and bacterial communities in UV/chlorine-treated reclaimed water samples. The numbers of culturable and viable but non-culturable pathogens were effectively reduced to 0 CFU/mL within 1–10 and 10–30 min after UV/chlorine treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, the physicochemical indices of water quality were not affected. UV/chlorine treatment could significantly change the bacterial community structure of reclaimed water, showing a decrease in bacterial abundance and diversity. Chlorine-resistant Acinetobacter and Mycobacterium were the dominant bacterial genera (>50%) after UV/chlorine treatment. Moreover, the number of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) decreased with an increase in UV/chlorine exposure. However, eight ARGs and three MGEs were consistently detected in more than three seasons, making these major concerns because of their potential role in the persistence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Overall, the results of this study suggest that UV/chlorine treatment can potentially improve the microbiological safety of reclaimed water. And more attention should be paid to the pathogens that are both chlorine-resistant and carry MGEs because of their potential for resistance transmission.     

外阻对污泥微生物燃料电池产电以及有机物降解的影响

重点考察了不同外阻（10、150和1 000Ω）对污泥微生物燃料电池（sludge microbial fuel cell,SMFC）产电性能及有机物去除速率的影响。结果表明,外阻对电池产电和有机物降解有显著影响,低电阻有利于电流产生及有机物消耗。当外阻为10Ω时,输出电流最高（4.2 mA）,且污泥溶解性化学需氧量（SCOD）去除速率最快（53 mg.d-1）。DGGE图谱显示,不同外阻导致阳极微生物菌落结构有明显差异;CV扫描发现外阻对生物膜氧化还原能力有显著影响,低电阻下运行的阳极生物膜氧化还原活性较强。本研究为理解外阻与阳极生物膜间的关系提供一条有益线索,也为MFC性能提高提供一条可操作性的途径。     

铅锌矿区农田土壤重金属有效态空间分布及其影响因子分析

利用地统计学方法,研究了广西岩溶地区某铅锌矿区农田土壤中Cd、Zn、Pb、Cu四种重金属有效态含量的空间分布特征及其影响因子.结果表明:研究区域不同程度地受到Cd、Zn、Pb、Cu的污染,且水田污染较旱地严重;与广西土壤背景值相比,污染程度最严重的是Cd,在水田和旱地中超标率均为100%,平均超标倍数分别为312.94和33.67;其次是Zn,在水田和早地中超标率分别为100%和34%,平均超标倍数分别为38.34和2.11;污染最轻的为Cu,超标率仅为7%.空间分析表明,有效态Cd、Zn、Pb、Cu的块金系数分别为2.7%、0.2%、6.5%、0.13%,体现了强烈的空间自相关性,且四种重金属空间分布特征相似,在离原铅锌选矿厂较近的西北偏西面有效态Cd、Zn、Pb、Cu含量最高,沿着西北偏西至东南偏东的灌溉渠流向,有效态Cd、Zn、Pb、Cu的含量呈递减趋势,东部旱地有效态Cd、Zn、Pb、Cu含量相对较低.土壤有效态Cd、Zn、Pb、Cu在污染区的空间分布与土壤基本理化性质关系密切,有效态Cd、Zn、Pb、Cu与pH、阳离子交换量、粘粒都呈极显著负相关,与有机质含量则呈极显著正相关.     

Farmer's perception and response towards land policy and eco-environment based on participatory rural appraisal: A case study in the Loess hilly area,China

Based on a survey of 107 farm households by means of participatory rural appraisal, this paper presents a region-level analysis of farmer's perception and response towards land policies and eco-environment in the Loess hilly area, China. The surveyed farmers are divided into two groups, farmers on non-irrigated farmland and farmers on irrigated farmland. The results indicate that most farmers mainly depend on cropland, especially the farmers on non-irrigated farmland. Farmers believe that stability and persistence of land policies are important, and most hold a positive attitude towards the Grain-for-Green Programme. The farmers on irrigated farmland have a more favourable attitude to environmental conservation than the farmers of non-irrigated farmland. Nearly 80% of interviewees consider that the local eco-environment has improved in the last ten years. About 45% never consider the environmental impact of their agriculture practices. About 55% think drought is the most important reason for eco-environment deterioration, overgrazing and serious soil erosion. Soil and water conservation is not conscious and voluntary behaviour for farmers, it is only a measure to guarantee their basic agricultural production and to improve their living conditions. Results indicate that farmers on nonirrigated land find engineering approaches more beneficial to agronomic methods. However, the farmers on irrigated farmland pay more attention to improving farmland quality.