Abstract:
An undershot gate system controls flow of liquid through an open channel or pipe. The system includes a gate leaf adapted to be raised and lowered by a control means to allow flow of liquid along the open channel or pipe. The gate leaf has a flow diverter at an end of the gate leaf to guide liquid under the gate leaf and through an opening when the gate leaf is in an open position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to flow measurement through a submerged orifice and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to flow measurement through an undershot irrigation gate. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    According to one aspect, the present invention provides an undershot gate system to control flow of liquid through an open channel or pipe, said system including a gate leaf adapted to be raised and lowered by a control means to allow flow of liquid along said open channel or pipe, said gate including a flow diverter at an end of said gate leaf to guide liquid under said gate leaf and through an opening when said gate leaf is in an open position. 
         [0003]    In one embodiment, said flow diverter includes a substantially horizontally disposed projection from one side of said end of said gate leaf, either upstream or downstream of said gate leaf. Preferably an arcuate section is provided along the free end of said substantially horizontally disposed projection. 
         [0004]    In a further embodiment, said flow diverter includes an arcuate section along one side of said end of said gate leaf. Preferably said flow diverter further includes a substantially horizontally disposed projection from the other side of said end of said gate leaf. 
         [0005]    Preferably said undershot gate system further includes a pair of acoustic transducers on the bottom of said open channel or pipe, adapted to provide an acoustic path to and from underneath said substantially horizontally disposed projection to allow measurement of the opening of said gate leaf. 
         [0006]    Preferably said undershot gate system further includes a plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers forming an acoustic array on opposing sides of said open channel or pipe to provide, in use, a plurality of multiple planes of crossed acoustic paths for measurement of flow velocity through said gate opening. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, said plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers on opposing sides of said open channel or pipe are downstream and adjacent said gate leaf. 
         [0008]    In a further embodiment, said plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers on opposing sides of said open channel or pipe are upstream and adjacent said gate leaf. 
         [0009]    In yet a further embodiment, one set of respective acoustic transducers of said plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers on opposing sides of said open channel or pipe are downstream and adjacent said gate leaf, and the other set of respective acoustic transducers of said plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers on opposing sides of said open channel or pipe are upstream and adjacent said gate leaf, with said plurality of multiple planes of crossed acoustic paths crossing through said gate opening. 
         [0010]    Preferably said plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers have a small beam angle to the direction of flow, to allow each acoustic array to have a shorter width. 
         [0011]    According to a further aspect, the present invention provides an undershot gate system to control flow of liquid through an open channel or pipe, said system including a gate leaf adapted to be raised and lowered by a control means to allow flow of liquid along said open channel or pipe, a plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers forming an acoustic array on opposing sides of said open channel or pipe to provide, in use, a plurality of multiple planes of crossed acoustic paths for measurement of flow velocity through said gate opening, and a means to measure the height of the opening of said gate leaf. 
         [0012]    Preferably said undershot gate system further includes a pair of acoustic transducers on the bottom of said open channel or pipe, adapted to provide an acoustic path to and from underneath said gate leaf to allow measurement of the opening of said gate leaf. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, said plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers on opposing sides of said open channel or pipe are downstream and adjacent said gate leaf. 
         [0014]    In a further embodiment, one set of respective acoustic transducers of said plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers on opposing sides of said open channel or pipe are downstream and adjacent said gate leaf, and the other set of respective acoustic transducers of said plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers on opposing sides of said open channel or pipe are upstream and adjacent said gate leaf, with said plurality of multiple planes of crossed acoustic paths crossing through said gate opening. 
         [0015]    Preferably said plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers have a small beam angle to the direction of flow, to allow each acoustic array to have a shorter width. 
         [0016]    Preferably said undershot gate system further includes a flow diverter at an end of said gate leaf to guide liquid under said gate leaf, and through the gate opening, when said gate leaf is in an open position. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, said flow diverter includes an arcuate section along one side of said end of said gate leaf. Preferably said flow diverter further includes a substantially horizontally disposed projection from the other side of said end of said gate leaf. 
         [0018]    In a further embodiment, said flow diverter includes a substantially horizontally disposed projection from one side of said end of said gate leaf, either upstream or downstream of said gate leaf. Preferably an arcuate section is provided along the free end of said substantially horizontally disposed projection. 
         [0019]    According to yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of measuring flow rate of a liquid passing through an open gate of an undershot gate system installed in an open channel or pipe, said method including the steps of: providing a plurality of pairs of acoustic transducers forming an acoustic array on opposing sides of said open channel or pipe, said acoustic arrays producing a plurality of multiple planes of crossed acoustic paths; providing means to measure the height of said open gate relative to a base of said open channel or pipe; determining a vertical velocity profile of said liquid passing through said open gate utilising said acoustic arrays; determining the height of said open gate utilising said means to measure the height of said open gate relative to said base of said open channel or pipe; calculating a velocity integral of said vertical velocity profile utilising said determined height of said open gate; and, calculating said flow rate of said liquid passing through said open gate by multiplying said velocity integral by a predetermined internal width of said acoustic arrays. 
         [0020]    These and other essential or preferred features of the present invention will be apparent from the description that now follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The structure and functional features of preferred embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an undershot gate in an irrigation system, with the gate open and showing the flow of water through the gate; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 1 , with an array of acoustic transducers on the downstream side of an undershot gate installed in an open channel according to a first aspect of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 1 , showing the velocity profiles around the gate shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 2 , where the gate edge has a preferred arcuate section along the frontal face of the gate; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 2 , where the acoustic transducers are on either side of the gate; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 5 , including a preferred device to measure the gate opening; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 4 , where the gate is in front of a headwall of a pipe; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of an undershot gate having a preferred flow diverter and an array of acoustic transducers on the downstream side of the undershot gate installed in an open channel according to a second aspect of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 10 , where the gate edge has a preferred arcuate section along the frontal face of the gate; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 11 , including a preferred device to measure the gate opening; 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 10 , having an array of acoustic transducers on the upstream sick of an undershot gate installed in an open channel, with a preferred arcuate section along the frontal face of the flow diverter; 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 13 , including a preferred device to measure the gate opening; 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 14 , where the gate is in front of a headwall of a pipe; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  is similar view to that of  FIG. 15 , with the gate and array of acoustic transducers mounted downstream of a pipe exit headwall. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    In order to avoid duplication of description, identical reference numerals will be shown, where applicable, throughout the illustrated embodiments to indicate similar integers. 
         [0039]    The flow passing through a submerged rectangular orifice is commonly computed by the following energy equation: 
         [0000]      Q=C c w.h.√{square root over (2g(u−d))}
 
         [0040]    Where:
       Q=flow rate in m 3 /s   w=width of rectangular orifice opening in m   h=height of rectangular orifice opening in m   g=acceleration due to gravity in (m/s 2 )   u=water level upstream of orifice in m   d=water level downstream of orifice in m   Cc=contraction coefficient=depth of water jet behind orifice/orifice opening height       
 
         [0048]    This equation is derived from Bernoulli&#39;s equation, which simply states that the sum of kinetic and potential energy is always a constant at constant pressure. 
         [0000]        p ½ρV 2 =pgh=constant
 
         [0049]    Where:
       p is the pressure   ρ is the density   V is the velocity   h is the elevation   g is the gravitational acceleration       
 
         [0055]    The velocity is computed from Bernoulli&#39;s equation as the value: 
         [0000]      V=√{square root over (2g(u−d))}
 
         [0056]    The flow rate is determined by multiplying this velocity by the apparent area of the jetting velocity field passing through the orifice. 
         [0057]    This invention will allow the measurement of flow rate by measuring the jetting velocity field passing through a rectangular submerged orifice, and then multiplying this velocity field by the measured area of the rectangular submerged orifice. 
         [0058]    In  FIG. 1  there is shown a submerged rectangular orifice or opening  10  between the end face  12  of a vertically movable gate  16  and the floor  14  of an irrigation open channel. The jetting velocities of the flow through gate  16  need to be measured to provide an accurate flow rate of water flowing through gate  16 . The streamlines A to G show a typical profile upstream, through and downstream of gate  16 . It can be seen that the streamlines A to G passing through the orifice  10  are parallel to the floor  14  of orifice  10 . If there is a sufficient straight approach length upstream of the orifice  10  then the streamlines A to G are also parallel to the walls (not shown) enclosing each side of the orifice  10 . 
         [0059]    It can be seen in  FIG. 1  that there is generally known to be a contraction of the streamlines A to G downstream of the orifice  10  such that the depth of the velocity field h 1  is less than the opening height of the orifice x. The ratio h 1 /x is commonly referred to as a contraction coefficient (Cc).  FIG. 1  shows that adjacent to the jetting streamlines A to G passing beneath the orifice  10  there is a stagnant region of water with a zero net velocity. The entire flow velocity passes through a depth h 1 . Hence the flow rate passing through the orifice can be determined by integrating the vertical velocity profile passing through orifice  10  through a vertical range bounded by the floor  14  of the orifice  10  and by the height h 1  of the velocity field and then multiplying this velocity integral by the known width of the orifice  10 . The height of the velocity field h 1  may be determined through knowledge of the vertical velocity distribution as measured by an acoustic array. 
         [0060]      FIGS. 2 and 8  show the inclusion of a pair of opposing acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  downstream of gate  16 . Each pair of acoustic arrays includes a pair of acoustic transducers  22 ,  24  which operate in a crossed path arrangement i.e. acoustic transducer  22  of array  18  interacts with the opposing acoustic transducer  24  of array  20  to provide multiple planes of crossed path acoustic transit time velocity measurements. Each acoustic array  18 ,  20  consist of eight (or any number as is reasonably practicable) horizontal velocity measurement planes. The velocity field passing through the rectangular submerged orifice  10  is measured based on the transit time velocity measurement principle as previously described in International Patent Application No. PCT/AU2010/001052 (the contents of which are herein incorporated) and in the ISO Standard 16:2004(E) Hydrometry—Measurement of discharge by the ultrasonic (acoustic) method. Acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  have a small beam path angle relative to the direction of flow of 11.25°, however any angle may be used as is practicable. The choice of a small beam angle allows the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  to have a short overall assembly width such that the measured field of view lies immediately in the vicinity of the submerged rectangular orifice  10 . The acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  are arranged adjacent gate  16  to ensure that there is a sufficient straight approach length upstream of orifice, such that each of the streamlines A to G pass through the length of the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  at a constant angle relative to the parallel walls  28 ,  30 , enclosing each side of the orifice  10 , and do not experience a change in direction as they pass through the length of the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 . 
         [0061]    The multitude of measurement planes are combined in a vertical array to provide a high-resolution sample of the vertical velocity profile of the flow passing though the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 .  FIG. 2  illustrates that three velocity samples are available for computing the integral of the velocity field encompassed by the jetting flow streamlines. An abrupt transition is known to occur at the boundary of the jetting streamlines to a stationary water region behind the gate  16  with zero net velocity. The velocity field passing through the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  is vertically integrated from the floor  14  of the array to the ceiling of the array. It is known that the velocity field transitions abruptly from a high velocity to a zero velocity at the measured top boundary of the jetting velocity field. The location of the boundary of the velocity field can be determined by several means including by measurement of the gate opening height, and by analysis of the velocity profile observed by the acoustic planes located within the jetting velocity field. As the opening of the gate  16  changes, so does the boundary between the jetting flow and the stationary water along with the number of acoustic measurement planes incorporated into the velocity integration. Flow is computed by integrating this vertical velocity profile from the floor  14  of the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  to the ceiling&#39;of the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 , and multiplying this integral by the known internal width of the rectangular acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 . If the gate  16  is opened above the water surface, such that there is a free water surface below the end face  12  of gate  16 , then the gate opening height is not used in the measurement of flow. In this instance the vertical velocity profile is integrated from the floor  14  of the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 , to the water level as measured by a water level sensor (not shown). This velocity integral is then multiplied by the known internal width of the rectangular acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  to compute the flow rate passing through the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 . The orifice opening x may be measured by any suitable means including linear encoder, drawstring, or by an acoustic transducer (not shown) which measures the distance between the floor  14  of the orifice  10  and the end face  12  of gate  16 . 
         [0062]    Seals or a sealing compound  46  will prevent leakage between sidewalls  28 ,  30  and acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 . Similarly, seals or a sealing compound  48  will prevent leakage between sidewalls  28 ,  30 , and gate frame  50  in which gate  16  is slidably received. 
         [0063]      FIG. 3  illustrates the difference between the operations of the system disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/AU2010/001052, and the present embodiment. The distinction is that the invention defined in PCT/AU2010/001052 measures accurately upstream of a submerged orifice  10  where the vertical velocity distribution is a smooth function without any discontinuities. The present embodiment measures accurately downstream of the submerged orifice  10  where there is a ‘step function’ discontinuity in the vertical velocity distribution at the location of the gate end face  12 . The present embodiment uses the measured elevation of the gate  16  to locate the elevation of this velocity discontinuity, and hence, to determine the elevation at which the flow velocity transitions rapidly to zero. This allows accurate velocity integration by integrating the velocity step function vertically from the floor  14  to the elevation of the velocity discontinuity as determined from the elevation of the gate end face  12 . Without knowledge of the velocity discontinuity elevation, a trapezoidal integration would result in a significant over-read or under-read of the velocity integral by attempting to interpolate using a straight line connecting each velocity sample.  FIG. 3  shows the velocity profile upstream of the submerged orifice  10  on the left hand side velocity-elevation trend, and the velocity profile downstream of the submerged orifice  10  on the right hand side velocity-elevation trend. 
         [0064]      FIG. 3  illustrates that trapezoidal integration would result in a large over-estimate of flow passing beneath the gate. The over-read would be proportional to the triangular area  34  above the velocity discontinuity as shown in the right-hand side diagram. 
         [0065]      FIG. 4  is a similar embodiment to that of  FIG. 2 , with an arcuate section  36  along the end of gate  16  upstream of gate  16 . It has been determined through computational fluid dynamics analysis, and through velocity field observations in a flow laboratory, that the inclusion of curved surface  38  on gate  16  reduces the contraction of the velocity field downstream of the orifice  10 , such that the height h 1  is closely approximated by the measurable orifice opening height x, i.e. h 1  is approximately equal to x. A comparison with  FIG. 2  illustrates this difference. 
         [0066]      FIG. 5  is a further alternative embodiment to  FIG. 2 , where gate  16  is located between the columns of acoustic transducers  22 ,  24  of acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 . Such an arrangement allows the acoustic transducers  22 ,  24  to be very close to gate  16 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 6  is a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , including an acoustic transducer  40  located on floor  14  that is used to determine the height from floor  14  to the end face or underside  12  of gate  16 . A standard acoustic distance measurement is undertaken in which an acoustic pulse is transmitted from the transducer  40 , reflects off the underside  12  of gate  16 , and returns to the transducer  40  or to a secondary receiving transducer (not shown). The flight time of an acoustic pulse is measured by timing electronics (not shown). Given knowledge of the speed of sound in water, the distance between the floor and underside  12  of gate  16  is computed. Two transducers are preferably used with one transducer acting as a transmitter and the other acting as a receiver. This configuration overcomes the blanking distance commonly associated with single transducer configurations, limiting the minimum distance that can be measured. Any embodiment of this specification can utilise transducer  40 , and therefore its use is not limited to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 7  is a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , where gate  16  in the open channel closes a pipe  42  with a headwall  44 .  FIG. 7  has acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  located downstream of gate  16 , and inserted into pipe  42  downstream of headwall  44 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , with, the addition of transducer  40  from  FIG. 6 . This embodiment uses circular acoustic arrays  52 ,  54 , instead of rectangular acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  of the prior embodiments. 
         [0070]      FIG. 10  shows the same configuration as the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , but with the inclusion of a flow diverter  56  rigidly connected to the downstream end of gate  16  that forms a ceiling  58  of closed rectangular acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 , completely containing the jetting velocity profile. Theflow passing through orifice  10  is computed by integrating the sampled velocity field from the floor  14  to the ceiling  58  of the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 . The height of the ceiling  58  of the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  is determined by any commonly employed linear measurement technique, with a preferred solution being an acoustic sensor, which is used to measure the height of the ceiling  58  above the floor  14  of the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 . The flow diverter  56  will assist in parallel alignment of flow streamlines relative to the floor  14  and flow diverter ceiling  58 . This will assist in more accurate measurement of flow velocities. 
         [0071]      FIG. 11  is a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , with an arcuate section  60  along the end of gate  16 , upstream of gate  16 . It has been determined through computational fluid dynamics analysis, and through velocity field observations in a flow laboratory, that the inclusion of curved surface  62  reduces the contraction of the velocity field downstream of the orifice  10 , in a similar manner to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0072]      FIG. 12  is a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , including an acoustic transducer(s)  40  located on floor  14  that is used to determine the height from floor  14  to the ceiling  58  of flow diverter  56 , as described with reference to  FIG. 6 . The configuration of the upward ranging transducer(s)  40  defined in this embodiment of the invention avoids any impact from silt on floor  14 . When gate  16  is closed, the ceiling  58  covers the upwardly ranging transducer(s)  40  such that no silt can settle upon them. Instead, the silt will settle on top of flow diverter  56 . When the gate  16  is opened, jetting velocities passing through the meter will flush any debris or sediment off the face of the upward shooting acoustic transducers  40 . Hence these upward ranging acoustic transducers  40  are in a self-cleaning configuration and are not subject to attenuation and malfunction caused by deposited silt and sediment as is known to occur with other technologies which employ upward ranging water level sensors in an irrigation canal and natural waterway environment. 
         [0073]      FIG. 13  is a variation of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , where the arcuate section  60  is affixed at the free end  64  of flow diverter  56  facing the upstream end of gate  16 , rather than the downstream end shown in  FIG. 11 . In addition, acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  are also positioned at the upstream end of gate  16  to create an adjustable geometry rectangular conduit which encompasses the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20 , and which causes the streamlines passing through the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  to be parallel with the four walls of the rectangular conduit. This embodiment is well suited to installations where the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  cannot be located on the downstream side of gate  16 . 
         [0074]      FIG. 14  is a similar embodiment to that of  FIG. 13 , which includes acoustic transducer(s)  40  to determine the height of ceiling  58 , of flow diverter  56 , as previously discussed with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 15  is a similar embodiment to that of  FIG. 14 , where the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  are located upstream of the gate  16 , on a pipe entry headwall  44  of pipe  42 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 16  is a similar embodiment to that of  FIG. 15 , only the direction of flow of water through the pipe  42  is reversed. Hence, this time the acoustic arrays  18 ,  20  are located downstream of gate  16 , on the downstream exit headwall  44  of pipe  42 . 
         [0077]    The invention will be understood to embrace many further modifications as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art and which will be deemed to reside within the broad scope and ambit of the invention, there having been set forth herein only the broad nature of the invention and certain specific embodiments by way of example.