Iranian Water Research Journal

Iranian Water Research Journal

Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Geometric Changes on the Hydraulic Performance of a Single-Blade Neyrpic X1 Type Gate Model and Comparison of Data Extraction Methods

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 PhD Student, Department of Agriculture Payame Noor University.Tehran.Iran.
2 Full Professor, Department of Water Engineering. Urmia University. Urmia. Iran.
3 Department of Water Engineering,. Urmia University. Urmia, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction:
Among the most important structures of water intakes, various types of Neyrpic gates can be highlighted, which are now extensively used in irrigation and drainage networks in our country. These water intake structures are designed to deliver water under non-uniform flow conditions in a way that ensures each branch canal receives its designated flow. These types of modular gates are selected for controllable water intake in canals and some diversion dams and include five types: X, XX, L, C, and CC. They are named with the index 1 or 2, respectively, depending on whether they are single-blade or double-blade, and are used at the installation site according to the required water intake rate and hydraulic conditions. The flow through these modular gates can be varied over the entire upstream level range close to the nominal value and within ±5% to ±10% of the flow. These devices control the flow through the combined weir and orifice method. In assessments conducted in the country's irrigation networks, it has been observed that the discharge from the water intake gates is not equal to the nominal discharge, and in some water intakes it is more and in some water intakes it is less than the design rate. Due to existing restrictions and the lack of specific instructions for producing these gates domestically, the specifications of the manufactured gates are different from standard gates.

Materials and Methods:
When reviewing Iranian and foreign sources to select the geometric dimensions of the structure, it was observed that most of the geometric dimensions presented in scientific sources are in complete agreement with each other, but there is a difference of opinion regarding the opening of the gate (vertical height of the blade relative to the crest of the spillway) by approximately 4 mm (the actual estimated number is 4.4 mm). Laboratory model 1, with an opening height of 90 millimeters, was constructed from the intersection point of the upstream and downstream slopes of the spillway, while laboratory model 2, also with an opening height of 90 millimeters, was prepared from the tangent line of the upper edge of the spillway and placed in testing after adhesive application, positioning the blade of the second model 4 millimeters lower compared to the first model. In fact, the total opening of the gate in the first model is 94 mm, but in the second model, the total opening of the gate is 90 mm. Also, in reviewing the available scientific sources, it was observed that there are three different methods for using the stage-discharge curve. Therefore, in this study, in order to investigate this duality in sources and determine the appropriate model, first, laboratory data were measured and stage-discharge curves were drawn for the two mentioned laboratory models, and then three different data extraction methods were used for both mentioned laboratory models. The first method is consistent with the stage-discharge curve presented by Bos (1989), the second method is a proposed method based on the design discharge point being known at the break point of the stage-discharge curve between the first and third methods, and finally the third method is consistent with the stage-discharge curve presented in other available scientific sources such as Amiri-Tokladany and Siahi (2015). In the present study, two criteria, root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination R2, were used in the Microsoft Excel software environment.

Results and Discussion:
The general trend of the two stage-discharge curves for the two laboratory models is similar, but due to the larger opening of the first model (94 mm) compared to the second model (90 mm), the water flow head that leads to the onset of interference of the model blade is also different and changes from a higher head in the first model (approximately 16 mm) to a lower head in the second model (approximately 13.5 mm). In general, it is observed that by changing the angle of the gate body from horizontal (zero slope) to slopes of ±5 and ±10 degrees, the gate flow coefficient decreases and the stage-discharge curve shifts towards lower flow rates. The justification for this difference in the curves is that changing the slope angle of the flume bottom from zero to the horizon leads to a change in the slope of the spillway body and the geometric characteristics of the module gate. From comparing the stage-discharge curves of scientific sources with the results of the arranged laboratory data, it can be concluded that the second laboratory model apparently has a very good agreement with the standard curve, but the first model shows a huge difference. In fact, the first model has an opening of 94 mm and has a larger opening (4 mm) and starts the flow interference at a higher head and discharge. Also, a calculation table was created for 5 key points in the stage-discharge curve (Q, 1/1Q, 1/05Q, 0/9Q, 0/95Q) to determine the minimum root mean square error (RMSE) and the maximum coefficient of determination R2 between regression models between the six studied cases with standard data (for two laboratory models and each for three data extraction methods).

Conclusion:
Generally, the Stage-discharge curves in model 2 demonstrated better alignment with the Stage-discharge curve of the standard gate compared to model 1, which had a larger opening. The laboratory data of Model 1 were generally much higher than the design values by comparing the Stage-discharge curve for all three data extraction methods, while the laboratory data of Model 2 were generally slightly lower but close to the design values for all three methods. The result is that geometric model number 2 has been approved for constructing the geometry of the X1 type module gate, and the basis for the gate opening should be the tangent line to the curvature of the spillway. It was also observed that data extraction method 2 showed closer alignment with the experimental results, whereas method 1 indicated a significant deviation. Therefore, determining the important design points in the Stage-discharge curve using the method presented by Bos (1989) shows a significant difference with the experimental results. Additionally, the impact of changes in blade angles and upstream and downstream spillway slopes (due to the presence of slopes in the flow) on the Stage-discharge curve was investigated, and the influencing factors in these differences were discussed.
Keywords
Subjects

1-       Akhavan, K., Khairy, M., Abbasi, S., Daneshfaraz, R., and Kalateh, F., 2023. Evaluation of Hydraulic Performance and Operation of Sluice and Neyrpic Modules in Water Distribution Canals (Case Study: Moghan Irrigation Network, Ardabil).  Iranian Scientific Research Journal of Irrigation and Water Engineering,  13(3), pp. 1-22. [In Persian].  https://doi.org/10.22125/iwe.2023.168163
 
2-       Afshani, M., Sarai Tabrizi, M. and Teimoori, M., 2022. A look at the performance of the irrigation and drainage network of the Varamin plain based on the SWOT model. Journal of Water Research in Agriculture, 36(2), pp. 147-164. [In Persian]. https://doi.org/10.22092/jwra.2022.358181.918
 
3-       Amiri-Tokladany, A. and Siahi, M.K., 2015. Design of irrigation canals and related structures. Chapter 11: Intakes. 361p. University of Tehran Press. [In Persian].
 
4-       Ankum, P., 2002. Design of open-channels and hydraulic structures. Lecture notes. Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.
 
5-       Basafa, H., Dashti, F., Rajabi-Memari, M.R. and Ghafari-Tehran, A., 2016. Technical specifications of hydromechanical equipment for diversion dams and irrigation systems (construction, installation and operation), Publications of the National Planning and Management Organization. Standard No. 699. [In Persian].
 
6-       Behzadi-Nasab, M., Minaei, S. and Mokhtaran, R., 2006. Performance evaluation and issues and problems of the NEYRPIC measurement structure in the irrigation and drainage networks of the Avan plain and northeast of Ahvaz. Proceedings of the National Conference on Irrigation and Drainage Networks, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Faculty of Water Science Engineering. May. pp. 1-10. [In Persian].
 
7-       Bijankhan, M. and Kouchakzadeh, S., 2012. Baffle modules: improved design based on the variable hydraulic sensitivity concept. Irrigation and Drainage, 61(2), pp. 260-269.
 
8-       Bijankhan, M., Mehrzad, M., Golzar, M. and Kouchakzadeh, S., 2017. Volumetric water delivery using baffle sluice modules: New approach. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 143(10), p.04017043.
 
9-       Bijankhan, M., Di Stefano, C. and Ferro, V., 2018. June. Generalised stage–discharge relationship for rectangular weirs. In Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Water Management, 171(3), pp. 125-133).
 
10-   Bos, M.G., 1989. Discharge measurement structures. Chapter 8: ORIFICES. Elsevier. 299p.
 
11-   Davari, K. and Salarian, M., 2015. Fundamentals of Irrigation and Drainage Network Management (Operation and Maintenance). Mashhad University Jihad Publications. pp. 117-125. [In Persian].
 
12-   Habibi-Kandban, A., Dosti, M. and Molaghadimi, A.H., 2017. Neyrpic-Modules Evaluation for Intake Structures in the Water Providence to Downstream Areas: A Case Study of the Sefidrud Irrigation and Drainage Network. Bi-Quarterly Journal of Water and Sustainable Development, pp. 65-72. [In Persian]. https://doi.org/10.22067/jwsd.v4i1.54374
 
13-   Jorabloo, M. and Sarkardeh, H., 2010. Hydraulic evaluation of Neyrpic-Modules at water distribution network of Garmsar plain. World APPI. Science. Journal, 10(11), pp.1363-1367.
 
14-   Kanooni, A., Pouryamanesh, M., Nikpour, M.R. and Feizi, A., 2019. Evaluation of hydraulic performance and operation of Neyrpic Modules in the main distribution canal (Case study: Yamchi irrigation network, Ardabil). Iranian Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, pp. 1435-1447. [In Persian].
 
15-   Kaviani-Kowsarkhizi, Sh. and Parvaresh-Rizi, A., 2011. Study of the status of flow measurement structures in the country's irrigation networks. Proceedings of the First National Congress of Modern Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, University of Zanjan. September. [In Persian].
 
16-   Khan-Ahmadi, A., 2015. Neyrpic module valves. Summary of Dr. Zahiri's textbook. Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. [In Persian].
 
17-   Manz, D.H., 1985. Systems Analysis of Irrigation Conveyance Systems. Thesis pre-sented to the University of Alberta in partialfulfill-ment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Water Resources, Department of Civil Engineering. 485 p.
 
18-   Mehrzad, M., Kouchakzadeh, S. and Bijankhan, M., 2014. Design criteria for parallel baffle modules. Journal of Hydraulics, 9(2), pp.37-51. [In Persian]. https://doi.org/10.30482/jhyd.2014.8556
 
19-   Mishra, P.K., Brevis, W. and Lang, C., 2013. Discharge coefficients for baffle-sluice gates. Journal of irrigation and drainage engineering, 139(4), pp.336-340.
 
20-   Mishra, P.K., Larsen, P. and Satyanarayana, T., 1990. Development of low-discharge baffle-sluice modules. Journal of irrigation and drainage engineering, 116(3), pp. 444-453.
 
21-   Mohammadi, A., Parvaresh-Rizi, A. and Abbasi, N., 2017. Evaluation of Hydraulic Performance of Regulators and Distribution Structures in Varamin Irrigation Network. Journal of Hydraulics. 12(13), pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.30482/jhyd.2017.52004
 
22-   Momeni-Heravi, A., Kouchakzadeh, S. and Bijankhan, M., 2019. Numerical Simulation of Three-Dimensional Flow in Baffle Modules. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Structures Engineering Research, 20(75), pp. 101-116. [In Persian]. https://doi.org/10.22092/idser.2018.122284.1331
 
23-   Monem, M.J. and Masah, A., 2003. Development of a mathematical model of Neyrpic water intake valves. Proceedings of the 11th Conference of the National Committee of Irrigation and Drainage of Iran, No. 42. pp. 607-619. [In Persian].
 
24-   Naeimi, M.A., Hamidi, H., Mousavi-Jahrami, H. and Shafaei-Bajestan, M., 2008. Design of a new type of water intake for irrigation networks (water intake check). Proceedings of the Second National Conference on Irrigation and Drainage Network Management, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Faculty of Water Science Engineering. February. pp. 1-8. [In Persian].
 
25-   Nouri, H., Haghighatjo, P., Monem, M.J. and Razavi-Nabavi, S.M., 2015. Evaluation of the performance of domestically produced double-bladed Neyrpic type XX2 valve compared to standard valve. Proceedings of the National Congress of Irrigation and Drainage of Iran. [In Persian].
 
26-   Pilpayeh, A., Afsharasal, M. and Abdolhosseini-Roozbahani, M.A., 2008. Hydraulic evaluation of NEYRPIC modules in Moghan irrigation and drainage networks. Proceedings of the Second National Conference on Irrigation and Drainage Network Management, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Faculty of Water Science Engineering. February. Ahvaz. pp. 1-8. [In Persian].
 
27-   Razavi-Nabavi, M., 1994. Empirical coefficients in Neyrpic valves. Master's thesis in irrigation facilities. Faculty of Agriculture. Tarbiat Modares University. Tehran. [In Persian].
 
28-   Salek, M., 2017. The effect of Baffle spacing in a Baffle valve on hydraulics. Master's thesis. Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanics. Civil Engineering major, Water Resources Management. Ghiasuddin Jamshid Kashani Institute of Higher Education. [In Persian].
 
29-   Seyedjavad, M.S. and Mashal, M., 2014. Evaluation of hydraulic sensitivity indicators for Baffle modules (Case study: Varamin Irrigation and drainage network). Water and Irrigation Management, 4(2), pp.229-242. [In Persian]. https://doi.org/10.22059/jwim.2014.53038
 
30-   Siahi, M.K., Shamshirsaz, M.H.A., Ghezel-Ayagh, A., Molaei, M.J., Tahmasbi, M. and Tabe-Jamaat, M., 2004. Hydraulic criteria for the design of water level regulation buildings and water intakes in open channels, Publications of the National Planning and Management Organization. Publication No. 282. [In Persian].
 
31-   Vatankhah, A.R., 2014. Discussion of Discharge Coefficients for Baffle-Sluice Gates by PK Mishra, Wernher Brevis, and Cornelia Lang. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 140(4), pp.336-340.
 

  • Receive Date 22 August 2025
  • Accept Date 05 November 2025
  • Publish Date 22 December 2025