Estudio experimental en modelo físico de una estructura separadora de caudales con umbral transversal, orificio lateral y régimen de aproximación supercrítico, caso de estudio “Quebrada Caupicho”

Abstract

The majority of Quito’s sewerage system is combined, and it has direct discharge into the natural channels. In order to have an integrated wastewater management system, the Program for the Quito’s River Decontamination has planned to execute interception and treatment works. The flow separators are framed in the interception works. The objective of this thesis is to propose a hydraulic optimization of a flow separator structure with a supercritical approach regime. To do this, a physical model was constructed at a scale of 1: 5 under Froude’s restricted similarity criterion. The original separator’s design was evaluated through a test plan, which represents the entire operating range. The results show that the separator did not reach the expected derivation percentages, and that its hydraulic behavior could affect the stability of the structure. Modifications to the design were proposed based on the analysis of the results of the original design, and the reconsideration of the percentages of separation in in the light of a specific sanitary study. Two optimization proposals with changes in the geometric configuration were implemented in the physical model. In the proposal selected as definitive, the derivation percentages were adjusted to those expected, and presented an adequate hydraulic behavior. Finally, dimensionless abacuses were made that serve as recommendations for the sizing of similar structures.