Experimental study of parallel skimming walls effect on sediment reduction in side intakes with sensitivity analysis of geometric parameters

Sediment accumulation in channels leads to a variety of challenges that has numerous impacts, ranging from water quality and ecosystem health to infrastructure and flood management. In the present study the main objective was to scrutinize the use of parallel skimming walls to reduce the volume of sediment entering side intakes. The effects of the angle of the skimming walls, wall length, wall height, and the distance between the walls, as well as changes in the main canal flow rate, on the control of sediment entering the intake were studied experimentally. By incorporating hydraulic and geometric variables affecting sediment control, equations for the volume of diverted sediment were derived. The resulting equations were subjected to sensitivity analysis. According to the governing equation of the intake and sediment control, as well as the sensitivity analysis, it was found that the Froude number and the intake flow ratio had the greatest impact on controlling the sediment entering the intake. Furthermore, in all three scenarios examined, the amount of sediment entering the intake with the presence of skimming walls decreased by 58%, 70%, and 86%, respectively.