Geysering in Rapidly Filling Storm-Water Tunnels

Events that are referred to as geysers have been observed in storm-water or combined sewer systems and are associated with jets of water rising through manholes to a considerable distance above the ground surface. Visual observations suggest that air may be a significant component of the jet. The me...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of hydraulic engineering (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 137; no. 1; pp. 112 - 115
Main Authors Wright, Steven J, Lewis, James W, Vasconcelos, Jose G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01.01.2011
Subjects
Applied sciences
Buildings. Public works
Exact sciences and technology
Hydraulic constructions
Sewerage. Sewer construction
TECHNICAL NOTES
Tunnels, galleries
Combined sewer
Water tunnel
Combined sewers
Hydraulics
Underground storage
Interaction
Surge
Buoyancy
Storm-water management
Measurement in situ
Air-water interactions
Water level
Water engineering
Observation
Geysering
Storrnwater management
Qualitative analysis
Storm water
Tunnels
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Summary:Events that are referred to as geysers have been observed in storm-water or combined sewer systems and are associated with jets of water rising through manholes to a considerable distance above the ground surface. Visual observations suggest that air may be a significant component of the jet. The mechanisms of geyser occurrence have been previously assumed to originate in inertial oscillations that force water up through vertical ventilation shafts. Recent laboratory investigations indicate that geyser formation is associated with the release of trapped air pockets through partially filled vertical shafts. Pressure data from a storm-water tunnel subject to infrequent geyser events is presented to indicate that measured piezometric heads adjacent to the ventilation shaft never increase to levels approaching the ground surface during a geyser event suggesting that air interactions must be an important part of the process. It is concluded that system design to avoid geyser formation must include the consideration of trapped air within the tunnel system.
ISSN:0733-9429
1943-7900
DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000245