Project Description
Maintenance procedures for the Guri Powerhouse required the occasional installation of a floating bulkhead in order to seal one of the intakes, while the adjacent intakes would be in operation. A study to determine the flow patterns and velocities of the approach flow to the intakes in the vicinity of the bulkhead was considered crucial for the safety of the divers and the successful installation of the bulkhead. A 3-D finite element flow analysis of the approach flow to the intakes was performed using fluid flow FEA program. Flow patterns and velocities of the approach flow were determined. This information was important in identifying the boundaries of the area where the installation procedure could take place safely.