KARPAGA VINAYAGA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE6403 APPLIED HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
SAT EXAM ANSWER KEY
1. Define Open channel.
The flow of liquid in a free surface (i.e., surface exposed to atmospheric
pressure) through any passage is known as open channel.
The liquid flowing through any closed passage without touching the top
can also be treated as open channel.
2. Define specific energy.
Specific energy of a flowing liquid is defined as energy per unit weight of
the liquid with respect to the bottom of the channel.
Specific energy, E = y +

v2
2g

3. Draw the velocity distribution in open channel sections.

4. List the factors affecting Mannings roughness coefficient.

Surface roughness
Vegetation growth
Channel irregularities
Sitting and scouring

5. What are the classification of flow in an open channel?

Steady flow and unsteady flow
Uniform flow and non-uniform flow
Laminar flow and turbulent flow
Sub-critical, critical, super critical flow

6. Define steady flow and unsteady flow.

If the flow characteristics such as depth of flow, velocity of flow, rate of
flow at any point in open channel flow do not change with respect to time,
the flow is said to be steady flow.

=0

=0

=0

If at any point in an open channel flow, the velocity of flow, depth of

flow, rate of flow changes with respect to time, the flow is said to be unsteady
flow.

7. What is laminar and turbulent flow?

The flow in open channel is said to be laminar if the Reynolds number
(Re) is less than 500.
R =

vR

< 500

= Density of water
V = Mean velocity of flow of water
R = Hydraulic radius or Hydraulic mean depth
= Viscosity of water
If the Reynolds number is more than 2000 then the flow is said to be
turbulent flow in an open channel.
If the Reynolds number is between 500 and 2000, then the flow is
considered to be in transition state.

8. Define the term most economic section.

A most economical section of a channel is the section which conveys
maximum discharge with minimum wetted perimeter.
9. Write down the condition for the most economical trapezoidal channel?
Half the top width is equal to one of the sloping side
+ 2
= 1 + 2
2
Hydraulic radius is equal to half the depth

=
2
10. What is meant by wetted perimeter?
The length of wetted surface is measured normal to the flow
direction.
11. Distinguish between draw down curve and back water curve.
When the depth of the flow (y) increases in the direction of flow, slope

of water surface ( ) is positive and the water surface is known as Backwater

curve.
When the depth of the flow (y) decreases along the flow direction, slope

of water surface ( ) is negative and the water surface is known as drawdown

curve.
12. State the assumption made in the derivation of dynamic equation for gradually
varied flow.

Channel is prismatic
The bed slope is very small
The flow is steady and the discharge is constant
The pressure distribution over the channel section is hydrostatic
Energy correction factor() is unity (1)

13. Classify surface profiles in a channel.

Based on channel slopes, channel can be classified into five different
types.
a) Mild slope(M)
b) Critical slope(C)
c) Steep slope(S)
d) Horizontal slope(H)
e) Adverse slope(A)

14. What are the methods used to determine the length of surface profile?
Length of the surface profile is determined with the help of any one of
the following methods.
a) Graphical Integration method
b) Direct Step method
c) Standard step method
15. Define the afflux.
Afflux is defined as the maximum increase in water level due to some
obstruction in the path of flow of water.
Afflux = y2 y1
16. Define gradually varied flow.
A gradually varied flow (GVF) is defined as the change in the depth of the
channel gradually over a long distance of the flow of water in a channel.
17. Write the expression to determine the length of the backwater curve.
Length of backwater curve, L =

2 1

18. What are the flow profiles possible in Mild sloped channel?

19. Write the dynamic equation of GVF?

Dynamic equation of GVF,

1 2

20. Explain the classification of hydraulic jumps.

Undular jump
Weak jump
Oscillating jump
Steady jump
Strong jump
21. What is rapidly varied flow?
The rapidly varied flow is defined as the flow in which the depth of the
flow changes suddenly over a small length of the channel.
There is a rapid change in stage and velocity occurs whenever there is a
sudden change in the cross-section, a very deep bed slope or some obstruction
or obstacle in the channel is called Rapidly varied flow.
22. Define hydraulic jump.
The depth of the water which increases rapidly over a short length of the
channel is called hydraulic jump.
23. What are the uses of formation of hydraulic jump in a channel?
The kinetic energy of the flow after the hydraulic jump is greatly reduced
which may prevent the erosion of channel boundaries of downstream side.
24. Write the dynamic equation of RVF.
Dynamic equation of RVF,

25. Give the application of the momentum equation of RVF.

Momentum equation can be used for hydraulic jump analysis.
Momentum equation is based on the momentum-impulseprinciple, it is derived based on Newtons second law of motion.
26. Define transition.
Transition means a change of channel cross section.
Provision of a hump or depression along depth and
Contraction or expansion of channel width, in any combination
27. Write the expression for hydraulic jump.
Expression for hydraulic jump,
2
1 = (1 + 82 1)
2

28. What are the losses of energy due to hydraulic jump?

When hydraulic jump takes place, loss of energy due to eddies formation
and turbulence occurs.
29. What is surge?
When there is a sudden change in discharge or depth or both in a open
channel a rapidly varied unsteady flow there develops a surge.
It may occurs when there is sudden operation of a control gate.
30. What is meant by positive and negative surge?
Positive surge is defined as the surge which producing increase in depth.
Negative surge is defined as the surge which producing decrease in
depth.
31. What is specific speed of the turbine?
Specific speed is the speed of a geometrically similar turbine which will
develop unit power when working under unit head.

32. What are the main parts of pelton wheel turbine?

Penstock
Nozzle with flow governing mechanism
Spear
Runner with bucket
Casing
33. What are the types of turbine according to direction of flow through runner?
Tangential flow turbine
Radial flow turbine
Axial flow turbine
Mixed flow turbine
34. What are the classifications of hydraulic turbine according to the type of
energy at inlet?
Impulse turbine
Reaction turbine
35. What are the main mechanism of radial flow reaction turbine?
The water at the inlet of the turbine possesses kinetic energy as well as
pressure energy. As the water flows through the runner, a part of pressure
energy goes on changing into kinetic energy. Thus the water through the
runner is under pressure energy. The runner is completely enclosed in an airtight casing and the runner is always full of water.
36. What are the types of characteristics curve?
Main characteristics curves
Operating characteristics curves
Constant efficiency or Muschel curves
Constant head and constant discharge curves

37. What are the uses of draft tube?

It allows the turbine to be set above tail water level without loss
of head for doing inspection and maintenance.
It regains the major portion of the kinetic energy delivered from
the runner by the diffuse action.
38. Define axial flow turbine.
In axial flow turbine, the water flows parallel to the axis of the turbine
shaft.
Example: Kaplan turbine, propeller turbine
39. Define unit speed.
Unit speed is defined as the speed of the turbine when working under a
unit head.
Unit speed, =

40. Define degree of reaction (R).

The degree of turbine is defined as the ratio between the kinetic energy
change in the moving blade to the kinetic energy change in the stage.
R=

41. What are the main parts of centrifugal pump?

Impeller
Casing
Suction pipe with a foot wall and a strainer
Delivery pipe
42. What is Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH)?
It is defined as the absolute pressure head at the inlet to the pump minus
the vapour pressure towards the velocity head.
( or )

NPSH is defined as the total head required to make the liquid through
the suction pipe to the impeller.
43. Define slip of a reciprocating pump and negative slip.
The difference between the theoretical discharge and the actual
discharge is called slip of the pump.
Slip = Qth - Qact
But in sometimes, Qact may be higher than the Qth in such case Cd is
greater than unity and the slip will be negative called as negative slip.
44. What is an indicator diagram?
Indicator diagram is a graph plotted between the pressure head in the
cylinder and the distance traveled by the piston from the inner dead center
for one complete revolution of the crank.
45. What is the purpose of an air vessel fitted in the pump?
46. What is the discharge through a Reciprocating pump in per sec?
47. What is the work saved by fitting an air vessel in a single acting, double acting
pump?
48. Define multistage pump.
The flow rate or head of fluid obtained is not enough with one pump. So,
multiple pumps have to be used. In order to increase either flow rate or head
of discharge, pumps are connected in series or in parallel.
49. Define manometric head.
Manometric head is the head against which the centrifugal pump has to
work
50. What is an air vessel?
An air vessel is a closed chamber made of cast iron. It is used to provide
uniform discharge from reciprocating pump. It has opening at its base through
which the water flows into the air vessel or from the vessel depending on the
quantity of water inside the cylinder.