4.2.1.

5 Comparison of Dufour with Bieri flushing system

In Dufour sediment trap, continuous sluicing of the sediment deposits is achieved by means of
openings in the chamber bottom through which the sediment together with a certain amount of
water enters a channel with a flushing gate at its downstream end (Figure 4.14).

The sediment exclusion system is constructed of wood, consisting of 4m long modules each
having two orifices about 10cm height, formed by gaps between succeeding planks of wood, 2m
long and inclined slightly to the horizontal. The width of orifices varies from 20cm at the upstream
end of the excluder to 10cm at the downstream end. The gutter underneath removes the outflow
from the excluder, at a velocity on the order of 2 - 2.5 m/s. The exclusion flow usually amounts to
5 or 10% of the flow entering the trap. It is also controlled by an outlet valve [7].

Thought this type of sand trap operates satisfactorily, a problem arises in that the larger material
settles out at the upstream end of the exclusion system whereas the fines appear nearer to the
outlet. This means that the scour flow has to move the larger items much further than the fines.

Figure 4.14: Schematic of Dufour sand trap [7]

The cross section of a Bieri sand trap is similar to that of a Dufour type but they operate rather
differently. The Dufour scour flow is controlled by a single outlet valve, which usually has to be at
least half open. The Dufour scour orifices are quite large (15 * 15 cm) because there is only one
every 2m [7]. Their role is to distribute the washout flow over the length of the trap and not to
control the amount of this flow. The outlet valves and scour orifices are then not likely to clog.

In a Bieri system, on the other hand, the flow in the scour channel is not controlled by a valve
and the scour orifices operate under the full head. The oil jacks provided to adjust the size of the
orifices can be made powerful enough to cut through probable clogged debris. Alternatively, the
scour orifices can be opened to the maximum size of 19 * 20 cm to flush through the larger items
of debris. Bieri trap with flushing system has however two advantages. One is that the washout
flow is uniformly distributed, at least along each length of flusher. The other is that the sediment
outflow duct is readily accessible for inspection.

According to the above, the Bieri flushing system is chosen for standardization process, because
it is considered to offer better performance for sediment control and flushing. Of course civil
works for all types of sediment traps are not very different.

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