High-lift siphon flow velocity in a 4-mm siphon hose

High-lift siphon drainage by 4-mm internal diameter siphon hoses is a real-time, free-power, and long-term approach for slope drainage. The conventional hydraulics formula for pressurized pipe flow is generally used to calculate the single-phase velocity of siphon flow. However, an intensive cavitation phenomenon occurs in the high-lift siphon hose and then a two-phase flow is formed. Research on the velocity of high-lift siphon flow is a prerequisite for the application of siphon drainage with a 4-mm siphon hose. Few investigations of this subject have been carried out. Hence, experiments on the high-lift (8 m≤H ₀≤10.3 m) siphon drainage in a 4-mm siphon hose were performed. The characteristics of siphon flow under different conditions were observed and test data were obtained. Comparisons between test results and calculated results showed that significant errors were given by the hydraulics formula. It is demonstrated that the effect of gas in a siphon hose should be included in the calculation of flow velocity. The findings can be used to determine the number of siphon hoses and layout of siphon drainage holes, and provide valuable information for geotechnical companies.