OARS Tunnel Operations Optimization
The OARS tunnel collects combined sewage during wet weather events from the downtown area to the Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant. Completed in 2017, the system experienced operational challenges related to grit accumulation, debris management, and uneven flow distribution within key shaft structures.
Hatch
Water Infrastructure
Columbus, Ohio
A detailed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of Shaft 1 was developed to evaluate and optimize the mixing system. The study assessed pump capacity, nozzle configuration, and nozzle orientation to improve solids transport and enhance grit removal efficiency during post-storm drainage operations.
A second CFD analysis of Shaft 2 investigated flow distribution between the facility’s screening channels. The simulations identified an upstream bend as the source of hydraulic imbalance, directing a greater proportion of flow to the west channel, supplying more flow to the west screen. These findings enabled operational adjustments to the screening process, improving system performance and debris management.
Using advanced CFD analysis, improved tunnel maintenance and operational reliability by optimizing grit removal, enhancing debris management, and identifying hydraulic conditions affecting flow distribution within critical wastewater infrastructure.
