Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The San Francisco Department of Public Works used FLOW-3D HYDRO as part of an ongoing project to reduce recurrent flooding within their combined sewer system. As part of this project, the City proposed the upgrade and replacement of existing box sewers at critical junctions in the collection system network that were limiting upstream capacity. Because of unique site constraints and design requirements, 3D CFD simulations with FLOW-3D HYDRO were used to evaluate the performance of these proposed box sewer upgrades.
As demonstrated in the above simulation results, FLOW-3D HYDRO can be used to directly simulate how water flow moves through these highly complex structures. In this case, the 3D CFD simulations were used to quickly evaluate the performance of multiple design iterations to calculate the flow capacities within the dry weather channel and diversion to a proposed stormwater tunnel. Simulation results were also a valuable tool to visualize the structure's highly complex hydraulic conditions and communication among project team members. Ultimately, the FLOW-3D HYDRO simulation results were then used to calibrate head loss coefficients in larger-scale 1D/2D network models and confirm the proposed designs will meet the project's requirements for upstream HGL freeboard to reduce flooding.
You can read more about this project by visiting flow3d.com/resources/conference-proceedings/.
The San Francisco Department of Public Works used FLOW-3D HYDRO as part of an ongoing project to reduce recurrent flooding within their combined sewer system. As part of this project, the City proposed the upgrade and replacement of existing box sewers at critical junctions in the collection system network that were limiting upstream capacity. Because of unique site constraints and design requirements, 3D CFD simulations with FLOW-3D HYDRO were used to evaluate the performance of these proposed box sewer upgrades.
As demonstrated in the above simulation results, FLOW-3D HYDRO can be used to directly simulate how water flow moves through these highly complex structures. In this case, the 3D CFD simulations were used to quickly evaluate the performance of multiple design iterations to calculate the flow capacities within the dry weather channel and diversion to a proposed stormwater tunnel. Simulation results were also a valuable tool to visualize the structure's highly complex hydraulic conditions and communication among project team members. Ultimately, the FLOW-3D HYDRO simulation results were then used to calibrate head loss coefficients in larger-scale 1D/2D network models and confirm the proposed designs will meet the project's requirements for upstream HGL freeboard to reduce flooding.
You can read more about this project by visiting flow3d.com/resources/conference-proceedings/.
