Discharge estimation of the Shin-Yuan Canal using indirect method

This study presents an indirect method for estimating the discharge of the Shin-Yuan Canal. It includes a new tool of velocity measurement, a method of discharge computation, and some technology. When the Shin-Yuan Canal was built, the issue of discharge measurement was not considered. The Shin-Yuan Canal was co-constructed with the Wan-Dan Canal. Therefore, direct discharge measurement was impossible. This study indirectly estimated the discharge of the Shin-Yuan Canal by controlling the pump discharge through a pumping station. And a stage-discharge rating curve was created for continuous and real-time monitoring of canal discharge. In order to improve measurement accuracy and reliability, this study adopted the acoustic digital current meter (ADC) for discharge measurement. The probabilistic velocity distribution equation was used to accurately calculate the average vertical velocity and the area-velocity principle was used to estimate the water discharge of the Wan-Dan Canal. According to the measurement results, the discharge rating curve of the Shin-Yuan Canal could be accurately established with the precise device, ADC, and the technologies which could effectively measure velocity. This method should be promoted and applied to other similar discharge measurement and monitoring issues of irrigation canals.