Numerical investigation of the impact of hydraulic behavior of various constrictions on a Venturi channel

• Venturi channels with three constriction ratios (0.35, 0.50, 0.65) were analyzed. • Constriction ratio (b/B; where b is the throat width and B is the total channel width) strongly affects velocity, turbulence, and flow stability. • A ratio of b/B = 0.65 minimizes energy loss and ensures the most stable flow. • Narrower constrictions (b/B = 0.35) increase turbulence and mixing but reduce stability. • Future studies should involve real-world testing and AI-based design optimization. This study comprehensively investigates the hydraulic behavior of Venturi channels, which are engineered with a deliberate reduction in cross-sectional area to accelerate fluid velocity, under varying constriction geometries. The research aims to understand their impact on flow rate, turbulence, and energy dissipation. Employing both experimental data and numerical simulations via computational fluid dynamics (CFD), three constriction ratios b/B = 0.35, 0.50, and 0.65 (where b is constriction width and B is channel width) were analyzed. The analysis specifically evaluated flow patterns, velocity profiles, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), and energy dissipation. Results reveal that narrower constrictions (e.g., b/B = 0.35) significantly increase turbulence and create steeper velocity gradients, leading to prolonged recovery lengths and elevated energy dissipation, particularly at lower flow rates. Conversely, wider constrictions (e.g., b/B = 0.65) facilitate smoother flow transitions and consistently demonstrate lower energy dissipation across all flow conditions. The energy dissipation analysis highlights a critical trade-off between turbulence intensity and flow stability, where narrower configurations improve energy efficiency at higher flow rates but incur greater energy losses at lower flow rates. These findings underscore the substantial impact of constriction geometry on optimizing Venturi channels for diverse engineering applications, including fluid measurement, wastewater treatment, and hydropower systems. The study’s outcomes provide a robust foundation for enhancing the efficiency and design of Venturi channels under various operational conditions.