Controlled splitter node

A controlled splitter is used to divide water travelling down a single branch into two different branches. Controlled splitters can be used to represent distributaries (a system with multiple end-points), effluents (a split in the river into the main channel and a smaller channel), anabranches (where a smaller section of river branches away from the main channel and then rejoins the main channel further downstream), or losses (where water is leaving the system).

A controlled splitter models the behaviour of both: 

• a natural system; and 
• a system where the flow down the effluent can be controlled by some kind of regulating structure. 

A controlled splitter node does not consider what happens to a flow after splitting. In the case of anabranches, there may be multiple order paths and orders may be subject to optimisation.

Modelling systems

To model a system using the controlled splitter node, use the piecewise linear editor to describe the relative proportions of water that either continue along the main branch or enter the effluent. Values can be entered manually or imported from a comma-separated (.CSV) file using the format shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Controlled splitter node (data file format)

For a natural system, set the minimum effluent flow equal to the maximum effluent flow. This ensures that flow down the effluent is purely a function of the upstream flow. For a regulated system, ensure that the relationship-pair delimits the relative proportions of water, depending on whether the regulating structure is fully closed, fully open, or at some point in between.

A controlled splitter node is operated to minimise the increase in orders for the main channel, while ensuring that orders generated for the effluent are still met. Refer to the Source Scientific Reference Guide for details on setting up the node for this. To minimise loss on the main channel, the initial position is that the regulator is considered to be fully closed. Next, the regulator is opened sufficiently to meet the orders on the effluent. Additional orders are then generated (if required) to ensure that there is sufficient upstream flow to meet the combined requirements of the main channel and effluent.

There are three possible ordering scenarios:

• Orders on the main channel will generate sufficient effluent flow to meet orders on the effluent. In this case, no additional orders need to be generated; 
• Orders on the effluent are greater than or equal to the minimum effluent flow generated by main channel orders but less than or equal to the maximum effluent flow for the combined main channel and effluent orders. In this case, additional orders need to be generated; or 
• Orders on the effluent are greater than the maximum effluent flow for the combined main channel and effluent orders. In this case, the requirements can not be satisfied by adding more water to the system.

It is also possible to operate the regulator on the effluent of a controlled splitter independently of the rules-based ordering system. In other words, the regulator can be set up to push flow down the effluent (configured as a function of upstream flow) without allowing orders to be passed upstream.

This may be suitable if the regulator must be opened on a seasonal pattern (eg. to allow flow down the effluent outside of the irrigation season) or if triggers in the river system are used as rules to open and close the regulator (eg. to allow flow down the effluent during high flows).

Specify the percentage opening of the regulator via the function manager, which will adjust the minimum effluent flow relationship.  An expression of:

• 0 represents the regulator being fully operational so that the minimum effluent relationship will remain the same as what is entered;
• 100 represents the regulator being removed so that the minimum effluent flow relationship will equal the maximum effluent relationship and the controlled splitter no longer has any regulation capabilities; and
• A value between 0% and 100% will alter the minimum effluent flow relationship so that the capability of regulation is reduced. Refer to the Source Scientific Reference Guide for details on setting up the node for this.

An example of where this functionality may be used is on an effluent connected to a wetland which has no orders, but where the regulator is operated to prevent water flowing down the effluent during high regulated flows during summer. However, during winter/spring, the regulator is opened to allow more natural wetting behaviour of the wetland. 

Defining splitter behaviour 

A simple splitter is one that models the behaviour of a natural system, whereas a controlled splitter node models the behaviour of a system where flow down the effluent can be controlled by some kind of regulating structure. To configure the basic behaviour of a splitter, first ensure that each branch has been linked to a downstream node. Then, define which downstream link represents the effluent. By default, the other link represents the main channel. To do this, refer to the radio buttons near the top. Then enter a relationship between flow upstream of the node and flow down the effluent. The flow down the main channel is calculated automatically at run time. The graph shows the behaviour of selected link.

Figure 1. Controlled splitter node (Splitter characteristics)

Ownership of unallocated flows from a controlled splitter can be distributed according to owned amounts or by selecting different proportions to the owned amounts. Refer to Controlled splitter .

It is also possible for the user to operate the regulator on the effluent of a controlled splitter independently of the ordering system. The user is able to specify the percentage opening of the regulator via the expression editor which will adjust the minimum effluent flow relationship.  An expression value of 0% represents the regulator being fully operational so that the minimum effluent relationship will remain the same as what is entered by the user. An expression value of 100% represents the regulator being removed so that the minimum effluent flow relationship will equal the maximum effluent relationship and the controlled splitter no longer has any regulation capabilities. An expression value between 0% and 100% will alter the minimum effluent flow relationship so that the capability of regulation is reduced. Refer to the Source Scientific Reference Guide for details on setting up the node for this.

An example of where this functionality may be used is on an effluent connected to a wetland which has no orders but where the regulator is operated to prevent water flowing down the effluent during high regulated flows during summer, but during winter/spring the regulator is opened to allow more natural wetting behaviour of the wetland.