Simulation of mass transfer in a river with dead zones using network simulation method

Abstract

In this study, network simulation method is applied to solve a 1-D solute transfer problem governed by transient storage model in a mountain stream including dead zones. In this computational method, for each node of the discretized domain, the terms of governing equation are substituted by the equivalent electrical devices which are connected to each other based on Kirchhoff?s current law. Finally, the total electric circuit is solved using an appropriate electrical code to obtain the unknown value at the nodes. Because no analytical solutions for this model have been presented so far, to verify network simulation method, the problem is solved by finite volume method, as well. According to the results, estimations made by network simulation method and finite volume method are in good agreement. Further, network simulation method is easier in implementation, especially in implementation of boundary conditions, and faster than finite volume method in computation. Therefore, in the case of 1-D mass transfer problems with a set of coupled equations, network simulation method is recommended to be used as an efficient alternative to numerical methods.