Comparative analysis of tracer studies in the determination of longitudinal dispersion coefficient.

The research presented in this paper is to determine the best tracer studies that will give acceptable estimates of longitudinal dispersion coefficient for Orashi river using rhodamine WT dye and sodium chloride as water tracer. Estimated results obtained for longitudinal dispersion coefficient for the case of rhodamine WT experiment ranges between 71 and 104.4 m2s-1 while that of sodium chloride experiment ranges between 20.1 and 34.71 m2s-1. These results revealed lower dispersion coefficient using sodium chloride as water tracer (WT) indicating that for larger rivers, sodium chloride should not be used as water tracer. The usage of sodium chloride as water tracer in the estimation of longitudinal dispersion coefficient is recommended in smaller streams as NaCl is relatively conservative. The established equations for both cases of investigation are proving satisfactory upon validation as degree of accuracy of 100.0% was obtained using discrepancy ratio (Dr). Standard error (SE), normal mean error (NME) and mean multiplication error (MME) of the developed equations is better when compared with other existing equations. However, Equation (17) is satisfactorily recommended.

An improved equation development for longitudinal dispersion coefficient.

The model developed in this paper is an improved equation for the longitudinal dispersion coefficient, which is an important parameter used to monitor and check the assimilatory capacity of rivers. This research incorporates total suspended solids (Ss) and total dissolved solids (Ds) to other selected functional parameters in order to investigate the contributions of Ss and Ds on the longitudinal dispersion coefficient. The results obtained from research indicates that the presence of Ss and Ds affects longitudinal dispersion coefficient as it reduces the magnitude of Dl values. The measured values of longitudinal dispersion coefficient estimated in this study vary between 71 and 104.4 m2 s-1. The percentage of Dr values estimated to be within 0.0 and 0.3 were 50.0% and within -0.3 and 0.0 were 50% for the developed equation and this indicates a degree of accuracy of 100.0%. While for Seo and Cheong, the percentage of Dr values determined to be within 0.0 and 0.3 were 63.3% and within -0.3 and 0.0 were 30% and gives a degree of accuracy of 93.3% and others are poor. SE, NME and MME results show a high accuracy for the derived equation revealing the adequacy of the derived equation in the estimation of D.