Experimental tests on a large scale (1:35) physical model were carried out to study a new aeration device for the flood discharge tunnel of Pubugou hydropower project, Sichuan, China to eliminate the backwater in the bottom cavity of aerator under the conditions of large flow rate and low Froude number. Results indicate that the aeration device with a trapezoidal-shaped slot on a steep slope is effective in overcoming the backwater problems of this tunnel over a quite wide range of work head, and that no drainage facility of this device is needed. In all the cases of reservoir storage level above 840m, nearly no bottom-cavity backwater accumulation in the multi-staged aerators was observed in the tests. Thus this new type of aerator meets the aeration demands by a low Froude number spillway tunnel, and provides a practically significant technique to aerator design. Copyright.