Traditionally, reduced physical models are used to allow control, instrumentation and experimental evaluation of flow. More recently, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has emerged as a tool that allows numerical modeling of flows and can complement the information provided by the physical model. The objective this paper is to validate the CFD tool in reproducing the flow through an ogee crest spillway with a roller bucket stilling basin. This validation was performed with the data from a reduced scale experiment in which measurements were made of the position of the water free surface and of the pressure loads in the spillway profile. It was verified that the CFD tool is suitable for the study of this type of flow, being able to reproduce the experimental results. In the execution of the numerical simulations, special attention was given to the influence of the mesh on the results. An important influence of the mesh was observed in some results, which shows the importance a sensitivity analysis of this parameter when performing CFD simulations. The obtained results offer the prospect of using CFD as a supporting tool for the design of spillways and stilling basins.
Valves are widely used in several areas, and their application in building installations is common, e.g., as shower control valves. Rapid technological advances have resulted in improvements to valve performance, reducing water and energy consumption. Removing parts external to the masonry improves space use and ergonomics in valve operation. Front access to the internal parts of a valve facilitates maintenance. The objective of this study is to present a new model of hydraulic valve for building installations, designed to decrease head loss, increase controllability, and eliminate parts outside the masonry. Three geometries were initially designed using SolidWorks, and a CFD model was used to specify the pressures at the inlet and outlet of the analyzed sections. As a result, the third valve geometry presented a pressure drop coefficient when 100% open that was roughly one third of that typically seen in globe valves. The pumps and the reduction in head loss implied that lower power was required, and therefore its energy consumption was low. Gains in controllability were also observed, as it did not reach high flows for small openings. When used on a large scale, these attributes would prevent the valves from wasting natural resources.
O volume global de perdas de água é significativo. Cada ano, mais de 32 bilhões de m3 de água tratada são perdidos por vazamentos em redes de distribuição. Devido à complexidade dos sistemas de abastecimento, a divisão em Distritos de Medição e Controle (DMC’s), que são áreas menores e mais gerenciáveis, possibilita um controle efetivo de pressões e vazões, proporcionando a redução dos volumes de água perdidos. O trabalho apresenta um estudo de caso do município de Bragança Paulista, operado pela SABESP e os resultados demonstram uma redução significativa nos volumes de água perdidos proporcionando a melhoria da eficiência operacional.
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