Flow Modeling in Pressurized Systems Revisited

Besharat

et al. 2019

The filling process in water pipelines produces pressure surges caused by the compression of air pockets. In this sense, air valves should be appropriately designed to expel sufficient air to avoid pipeline failure. Recent studies concerning filling maneuvers have been addressed without considering the behavior of air valves. This work shows a mathematical model developed by the authors which is capable of simulating the main hydraulic and thermodynamic variables during filling operations under the effect of the air valve in a single pipeline, which is based on the mass oscillation equation, the air-water interface, the polytropic equation of the air phase, the air mass equation, and the air valve characterization. The mathematical model is validated in a 7.3-m-long pipeline with a 63-mm nominal diameter. A commercial air valve is positioned in the highest point of the hydraulic installation. Measurements indicate that the mathematical model can be used to simulate this phenomenon by providing good accuracy.

Section: Formulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of a Commercial Air Valve on the Rapid Filling of a Single Pipeline: a Numerical and Experimental Analysis

Besharat

et al. 2019

“…The interaction of water columns with entrapped air pockets in water pipelines is difficult to understand because hydraulic and thermodynamic formulations need to be analysed [1,2]. Furthermore, the understanding of water and the air phase is crucial to determine the evolution of involved variables [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quasi-static Flow Model for Predicting the Extreme Values of Air Pocket Pressure in Draining and Filling Operations in Single Water Installations

Mora-Meliá

et al. 2020

Inertial models have been used by researchers to simulate the draining and filling processes in water pipelines, based on the evolution of the main hydraulic and thermodynamic variables. These models use complex differential equations, which are solved using advanced numerical codes. In this study, a quasi-static flow model is developed to study these operations in hydraulic installations. The quasi-static flow model represents a simplified formulation compared with inertial flow models, in which its numerical resolution is easier because only algebraic equations must be addressed. Experimental measurements of air pocket pressure patterns were conducted in a 4.36 m long single pipeline with an internal diameter of 42 mm. Comparisons between measured and computed air pocket pressure oscillations indicate how the quasi-static flow model can predict extreme values of air pocket pressure for experimental runs, demonstrating the possibility of selecting stiffness and pipe classes in actual pipelines using this model. Two case studies were analysed to determine the behaviour of the quasi-static flow model in large water pipelines.

“…This problem can be studied using one (1D) [10,11], two (2D) [12] or three-dimensional (3D) [13] models. The water phase in the 1D model can be analyzed considering two types of models [14]: (i) elastic models [15,16], which consider the elasticity of the pipe and the water; or (ii) rigid models [17], which ignore the elasticity of them. Normally, elastic models are solved by using the method of characteristics [18,19] and rigid models by using the numerical solutions of ordinary differential equations [3,11,17,20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a Water Emptying Pipeline Using Different Air Valves

Besharat

et al. 2017

Abstract:The emptying procedure is a common operation that engineers have to face in pipelines. This generates subatmospheric pressure caused by the expansion of air pockets, which can produce the collapse of the system depending on the conditions of the installation. To avoid this problem, engineers have to install air valves in pipelines. However, if air valves are not adequately designed, then the risk in pipelines continues. In this research, a mathematical model is developed to simulate an emptying process in pipelines that can be used for planning this type of operation. The one-dimensional proposed model analyzes the water phase propagation by a new rigid model and the air pockets effect using thermodynamic formulations. The proposed model is validated through measurements of the air pocket absolute pressure, the water velocity and the length of the emptying columns in an experimental facility. Results show that the proposed model can accurately predict the hydraulic characteristic variables.