Rigid Water Column Model for Simulating the Emptying Process in a Pipeline Using Pressurized Air

This material may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the American Society of Civil Engineers[EN] This paper presents a mathematical model for analyzing the emptying process in a pipeline using pressurized air. The rigid water column model (RWCM) is used to analyze the transient phenomena that occur during the emptying of the pipeline. The air-water interface is also computed in the proposed model. The proposed model is applied along a 271.6-m-long PVC-steel pipeline with a 232-mm internal diameter. The boundary conditions are given by a high-pressure air tank at the upstream end and a manual butterfly valve at the downstream end. The solution was carried out in a computer modeling program. The results show that comparisons between both the computed and measured water flow oscillations and gauge pressures are very similar; hence, the model can effectively simulate the transient flow in this system. In addition, the results indicate that the proposed model can predict both the water flow and gauge pressure better than previous models.Funding for Oscar E. Coronado-Hernandez (doctoral student) was covered by Fundacion Centro de Estudios Interdisciplinarios Basicos y Aplicados (CEIBA)-Gobernacion de Bolivar (Colombia).Coronado-Hernández, OE.; Fuertes-Miquel, VS.; Iglesias Rey, PL.; Martínez-Solano, FJ. (2018). Rigid Water Column Model for Simulating the Emptying Process in a Pipeline Using Pressurized Air. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering. 144(4):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001446S17144

Simplified Mathematical Model for Computing Draining Operations in Pipelines of Undulating Profiles with Vacuum Air Valves

[EN] The draining operation involves the presence of entrapped air pockets, which are expanded during the phenomenon occurrence generating drops of sub-atmospheric pressure pulses. Vacuum air valves should inject enough air to prevent sub-atmospheric pressure conditions. Recently, this phenomenon has been studied by the authors with an inertial model, obtaining a complex formulation based on a system composed by algebraic-di erential equations. This research simplifies this complex formulation by neglecting the inertial term, thus the Bernoulli¿s equation can be used. Results show how the inertial model and the simplified mathematical model provide similar results of the evolution of main hydraulic and thermodynamic variables. The simplified mathematical model is also verified using experimental tests of air pocket pressure, water velocity, and position of the water column.Coronado-Hernández, ÓE.; Fuertes-Miquel, VS.; Quiñones-Bolaños, EE.; Gatica, G.; Coronado-Hernández, JR. (2020). Simplified Mathematical Model for Computing Draining Operations in Pipelines of Undulating Profiles with Vacuum Air Valves. Water. 12(9):1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092544S112129Fuertes-Miquel, V. S., Coronado-Hernández, O. E., Mora-Meliá, D., & Iglesias-Rey, P. L. (2019). Hydraulic modeling during filling and emptying processes in pressurized pipelines: a literature review. Urban Water Journal, 16(4), 299-311. doi:10.1080/1573062x.2019.1669188Fuertes-Miquel, V. S., Coronado-Hernández, O. E., Iglesias-Rey, P. L., & Mora-Meliá, D. (2018). Transient phenomena during the emptying process of a single pipe with water–air interaction. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 57(3), 318-326. doi:10.1080/00221686.2018.1492465Tijsseling, A. S., Hou, Q., Bozkuş, Z., & Laanearu, J. (2015). Improved One-Dimensional Models for Rapid Emptying and Filling of Pipelines. Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, 138(3). doi:10.1115/1.4031508Coronado-Hernández, O. E., Fuertes-Miquel, V. S., Besharat, M., & Ramos, H. M. (2018). Subatmospheric pressure in a water draining pipeline with an air pocket. Urban Water Journal, 15(4), 346-352. doi:10.1080/1573062x.2018.1475578Ramezani, L., Karney, B., & Malekpour, A. (2016). Encouraging Effective Air Management in Water Pipelines: A Critical Review. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 142(12), 04016055. doi:10.1061/(asce)wr.1943-5452.0000695Zhou, L., & Liu, D. (2013). Experimental investigation of entrapped air pocket in a partially full water pipe. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 51(4), 469-474. doi:10.1080/00221686.2013.785985Carlos, M., Arregui, F. J., Cabrera, E., & Palau, C. V. (2011). Understanding Air Release through Air Valves. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 137(4), 461-469. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0000324Bianchi, A., Mambretti, S., & Pianta, P. (2007). Practical Formulas for the Dimensioning of Air Valves. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 133(10), 1177-1180. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9429(2007)133:10(1177)Ramezani, L., Karney, B., & Malekpour, A. (2015). The Challenge of Air Valves: A Selective Critical Literature Review. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 141(10), 04015017. doi:10.1061/(asce)wr.1943-5452.0000530Coronado-Hernández, O., Fuertes-Miquel, V., Besharat, M., & Ramos, H. (2017). Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a Water Emptying Pipeline Using Different Air Valves. Water, 9(2), 98. doi:10.3390/w9020098Laanearu, J., Annus, I., Koppel, T., Bergant, A., Vučković, S., Hou, Q., … van’t Westende, J. M. C. (2012). Emptying of Large-Scale Pipeline by Pressurized Air. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 138(12), 1090-1100. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0000631Coronado-Hernández, O. E., Fuertes-Miquel, V. S., Iglesias-Rey, P. L., & Martínez-Solano, F. J. (2018). Rigid Water Column Model for Simulating the Emptying Process in a Pipeline Using Pressurized Air. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 144(4), 06018004. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0001446Coronado-Hernández, O. E., Fuertes-Miquel, V. S., Iglesias-Rey, P. L., & Martínez-Solano, F. J. (2020). Closure to «Rigid Water Column Model for Simulating the Emptying Process in a Pipeline Using Pressurized Air» by Oscar E. Coronado-Hernández, Vicente S. Fuertes-Miquel, Pedro L. Iglesias-Rey, and Francisco J. Martínez-Solano. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 146(3), 07020002. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0001681Vasconcelos, J. G., & Wright, S. J. (2008). Rapid Flow Startup in Filled Horizontal Pipelines. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 134(7), 984-992. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9429(2008)134:7(984)Vasconcelos, J. G., Klaver, P. R., & Lautenbach, D. J. (2014). Flow regime transition simulation incorporating entrapped air pocket effects. Urban Water Journal, 12(6), 488-501. doi:10.1080/1573062x.2014.881892Wang, L., Wang, F., & Lei, X. (2018). Investigation on friction models for simulation of pipeline filling transients. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 56(6), 888-895. doi:10.1080/00221686.2018.1434693Malekpour, A., Karney, B. W., & Nault, J. (2016). Physical Understanding of Sudden Pressurization of Pipe Systems with Entrapped Air: Energy Auditing Approach. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 142(2), 04015044. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0001067Coronado-Hernández, Ó. E., Fuertes-Miquel, V. S., Mora-Meliá, D., & Salgueiro, Y. (2020). Quasi-static Flow Model for Predicting the Extreme Values of Air Pocket Pressure in Draining and Filling Operations in Single Water Installations. Water, 12(3), 664. doi:10.3390/w12030664Leon, A. S., Ghidaoui, M. S., Schmidt, A. R., & Garcia, M. H. (2010). A robust two-equation model for transient-mixed flows. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 48(1), 44-56. doi:10.1080/0022168090356591

Transient phenomena during the emptying process of a single pipe with water air interaction

[EN] Emptying pipelines can be critical in many water distribution networks because subatmospheric pressure troughs could cause considerable damage to the system due to the expansion of entrapped air. Researchers have given relatively little attention to emptying processes compared to filling processes. The intricacy of computations of this phenomenon makes it difficult to predict the behaviour during emptying, and there are only a few reliable models in the literature. In this work, a computational model for simulating the transient phenomena in single pipes is proposed, and was validated using experimental results. The proposed model is based on a rigid column to analyse water movement, the air¿water interface, and air pocket equations. Two practical cases were used to validate the model: (1) a single pipe with the upstream end closed, and (2) a single pipe with an air valve installed on the upstream end. The results show how the model accurately predicts the experimental data, including the pressure oscillation patterns and subatmospheric pressure troughs.This study was supported by the Program Fondecyt Regular [Project 1180660] of the Comision Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (Conicyt), Chile, http://data.crossref.org/fundingdata/funder/10.13039/501100002848.Fuertes-Miquel, VS.; Coronado-Hernández, OE.; Iglesias Rey, PL.; Mora Melia, D. (2019). Transient phenomena during the emptying process of a single pipe with water air interaction. Journal of Hydraulic Research. 57(3):318-326. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2018.1492465S318326573Bashiri-Atrabi, H., & Hosoda, T. (2015). The motion of entrapped air cavities in inclined ducts. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 53(6), 814-819. doi:10.1080/00221686.2015.1060272Cabrera, E., Abreu, J., Pérez, R., & Vela, A. (1992). Influence of Liquid Length Variation in Hydraulic Transients. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 118(12), 1639-1650. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9429(1992)118:12(1639)Coronado-Hernández, O. E., Fuertes-Miquel, V. S., Iglesias-Rey, P. L., & Martínez-Solano, F. J. (2018). Rigid Water Column Model for Simulating the Emptying Process in a Pipeline Using Pressurized Air. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 144(4), 06018004. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0001446Fuertes-Miquel, V. S., López-Jiménez, P. A., Martínez-Solano, F. J., & López-Patiño, G. (2016). Numerical modelling of pipelines with air pockets and air valves. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 43(12), 1052-1061. doi:10.1139/cjce-2016-0209Guinot, V. (2001). The discontinuous profile method for simulating two-phase flow in pipes using the single component approximation. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 37(3), 341-359. doi:10.1002/fld.177Hou, Q., Tijsseling, A. S., Laanearu, J., Annus, I., Koppel, T., Bergant, A., … van ’t Westende, J. M. C. (2014). Experimental Investigation on Rapid Filling of a Large-Scale Pipeline. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 140(11), 04014053. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0000914Izquierdo, J., Fuertes, V. S., Cabrera, E., Iglesias, P. L., & Garcia-Serra, J. (1999). Pipeline start-up with entrapped air. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 37(5), 579-590. doi:10.1080/00221689909498518Laanearu, J., Annus, I., Koppel, T., Bergant, A., Vučković, S., Hou, Q., … van’t Westende, J. M. C. (2012). Emptying of Large-Scale Pipeline by Pressurized Air. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 138(12), 1090-1100. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0000631Leon, A. S., Ghidaoui, M. S., Schmidt, A. R., & Garcia, M. H. (2010). A robust two-equation model for transient-mixed flows. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 48(1), 44-56. doi:10.1080/00221680903565911Liou, C. P., & Hunt, W. A. (1996). Filling of Pipelines with Undulating Elevation Profiles. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 122(10), 534-539. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9429(1996)122:10(534)Liu, D., Zhou, L., Karney, B., Zhang, Q., & Ou, C. (2011). Rigid-plug elastic-water model for transient pipe flow with entrapped air pocket. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 49(6), 799-803. doi:10.1080/00221686.2011.621740Malekpour, A., & Karney, B. (2014). Column separation and rejoinder during rapid pipeline filling induced by a partial flow blockage. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 52(5), 693-704. doi:10.1080/00221686.2014.905502Martins, S. C., Ramos, H. M., & Almeida, A. B. (2015). Conceptual analogy for modelling entrapped air action in hydraulic systems. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 53(5), 678-686. doi:10.1080/00221686.2015.1077353Pozos, O., Gonzalez, C. A., Giesecke, J., Marx, W., & Rodal, E. A. (2010). Air entrapped in gravity pipeline systems. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 48(3), 338-347. doi:10.1080/00221686.2010.481839Tijsseling, A. S., Hou, Q., Bozkuş, Z., & Laanearu, J. (2015). Improved One-Dimensional Models for Rapid Emptying and Filling of Pipelines. Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, 138(3). doi:10.1115/1.4031508Wang, K.-H., Shen, Q., & Zhang, B. (2003). Modeling propagation of pressure surges with the formation of an air pocket in pipelines. Computers & Fluids, 32(9), 1179-1194. doi:10.1016/s0045-7930(02)00103-2Wang, H., Zhou, L., Liu, D., Karney, B., Wang, P., Xia, L., … Xu, C. (2016). CFD Approach for Column Separation in Water Pipelines. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 142(10), 04016036. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0001171Zhou, L., & Liu, D. (2013). Experimental investigation of entrapped air pocket in a partially full water pipe. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 51(4), 469-474. doi:10.1080/00221686.2013.785985Zhou, L., Liu, D., & Karney, B. (2013). Investigation of Hydraulic Transients of Two Entrapped Air Pockets in a Water Pipeline. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 139(9), 949-959. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.0000750Zhou, L., Liu, D., Karney, B., & Wang, P. (2013). Phenomenon of White Mist in Pipelines Rapidly Filling with Water with Entrapped Air Pockets. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 139(10), 1041-1051. doi:10.1061/(asce)hy.1943-7900.000076

Subatmospheric pressure in a water draining pipeline with an air pocket

[EN] An air pocket's behaviour inside of a pipeline during transient conditions is of great importance due to its effect on the safety of the hydraulic system and the complexity of modeling its behaviour. The emptying process from water pipelines needs more assessment because the generation of troughs of subatmospheric pressure may lead to serious damage. This research studies the air pocket parameters during an emptying process from a water pipeline. A well-equipped experimental facility was used to measure the pressure and the velocity change throughout the water emptying for different air pocket sizes and valve opening times. The phenomenon was simulated using a one-dimensional (1D) developed model based on the rigid formulation with a non-variable friction factor and a constant pipe diameter. The mathematical model shows good ability in predicting the trough of subatmospheric pressure value as the most important parameter which can affect the safety of hydraulic systems.This work was supported by the Fundacion CEIBA - Gobernacion de Bolivar, Colombia which covered the financial support for the doctoral student, Oscar E. Coronado-Hernandez.Coronado-Hernández, OE.; Fuertes-Miquel, VS.; Besharat, M.; Ramos, HM. (2018). Subatmospheric pressure in a water draining pipeline with an air pocket. Urban Water Journal. 15(4):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2018.1475578S1715

Hydraulic modeling during filling and emptying processes in pressurized pipelines: a literature review

[EN] Filling and emptying processes are common maneuvers while operating, controlling and managing water pipeline systems. Currently, these operations are executed following recommendations from technical manuals and pipe manufacturers; however, these recommendations have a lack of understanding about the behavior of these processes. The application of mathematical models considering transient flows with entrapped air pockets is necessary because a rapid filling operation can cause pressure surges due to air pocket compressions, while an uncontrolled emptying operation can generate troughs of sub-atmospheric pressure caused by air pocket expansion. Depending on pipe and installation conditions, either situation can produce a rupture of pipe systems. Recently, reliable mathematical models have been developed by different researchers. This paper reviews and compares various mathematical models to simulate these processes. Water columns can be analyzed using a rigid water column model, an elastic water model, or 2D/3D CFD models; air-water interfaces using a piston-flow model or more complex models; air pockets through a polytropic model; and air valves using an isentropic nozzle flow or similar approaches. This work can be used as a starting point for planning filling and emptying operations in pressurized pipelines. Uncertainties of mathematical models of two-phases flow concerning to a non-variable friction factor, a polytropic coefficient, an air pocket sizes and an air valve behavior are identified.This work was supported by the Program Fondecyt Regular (Chile) [Project 1180660]; Fundacion Centro de Estudios Intedisciplinarios Basicos y Aplicados, CEIBA (Colombia).Fuertes-Miquel, VS.; Coronado-Hernández, OE.; Mora-Melia, D.; Iglesias Rey, PL. (2019). Hydraulic modeling during filling and emptying processes in pressurized pipelines: a literature review. Urban Water Journal. 16(4):299-311. https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2019.1669188S29931116

Effect of a commercial air valve on the rapid filling of a single pipeline: a numerical and experimental analysis

[EN] 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.This work is supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal (grant number PD/BD/114459/2016).Coronado-Hernández, OE.; Besharat, M.; Fuertes-Miquel, VS.; Ramos, HM. (2019). Effect of a commercial air valve on the rapid filling of a single pipeline: a numerical and experimental analysis. Water. 11(9):1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11091814S11311

Effect of a commercial air valve on the rapid filling of a single pipeline: A numerical and experimental analysis

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. © 2019 by the authors.This work is supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal (grant number PD/BD/114459/2016)

Assessment of Steady and Unsteady Friction Models in the Draining Processes of Hydraulic Installations

The study of draining processes without admitting air has been conducted using only steady friction formulations in the implementation of governing equations. However, this hydraulic event involves transitions from laminar to turbulent flow, and vice versa, because of the changes in water velocity. In this sense, this research improves the current mathematical model considering unsteady friction models. An experimental facility composed by a 4.36 m long methacrylate pipe was configured, and measurements of air pocket pressure oscillations were recorded. The mathematical model was performed using steady and unsteady friction models. Comparisons between measured and computed air pocket pressure patterns indicated that unsteady friction models slightly improve the results compared to steady friction models

Two-dimensional simulation of emptying manoeuvres in water pipelines with admitted air

[EN] This study examines the impact of sub-atmospheric pressures in water pipelines during emptying manoeuvres with air admitted. Previous research has looked at this issue but has not studied it in detail. This research presents a two-dimensional model using the OpenFOAM software to analyse different emptying manoeuvres in a single pipeline with entrapped air. The results show the sensitivity of the ball valve opening percentage, which show that absolute pressure drop can reduce to 23% for each 5% of ball valve opening percentage. The influence of the size of the entrapped air pocket and different air-admission orifices was also analysed. The numerical model showed that the selection of the percentage and times of opening drainage valves in pipelines with air-admission orifices is crucial in controlling sub-atmospheric pressure conditions. Finally, this study demonstrates the ability of the two-dimensional model to show the sensitivity of hydraulic drainage parameters in pipelines with entrapped air.Paternina-Verona, DA.; Flórez-Acero, LC.; Coronado-Hernández, OE.; Espinoza-Román, HG.; Fuertes-Miquel, VS.; Ramos, HM. (2023). Two-dimensional simulation of emptying manoeuvres in water pipelines with admitted air. Urban Water Journal. 20(7):801-812. https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2023.221105380181220