Transient Friction in Pressurized Pipes. II: Two-Coefficient Instantaneous Acceleration

Transient Friction in Pressurized Pipes. II: Two-Coefficient Instantaneous Acceleration–Based Model

Storli, Pa˚l-Tore / Nielsen, Torbjo&slash;rn K.

The goal in the field of modeling of hydraulic transients is a comprehensive model for pipe networks that is computationally fast and accurate. The fastest models are the one-dimensional (1D) models that use instantaneous acceleration–based (IAB) properties, but unfortunately these models are not as accurate as the more demanding 1D convolution-based (CB) models or quasi two-dimensional models. Focusing on a single pipe, this paper investigates the fundamental behavior of the much more accurate 1D CB model to find two coefficients for use with the two-coefficient formulation of the much-used modified IAB (MIAB) model for complete closing of a downstream valve. Two coefficients are found based on the weighting function used in the CB model, and these coefficients vary along the pipe length. Simulations are compared with two experimental results from tests performed at University of Adelaide in Australia in 1995. The experimental results are for different initial Reynolds numbers of approximately 2,000 and 5,800. The results show very good agreement between simulations and experiments. The improvement of the MIAB model is not general, and for the time being, only complete closure of a downstream valve in a single pipeline at low Reynolds numbers has been investigated.