Three-Dimensional Simulation of Transient Flows during the Emptying of Pipes with Entrapped Air
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 4
Abstract
Two- and three-dimensional analyses of transient flows considering the air–water interaction have been a challenge for researchers due to the complexity in the numerical resolution of the multiphase during emptying in pressurized water pipelines. The air–water dynamic interaction of emptying processes can be analyzed using thermodynamic and hydraulic laws. There is a lack in the current literature regarding the analysis of those phenomena using 3D models. In this research, several simulations were performed to study the complex details of two-phase flows. A 3D model was proposed to represent the emptying process in a single pipeline, considering a PVoF model and two-equation turbulence model. The model was numerically validated through 12 experimental tests and mesh sensitivity analysis. The pressure pulses of the air pockets were evaluated and compared with the experimental results and existing mathematical models, showing how the 3D models are useful for capturing more detailed information, such as pressure and velocity patterns of discrete air pockets, distribution of air and water velocity contours, and the exploration of temperature changes for an air pocket expansion.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request (experimental and numerical results).
Acknowledgments
The authors thank to the Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar for the financial support with the Award No. INV03CI2214.
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Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 4 • April 2023
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© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Apr 5, 2022
Accepted: Dec 8, 2022
Published online: Feb 15, 2023
Published in print: Apr 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Jul 15, 2023
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