An investigation into the transient process of water depletion in surge chambers

Water Accounting Plus for Water Resources Reporting and River Basin Planning

Shared-Memory parallelization of consistent particle method for violent wave impact problems

The online detection of liquid flow rate in gas-liquid two-phase flow has become an important factor in ensuring the safe operation of gas wells. In this paper, the real-time measurement of liquid holdup in gas-liquid two-phase flow is carried out by analyzing the characteristics of vibration signals excited by gas-liquid two-phase flow impacting on the pipe wall. Firstly, an acceleration sensing detection and processing system is constructed to obtain the vibration signals excited by gas-liquid two-phase flow impacting on the pipe wall. Then, the pure airflow vibration signals at different flow velocities and the gas-liquid two-phase flow excitation vibration signals at different liquid flow rates are tested, respectively, and the time-frequency characteristics analysis based on STFT is implemented. The practice shows the following: firstly, the frequency band of 6.5−15 Hz is identified as the characteristic frequency band of liquid flow rate in gas-liquid two-phase flow. Secondly, the liquid holdup is positively correlated with the vibration energy in its characteristic frequency band. Thirdly, a mathematical model of the relationship between liquid flow rate and vibration energy is constructed. Finally, the measurement error of liquid holdup is within 10%. This research method has laid a good foundation for the subsequent detection of characteristic parameters of each phase in gas-solid-liquid complex multiphase flow fluids, and it has certain application and promotion value.

A critical review of two-phase flow in gas flow channels of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

During the depletion and pressure reduction process in condensate gas reservoirs, the precipitation of condensate oil transforms the single-phase gas flow into a two-phase gas-liquid flow, significantly reducing the permeability. Currently, microscopic studies of the phase behavior of condensate gas in porous media mainly focus on observing and describing the occurrence of condensate oil, lacking quantitative calculations and direct observations of condensate oil throughout the entire depletion cycle. This paper uses a microvisualization method to simulate the depletion process of condensate gas reservoirs. Condensate gases with oil contents of 175.3 and 505.5 g/cm3 were prepared by mixing methane, ethane, hexane, and decane in specific proportions. Pore structures were extracted from thin sections of real core casts, and microfluidic chips with a minimum pore diameter of 20 μm and an areal porosity of 20.75% were fabricated by using a chemical wet etching method. Subsequently, microfluidic condensate gas depletion experiments were conducted with chip images recorded during the depletion process. Grayscale analysis of the depletion images was performed using ImageJ software to quantitatively calculate condensate oil saturation and recovery rates, analyzing the effects of different condensate oil contents on condensate gas depletion, and comparing the differences between depletion in porous media and in a PVT cell. The conclusions drawn are as follows: the dew points of high and low in the porous media are 3.15% and 1.85% higher than those in the PVT cell, respectively. In the early stages of depletion, condensate oil saturation in porous media is higher than that in the PVT cell, while in the middle to late stages, condensate oil saturation in porous media is lower than that in the PVT cell. The condensate oil recovery rate in porous media is significantly higher than the depletion recovery rate in the PVT cell. Condensate oil tends to precipitate and disperse at blind ends and corners, while it easily forms patches in mainstream large pores.

Mathematical model of time difference for Coriolis flow sensor output signals under gas-liquid two-phase flow

Water utilities are concerned about the issue of pipeline collapses, as service interruptions lead to water shortages. Pipeline collapses can occur during the maintenance phase when water columns compress entrapped air pockets, consequently increasing the pressure head. Analysing entrapped air pockets is complex due to the necessity of numerically solving a system of differential equations. Currently, water utilities need more tools to perform this analysis effectively. This research provides a numerical solution to the problem of entrapped air pockets in pipelines which can be utilised to predict filling operations. The study develops an analytical solution to examine the filling process. A practical application is shown, considering a 600 m long pipeline with an internal diameter of 400 mm. Compared with existing mathematical models, the results of the new analytical equations demonstrate their effectiveness as a new tool for computing the main hydraulic and thermodynamic variables involved in this issue.

The behavior of stormwater systems can be greatly altered by the presence of air pockets within the pressurized portion of the flow. While rapid filling conditions in stormwater storage tunnels can result in air pocket entrapment, the mechanisms for this phenomenon have not been studied systematically to date. This paper summarizes an investigation conducted at the University of Michigan on an experimental setup that reproduces the essential features of a below grade storage tunnel. Various filling scenarios were tested in which the filling rate, initial water depth and ventilation configurations were varied. Different and previously unreported mechanisms for air pocket entrapment were identified. For the conditions investigated in the experiments, the formation of air pockets was relatively common.

ABSTRACTFilling 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.

The hydropower station diversion tunnel is long. When the upstream water level is low, the minimum upsurge of the surge chamber is likely to be lower than its bottom, which may cause dangerous conditions such as liquid column separation. In order to solve the problem, an engineering measure that an unilateral surge chamber is set up near the main surge chamber was proposed in this paper. Its effect was analyzed. Based on establishment of mathematical model, the transition process of hydropower station water conveyance system was numerically simulated. The influence of different diameter, injection flow rate and position on minimum upsurge was researched. The results showed that increasing diameter and position of unilateral surge chamber has little effect on rising of minimum upsurge, but increasing injection flow rate of unilateral surge chamber has great effect on it. The study provides references for engineering design.

Combined effect of upstream surge chamber and sloping ceiling tailrace tunnel on dynamic performance of turbine regulating system of hydroelectric power plant

Gas–liquid two-phase flow measurement by using electrical tomography sensors and Venturi

Gas—liquid two-phase flow in microfiltration mineral tubular membranes: relationship between flux enhancement and hydrodynamic parameters

Influence of gravity on gas–liquid two-phase flow in horizontal pipes

Entrapped air pockets can cause failure in water distribution systems if air valves have not been appropriately designed for expelling air during filling manoeuvres performed by water utilities. One-dimensional mathematical models recently developed for studying this phenomenon do not consider the effect of blocking columns inside water pipelines. This research presents the development of a mathematical model for analysing the filling process in a pipeline with an undulating profile with various air valves, including blocking columns during starting-up water installations. The results show how different air pocket pressure peaks can be produced over transient events, which need to be analysed to ensure a successful procedure that guarantees pipeline safety during the pressure surge occurrence. In this study, an experimental set-up is analysed to observe the behaviour of two blocking columns during filling by comparing the air pocket pressure pulses.