Numerical Simulation of Transient Cavitating Flows in Pipeline Systems

Abstract

Numerical analysis for hydraulic transient cavitating flows is quite important for ensuring the safety of pipeline systems such as heating systems and cooling systems. In order to improve the simulation of transient cavitating flows accurately, this paper proposes a coupled hydraulic transient model combined a quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) model with discrete vapor cavity model (DVCM). The proposed model is solved by the method of characteristics (MOC). The features of this proposed model are investigated on simulating transient cavitating pipe flows. Meanwhile, the results obtained by the proposed model are compared with those by the corresponding classical 1D model and the experimental ones provided by the literature, respectively. The comparison shows that the pressure head traces and the duration time of cavities simulated by the proposed model are more accurate than those by the corresponding 1D model. The numerical results computed by the proposed model are in agreement with the experimental ones. It is able to simulate transient cavitating flows accurately in pipeline systems.