Numerical Simulation of Transient Pressure Control in a Pumped Water Supply System Using an Improved Bypass Pipe

Abstract

The use of a bypass pipe in a pump system is an economical and simple method of preventing water hammer surges to control the extreme transient pressures induced by pump failure. Currently, conventional bypass pipes (CBPs) have certain limitations in engineering applications. To overcome these limitations, in this study, a CBP is modified to create an improved bypass pipe (IBP). Unlike that of a CBP, the control valve in an IBP system is a hydraulic control valve that uses a controller on an uninterruptible power source (UPS) to turn the valve on or off. This modification enables the hydraulic control valve to be precisely controlled and facilitates the prevention of water hammer surges. To study the transient control effect of the IBP using the method of characteristics (MOC), a mathematical model of a complex system that includes an IBP, a check valve, and a water pump is established. Using MATLAB software, a water supply system in an industrial zone is used as an example for numerical simulations of the transient process experienced by this pump after it fails. The extreme pressure variations and the envelope of the pipe pressure in a typical section of the pumped water supply system are analysed and compared. The results show that an IBP can effectively reduce the maximum extreme pressure in a pumped water supply system.