Temperature fluctuation phenomena in a normally stagnant pipe connected downward to a high velocity and high temperature main pipe

Abstract

Numerous pipes branch off from the main pipes in power plant facilities. Main pipe flow initiates a cavity flow in a downward branch pipe with a closed end and a thermally stratified layer may form in the branch pipe if there is significant temperature difference in the main and branch pipe fluids. Fluctuation of a thermally stratified layer may initiate thermal fatigue crack in the branch pipe. In the present study, flow structures and temperature fluctuations in a branch pipe are investigated by experiments and numerical simulations to understand detailed behavior of the layer in a straight pipe and in a bent pipe. The penetration length of the main flow is measured for various main pipe flow velocities. The flow patterns in a straight pipe are divided into three regions by visualization with a tracer method, i.e., cavity flow in region 1, disturbed flow in the transition region, and spiral flow in region 2. The fluid temperature fluctuation in a straight pipe after the increase of main pipe flow velocity is attenuated in several hundred seconds since the thermal stratified layer goes down under the area into which the spiral vortex reaches. The fluid temperature in a bent pipe fluctuates when the spiral vortex reaches its lowest point after a long time period. Periodical velocity fluctuations during several tens second period are observed in the spiral flow. The mechanism of temperature fluctuation near the thermal stratified layer is considered with respect to the interference by the spiral flow and the fixed thermal stratified layer at the bent section by the cold water provided from the horizontal section.