Entrapped Air Pockets Research Articles

Proposed Approach for Modelling the Thermodynamic Behaviour of Entrapped Air Pockets in Water Pipeline Start-Up

Proposed Approach for Modelling the Thermodynamic Behaviour of Entrapped Air Pockets in Water Pipeline Start-Up

Godunov-type scheme for air–water transient pipe flow considering variable heat transfer and laboratorial validation

A robust comprehensive energy dissipation model is developed to investigate the rapid filling process of a T-shaped bifurcated pipeline with entrapped air pocket, while an experimental system is designed to validate the numerical model. In this work, a self-adapting heat transfer model is proposed to describe the energy exchange during transient event, fully considering the heat transfer of entrapped air pocket and hydraulic losses caused by steady friction and unsteady friction in the section of the filling water column. Importantly, the related heat transfer coefficient is variable and determined by mechanism formula of media characteristics, which is obviously different from the constant heat transfer coefficient in conventional model relying on the trial-and-error method and experimental data. Moreover, the second-order Godunov-type scheme is introduced to solve the governing equations of filling water column, while a virtual plug approach is proposed to track the air–water interface. The resulting predictions are compared to those obtained via a conventional empirical polytropic model and constant coefficient heat transfer model, and to experimental data. The proposed model accurately reproduces the experimental pressure oscillations. The results display that when an air pocket content exceeds a certain threshold (>1.7%), the comprehensive model using forced convection can reproduce the pressure fluctuations. When the air content is lower (<0.9%), the comprehensive model using natural convection can simulate pressure changes more accurately. The conventional empirical polytropic model underestimates the pressure damping. The constant coefficient heat transfer model previously cannot be employed if there is no experimental data to calibrate the constant coefficient, but now the constant coefficient can be obtained from the results of the proposed model. Significantly, the comprehensive model can directly and accurately simulate the energy dissipation during the rapid filling process.

Insect-inspired breathing interfaces: investigating robustness of coating-free gas entrapping microtextured surfaces under pressure cycles

Numerous natural and engineering scenarios necessitate the entrapment of air pockets or bubbles on submerged surfaces. Current technologies for bubble entrapment rely on perfluorocarbon coatings, limiting their sustainability. Herein, we investigated the efficacy of doubly reentrant cavity architecture towards realizing gas-entrapping microtextured surfaces under static and dynamic pressure cycling. The effects of positive (>1 atm), negative (<1 atm), and positive–negative cycles on the stability the gas entrapment inside individual doubly reentrant cavities were studied across a range of pressures, ramp rates, intercycle intervals, and water-column heights. Remarkably, the fate of the trapped air under pressure cycling fell into either of the following regimes: the bubble (i) monotonically depleted (unstable), (ii) remained indefinitely stable (stable), or (iii) started growing (bubble growth). This hitherto unrealized richness of underwater bubble dynamics should guide the development of coating-free technologies and help us understand the curious lives of air-breathing aquatic and marine insects.

Sensitivity analysis on transient pressure of entrapped air pocket in deep stormwater tunnel system

In deep stormwater tunnel systems (DSTSs), entrapped air pockets are prone to pressurization and deformation during rapid filling, resulting in pressure surges that threaten system security. This study investigates the effects of structural and inflow parameters on peak pressures. To simulate the pressure surges of entrapped air pockets, a rigid-column model was developed for a simplified DSTS configuration comprising two shafts and one tunnel. The global sensitivities of the air pocket, system structure, and inflow parameters were calculated using the Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (EFAST), which employed indicators of the maximum pressure and relative increment. The results indicate that parameters related to the shape and initial state of the air pocket exert a substantial and direct effect on pressure surges in rapid filling, whereas tunnel system parameters tend to exhibit minimal influence. Notably, compared to the total inflow discharge, the flow difference between two shafts imposes a more significant and direct impact. For the maximum pressure of air pocket, the initial pressure and the maximum water level height of shafts demonstrate more pronounced effects. The proposed sensitivity analysis could be integrated into methodologies for system safety assessment, while the rigid-column model may be extended to accommodate multiple shafts and air pockets.

Attenuation of pipeline filling over-pressures through trapped air

ABSTRACT Entrapped air pockets in water pipelines play a significant role in influencing transient over-pressures during filling procedures. Several research is focused on highlighting the attenuation of pressure peaks in pipes with single air pockets. This research studies the air-water interaction during rapid water filling processes in an irregular pipeline and air pockets in different branches, and how the trapped air can attenuate the over-pressure peaks. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed, and numerical results of the model were validated through experimental measurements. For a given initial air pocket condition upstream of the high point, the maximum air pocket over-pressure was 11% to 32% lower when the descending pipe segment initially contains air compared to when it contains water. In sum, it was found that entrapped air pockets at high points of water pipelines can help mitigate transient over-pressures considering specific initial hydraulic conditions prior to filling operations.

Extreme wave impacts on a suspended box above free surface

A systematic approach incorporating precision-controlled experiments and high-fidelity numerical simulations has been employed to delve deeper into the physics of extreme wave impact pressures. Using a suite of high-speed imaging and high-resolution pressure sensing techniques that are accurately synchronized with the wave generation, a consistent and well-correlated set of data providing details of the focusing incident wave front, flow velocities, and impact pressure time histories has been successfully obtained. The numerical simulations using a validated incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) provided further details that were not tractable in the experiments. Based on the results obtained, there were five broad impact scenarios identified, ranging from focusing crest impacts to plunging jet impacts with varying entrapped air. Among these impact types, the highest impact pressures were those associated with a focusing wave crest. It has been found that high impact pressures were correlated with a convergence of the horizontally impinging overturning crest and the vertical surge of the wall boundary water mass, but with the overturning crest impingement just ahead of the arrival of the wall boundary water mass, which in essence amounted to the impingement of a focusing wave front. Depending on the relative arrival times of the impinging crest and the wall boundary upsurge, the impact scenarios could vary from an up-slosh to a jet impingement with a clear entrapped air pocket, followed by a flip-through of the incident crest. For the scenario with the highest impact pressures, broadly classified as type II impact in this paper, the peak pressures could reach as high as 85ρC2, an order of magnitude higher than impact scenarios without the focusing effect, such as the scenario with a plunging jet impact with entrapped air (classified as types III and IV impact in this study). As the volume of entrapped air for this scenario was relatively small, the one-phase ISPH model used in this study was able to capture the peak pressure characteristics, including the peak pressure amplitudes. However, in scenarios with significantly highly entrapped air during impact, a two-phase model would be necessary.

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON SELF COMPACTING CONCRETE

This paper gives a review on Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) to be made using various Mineral Admixtures and Fibers. In current scenario of construction industries due to demand in the construction of large and complex structures, which often leads to difficult conditions. When large quantity of heavy reinforcement is to be placed in reinforced concrete (RC) member, it is difficult ensure fully compacted without voids or honeycombs. Compaction by manual or by mechanical vibrators is very difficult in this situation. That leads to the invention of new type of concrete named as self-compacting concrete (SCC). This type of concrete flows easily around the reinforcement and into all corners of the formwork Self- compacting concrete describe a concrete with the ability to compact itself only by means of its own weight without the requirement of vibration. Self-compacting concrete also known as Self-consolidating Concrete or Self Compacting High- Performance Concrete. It is very fluid and can pass around abstractions and fill all the nooks and corners without the risk of either mortar or other ingredients of concrete separating out, at same time there a are no entrapped air or rock pockets. This type of concrete mixture does not require any compaction and is saves time, labour and energy. This review paper explains the utilization of fibers and various mineral admixtures in the properties of Self Compacting Concrete. Key Words: Self Compacting Concrete, Mix design, Mineral Admixtures, Fibers, Durability, Workability.

Experimental Study of Entrainment and Evolution of an Entrapped Air Pocket by Flowing Water in an Inclined U-Shaped Pipe

Experimental Study of Entrainment and Evolution of an Entrapped Air Pocket by Flowing Water in an Inclined U-Shaped Pipe

Air entrapment modelling during pipe filling based on SWMM

The paper proposes a novel methodology to locate and quantify entrapped air pockets created during pipe-filling events often found in intermittent water supply systems. Different filling conditions were tested in an experimental pipe with a high point. Measurements were taken and video recordings were carried out to assess air pocket volumes for different air release conditions at the downstream end of the pipe. The stochastic nature of air pocket creation resulted in varying air volumes. A new numerical model capable of simulating the air pocket creation, dragging and entrainment has been proposed. The new model, AirSWMM, was implemented as an extension of the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) with stochasticity of air pocket formation reproduced by simulations with different air entrainment rates. The obtained numerical results show that the proposed model, even though based on a single-phase one-dimensional flow, can accurately locate and approximately quantify the entrapped air pocket volumes.

Experimental and numerical Investigation of entrapped air presence and expulsions in irregular pipelines on hydraulic transients

In the present study, the transient event of rapid opening of upstream valve in undulated water pipeline with entrapped air pockets was investigated both experimentally and numerically. Pressure peaks and oscillation patterns were traced with the variation of air pocket length, blocking column length and water filling column. A transient two-dimensional CFD simulation model was introduced and validated by laboratory experiments. The proposed CFD model was conducted using ANSYS fluent based on Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations and the volume of fluid (VOF) method. A user-defined functions (UDF) for both water compressibility effect and opening valve estimated pattern were adopted to verify the experimental results. For further understanding of transient response air expulsion through air vents of various orifices diameters were experimentally investigated. Image processing technique by using photoshop were utilized to clarify Stages of air expulsions, air water interaction and orifice flow regime. The obtained results showed that pressure peaks and oscillations depend strongly on orifice size where small orifice caused an intermitted flow choked by water column in contrast to large orifice where water hammer was dominated. An experimental facility was constructed at Alexandria university hydraulics laboratory to fulfil the research objectives. Air presence challenges in hydraulic systems are extensively applied for water and fuel supply lines, firefighting, and drainage systems in airports ground facilities.

Coupled Second-Order GTS-MOC Scheme for Transient Pipe Flows with an Entrapped Air Pocket

Coupled Second-Order GTS-MOC Scheme for Transient Pipe Flows with an Entrapped Air Pocket

Bagnold 충격수를 고려한 압축 팽창하는 갇힌 공기에 미치는 축척비 효과에 대한 상사 해석

A developed code based on the unified conservation laws of incompressible/compressible fluids is applied to analyze similarity in pressure oscillations caused by pulsating air pockets in sloshing tanks. It is shown that the nondimensional time histories of pressure show good agreements under Froude and geometric similarities, provided that there are no pulsating entrapped air pockets. However, the nondimesional period of pressure oscillation due to the pulsating air pocket becomes longer as the size of the sloshing tank increases. The discrepancy in the nondimensional period is attributed to the compressibility bias of the entrapped air. To get rid of the compressibility bias, the ullage pressure in a sloshing tank is adjusted based on the Bagnold’s impact number. The variation in the period of pressure oscillation according to the ullage pressure is explained based on the spring-mass system. It is shown that the nondimensional period of pressure oscillation is virtually constant when the ullage pressure is adjusted based on the Bagnold’s impact number, regardless of tank size. It is found that the Bagold’s impact number should be the same, if the time history of pressure is important while an entrapped air pocket pulsates.

Two-dimensional simulation of emptying manoeuvres in water pipelines with admitted air

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of sub-atmospheric pressures in water pipelines during emptying manoeuvres with air admitted. Previous research has looked at this issue but has not studied it in detail. This research presents a two-dimensional model using the OpenFOAM software to analyse different emptying manoeuvres in a single pipeline with entrapped air. The results show the sensitivity of the ball valve opening percentage, which show that absolute pressure drop can reduce to 23% for each 5% of ball valve opening percentage. The influence of the size of the entrapped air pocket and different air-admission orifices was also analysed. The numerical model showed that the selection of the percentage and times of opening drainage valves in pipelines with air-admission orifices is crucial in controlling sub-atmospheric pressure conditions. Finally, this study demonstrates the ability of the two-dimensional model to show the sensitivity of hydraulic drainage parameters in pipelines with entrapped air.

Experimental Study of Geysering in an Upstream Vertical Shaft

Transient flows in stormwater systems can lead to damaging and dangerous operational conditions, as exemplified by geysering events created by the uncontrolled release of entrapped air pockets. Extreme rain and associated rapid inflows may result in air pocket entrapment, which causes significant changes in flow conditions and potentially geysering. Stormwater geysers have been studied in different experimental and numerical modeling studies, as well as from limited data gathered within real systems. However, there is still no complete understanding of geysering events, as stormwater system geometries vary considerably. Most past studies involved releasing air from an intermediate shaft, in which a significant fraction of the entrapped air may bypass the release. This work advances the understanding of geysering by considering uncontrolled air release through an upstream shaft or manhole. In such cases, the entire air pocket is released upon reaching the shaft, worsening the occurrence of geysering. Pressure and water level measurements were performed for various combinations of initial water pressure, trapped air pocket volume, and vertical shaft geometries, indicating the higher severity of these geysering events. The results obtained also corroborate previous studies in that the measured pressure heads were lower than the grade elevation. Future studies should include larger-scale testing and the representation of this geometry using CFD.

Flow Test of Self Compacting Concrete using V-Funnel Test

Abstract: This paper gives a review on Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) to be made using various Mineral Admixtures and Fibres. In current scenario of construction industries due to demand in the construction of large and complex structures, which often leads to difficult concreting conditions. When large quantity of heavy reinforcement is to be placed in a reinforced concrete (RC) member, it is difficult to ensure fully compacted without voids or honeycombs. Compaction by manual or by mechanical vibratos is very difficult in this situation. That leads to the invention of new type of concrete named as selfcompacting concrete (SCC). This type of concrete flows easily around the reinforcement and into all corners of the formwork. Self- compacting concrete describes a concrete with the ability to compact itself only by means of its own weight without the requirement of vibration. Self –compacting concrete also known as Self-consolidating Concrete or Self Compacting High Performance Concrete. It is very fluid and can pass around abstractions and fill all the nooks and corners without the risk of either mortar or other ingredients of concrete separating out, at the same time there are no entrapped air or rock pockets. This type of concrete mixture does not require any compaction and is saves time, labour and energy. This review paper explains the utilization of fibres and various mineral admixtures in the properties of Self Compacting Concrete. The Benefits and Uses of SSC are discussed in this paper and Self-Compacting Concrete is compared with Cement Concrete. A V-Funnel is used to measure the flowability of concrete, and cost of Manufacturing a V-Funnel using Mild steel and Stainless Steel is estimated.

Air Pocket Expulsion from a Submerged Dropshaft with Inflow

Entrapped air pockets reduce flood conveying capacity of a surcharged drainage tunnel, and could be released explosively as geysers from vertical dropshafts. Nevertheless, the impact of dropshaft inflow on air pocket expulsion has hitherto not been fully understood. In this work, experiments was performed on a simplified drainage system consisting of a dropshaft with inflow. An air pocket was introduced into the tunnel; its dynamics in the dropshaft was measured with a high speed camera and pressure transducers. A heuristic analysis on the kinematics of the air pocket showed that when the dropshaft inflow is greater than a critical flow dependent on the dropshaft diameter, the increased compression leads to stronger air pocket expulsion, as spewing and/or ejection of air-water mixture. Observed occurrence of the phenomena generally agrees with the prediction.

Contribution of Air Management to the Energy Efficiency of Water Pipelines

Water conveyance systems are notorious for incurring considerable energy expenditures, either as losses of gravitational potential energy or as increased electricity consumption. Entrapped air pockets, originating from ineffective or nonexistent air management schemes, are common and often significant contributors to these energy costs. This work summarizes the detrimental influence of entrapped air on the energetics and conveyance capacity of pressurized pipelines and identifies those conditions that typically result in temporary or persistent air accumulations. Gravity and pumped lines are considered and gravity lines are shown to be more prone to the negative effects of entrapped air. In addition, initially robust air management strategies can gradually degrade if poorly adjusted to evolving circumstances. The paper critically assesses two common air management strategies: through employing air valves or by air removal by hydraulic means—that is, by considering a line’s configuration along with an attempt to predict the necessary flow conditions for the hydraulic removal of entrapped air.

Rapid Filling Analysis with an Entrapped Air Pocket in Water Pipelines Using a 3D CFD Model

A filling operation generates continuous changes over the shape of an air–water interface, which can be captured using a 3D CFD model. This research analyses the influence of different hydro-pneumatic tank pressures and air pocket sizes as initial conditions for studying rapid filling operations in a 7.6 m long PVC pipeline with an irregular profile, using the OpenFOAM software. The analysed scenarios were validated using experimental measurements, where the 3D CFD model was suitable for simulating them. In addition, a mesh sensitivity analysis was performed. Air pocket pressure patterns, water velocity oscillations, and the different shapes of the air–water interface were analysed.

Energy dissipation in a rapid filling vertical pipe with trapped air

An energy-dissipation model is developed to simulate rapid filling having an entrapped air pocket within a vertical pipe. Both convective heat transfer and transient wall shear stresses are considered. The resulting predictions are compared both to those obtained via a conventional empirical polytropic model and to experimental data. The comprehensive model accurately reproduces the experimental pressure oscillations. Results reveal that the dynamic behaviour of air pockets in all tested cases approaches a purely adiabatic process over the first two oscillations, but also that the pressure variation then gradually evolves to an isothermal variation. Moreover, the high air temperatures predicted in the numerical simulations account for the observed phenomenon of white mist in the pipe as well as the notably hot pipe wall. Significantly, the conventional empirical polytropic model associated with the adiabatic assumption for the gas phase was sufficient to reproduce the pressures and temperatures during the first two oscillations.

The effect of scalable PDMS gas-entrapping microstructures on the dynamics of a single cavitation bubble

The effect of gas-entrapping polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microstructures on the dynamics of cavitation bubbles laser-induced next to the PDMS surface is investigated and compared against the cavitation dynamics next to a flat smooth boundary. Local pressure gradients produced by a cavitation bubble cause the air pockets entrapped in the PDMS microstructures to expand and oscillate, leading to a repulsion of the cavitation bubble. The microstructures were fabricated as boxed crevices via a simple and scalable laser ablation technique on cast acrylic, allowing for testing of variable structure sizes and reusable molds. The bubble dynamics were observed using high speed photography and the surrounding flows were visualized and quantified using particle tracking velocimetry. Smaller entrapped air pockets showed an enhanced ability to withstand deactivation at three stand-off distances and over 50 subsequent cavitation events. This investigation provides insight into the potential to direct the collapse of a cavitation bubble away from a surface to mitigate erosion or to enhance microfluidic mixing in low Reynolds number flows.