Straight Sections Research Articles

Straight sections of step edges on a NiAl(110) curved single crystal surface used to calculate an approximation of step formation energy

Curved crystals may feature a smooth transition between different vicinal surfaces. Using one curved single crystal to study different vicinal surfaces requires less experimental time than using several single flat crystals. Here, we study step distributions on the (110) plane of a curved NiAl single-crystal surface, which consists of alternating Ni and Al atom rows. We use scanning tunneling microscopy under UHV conditions at room temperature and our home-built Python-based analysis script to obtain statistical information on kink and straight sections along step-edge distributions from STM images. We perform this analysis mainly to study this single crystal’s kink distributions and step termination We propose a new method to estimate the step formation energy based on step edge analysis and statistical mechanics. With this method, we find an approximation of the step formation energy for NiAl(110).

Experimental study on the influence of roadway shape on the evolution of outburst fluid static pressure

To explore the static pressure dynamic disaster mechanism of coal-and-gas outburst (CGO) fluid, the self-developed multi-field coupling large-scale physical simulation test system of coal mine dynamic disaster was used to carry out gas outburst and CGO physical simulation tests in straight, L-shaped and T-shaped roadways. The influence of roadway shape on the evolution of static pressure was explored, and the role of pulverized coal in the process of static pressure dynamic disaster was clarified. The results indicated that the static pressure showed a fluctuating downward trend during the outburst process. When gas outburst, the middle and front parts of the roadway in the straight section roadway were the most serious areas of static pressure disasters in the three shapes of roadways. The duration and range of high static pressure disaster in L-shaped roadway were larger than those in T-shaped and straight roadways in turn. When CGO, the most serious area of static pressure disaster in L-shaped and T-shaped roadways moved backward to the middle of the straight section roadway, and there was a rebound phenomenon in the process of static pressure fluctuation decline, which showed the pulse characteristics of CGO. During the outburst, the static pressure dynamic disaster hazard of L-shaped roadway was higher than that of T-shaped roadway, and the static pressure at the bifurcation structure decayed faster than that at the turning structure, which indicated that T-shaped roadway was more conducive to the release of static pressure in roadway, thus reduced the risk of static pressure disaster. When gas outburst, the static pressure attenuation of the fluid in the roadway before and after the turning and bifurcation structure was greater than that of CGO. The peak static pressure and impulse of the fluid during gas outburst were 2 times and 4–5 times that of CGO respectively. The presence of pulverized coal reduced the attenuation of static pressure and the hazard of dynamic disaster, prolonged the release time of energy, and led to the change of the maximum static pressure disaster area.

Investigations on the Environmental Characteristics and Cracking Control of Plateau Concrete

In the present study, first, the environmental challenges and cracking characteristics during the construction of plateau concrete on the Sichuan–Tibet route were revealed. Then, using a multi-field coupled shrinkage model with hydration temperature humidity constraints, the early and long-term cracking risks in the core of plateau pier bodies were investigated. Later, the effects of tensile strength, pouring interval age and adiabatic temperature rise on the cracking risk were analyzed. Finally, various control measures for high-altitude concrete cracking were proposed. The results indicated that the complex environment of the plateau led to different forms of cracks in the pier body, especially vertical cracks in the straight sections. The long-term risk of core cracking in the plateau pier body is significantly greater than the risk of early cracking. This risk was strongly influenced by factors such as the concrete tensile strength, pouring interval age and adiabatic temperature rise, which should be given more attention. Deformation compensation can significantly enhance the peak and residual deformation capacities of plateau concrete, with peak values greater than 900 με and residual deformation greater than 200 με at day 60, as well as its resistance to cracking. Strategies such as adopting radiant cooling techniques, improving construction techniques and implementing effective management measures can all play a vital role in improving the cracking resistance of highland concrete.

General guide concepts for compact, high-brilliance neutron moderators

The trend in neutron sciences is toward integrating compact, high-brightness moderators into new or upgraded facilities. Transporting neutrons from the source to the sample position with a phase-space distribution tailored to specific requirements is crucial to leverage high source brilliance. We have investigated four guide concepts using Monte Carlo ray tracing simulations: Montel beamline with nested Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors, curved-tapered beamline with a bender and straight sections, straight-elliptical beamline, and curved-elliptical beamline. The straight-elliptical (curved-elliptical) beamline features two half-ellipse guides connected by a straight (non-straight) guide section. The neutron transport efficiency and phase space homogeneity have been quantitatively compared. Our results show that the straight-elliptical beamline performs best because of few neutron bounces on the guide surface with small reflection angles, minimizing flux loss. The Montel beamline provides the best spatial confinement of neutrons within the desired region; however, there is a high thermal-neutron loss due to large reflection angles. The curved-tapered beamline suffers from significant flux loss due to high bounces, and it shows a non-uniform angular distribution related to broad ranges of bounces and reflection angles. The non-straight guide section of the curved-elliptical beamline increases the phase space inhomogeneity, leading to a spatially non-uniform beam profile. The results apply to general neutron instruments that require transporting thermal and cold neutrons from a compact, high-brilliance moderator to the sample location with a moderate phase-space volume.

A Comparative Evaluation of Surface Hardness and Nanomechanical Properties of Nickel-Titanium Orthodontic Wires: An In Vitro Study.

The study aimed to evaluate the influence of various surface coatings (epoxy, Teflon, and rhodium) on the surface roughness (SR) and nanomechanical characteristics of nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires. The study compared these coated archwires to uncoated ones from a single manufacturer, which served as a control. There were 15 rectangular samples of four distinct archwires measuring 0.17 × 0.25. These were ultrasonically treated with an alkaline solution at 60°C for 15 minutes before being rinsed with distilled water to remove precipitates. With an orthodontic soft wire cutter, the straight buccal sections of coated and uncoated archwires were cut into 20 mm lengths. A three-dimensional optical noncontact surface profilometer evaluated the surface. Profilometers use contact scanning white light interferometry. Using the Vision64 software (Bruker Corporation, San Jose, CA), the profilometer's nanolens atomic force microscopy module has a completely automated turret with programmed X, Y, and Z motions. Images were taken in five random locations. Five average measurements matched specimen SR. A nanoindenter with a Berkovich diamond indenter measured nanohardness (NH) and elastic modulus (EM). The experimental results were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 26.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). To examine mean differences at 5% significance, analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test were applied for SR, NH, and EM. Wires coated with epoxy had the highest SR (1.499 ± 0.082), followed by Teflon (0.811 ± 0.023) and rhodium (0.308 ± 0.024). The SR of the control group was 0.289 ± 0.027. Significant differences in SR were found (p < 0.0001). Except for the comparison between rhodium and the control group (p = 0.684), all intergroup comparisons of SR showed significant differences (p < 0.0001). The rhodium-coated wires exhibited the highest NH (0.185 ± 0.014), and the epoxy group had the lowest (0.147 ± 0.017). Variations in NH were significant between the study groups (p < 0.0001). The epoxy, Teflon, and rhodium groups showed significant differences against the control group (p < 0.0001) in intergroup comparisons for NH. The Teflon group had the highest EM (5.367 ± 0.379), and the epoxy group had the lowest (5.012 ± 0.498). The EM of the control group was 56.946 ± 0.737. Results indicate considerable EM changes between the groups (p < 0.05). Comparisons between experimental and control groups showed significant differences (p < 0.0001). The study's findings indicate that the SR of rhodium-coated archwires is substantially comparable to that of uncoated archwires. However, Teflon-, rhodium-, and epoxy-coated archwires had significantly different NH and EM compared to uncoated ones. Further, uncoated archwires have higher NH and EM.

Design of the 500 MHz 2-cell superconducting cavity for the SILF

The design of the main accelerating cavity in the storage ring of synchrotron radiation sources has consistently been an important area of research. In order to save the number of straight sections in the Shenzhen Innovation Light source Facility (SILF) storage ring and reduce the cost of the superconducting cavity modules, this study planned to design a 500 MHz 2-cell superconducting cavity to replace the original single-cell cavity scheme. In this paper, we optimized the design of the 500 MHz 2-cell superconducting cavity and explored the impact of different dimensional parameters on the performance of the cavity's resonant modes. We compared the multipacting phenomena on the inner surfaces of superconducting cavities treated with three different methods. Additionally, the suppression effect on Higher-order modes (HOM) and the limit of the HOM on the threshold of the stored beam current were analyzed. Finally, we analyzed the mechanical performance of the cavity, including Lorentz force detuning (LFD), Liquid helium (LHe) pressure fluctuations, cooling frequency shifts, tuning sensitivity and modal. Through the calculations and optimizations of the 500 MHz 2-cell superconducting cavity, we finally designed a superconducting cavity that meets the requirements and obtained satisfactory results.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRANSITION CURVES (CLOTHOIDS) AND CIRCULAR CURVES IN ROAD ALIGNMENT

&amp;lt;p style=&amp;quot;text-align: justify;&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span lang=&amp;quot;EN-GB&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;&amp;quot;&amp;gt;The transition from a straight line to a circular curve is always abrupt, even if this is not readily noticeable at very large radii or low driving speeds. On the straight section the steering wheel angle is zero, on the arc section the steering wheel angle must have a certain value, as stated above, which is greater the tighter the curve. This in turn would mean that you would have to turn the steering wheel jerkily at the transition between the straight section and the circular curve section. Otherwise you would go off track. Even in the case of large radii without transition curves, the lines of a road appear inelastic and can satisfy neither aesthetically nor driving psychologically down to the last detail. In perspective foreshortening - how the road is seen by the driver - sudden kinks appear despite the large curve radii.&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Fiber bundle deposition model and variable speed printing strategy for in-situ impregnation 3D printing of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites

In the in-situ impregnation 3D printing of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTPCs) at constant printing speed, in order to pursue higher printing efficiency, a higher speed for printing is adopted generally, which has no effect on the printing of the straight section, but at the same speed of printing at the corner, the printing speed will cause the fiber bundle to deviate from the printing path at the corner, which affects the accurate laying of fiber bundle along the printing path. Obviously, reducing the printing speed is an effective method to improve the print quality at the turn, but printing the entire part at the reduced speed will greatly limit the overall printing speed. However, the problem of different corner angles and shifting points from the straight section of high-speed printing to the corner section of low-speed printing has been puzzling researchers. In this paper, a fiber bundle deposition model has been proposed to reveal the deposition of fiber bundles, and the maximum offsets of fiber bundles were predicted under different turning angles. Compared with the measured results, the prediction error at different turning angles ranged from −1.07 % to 10.30 %. Then, combining with the finite element analysis method, the fiber bundle deposition model was adopted to study the effects of printing speeds, and the maximum printing speeds for different printing angles and the variable printing speed strategy have been put forward. The results have revealed that, by using the optimized variable printing speed strategy, the surface quality of the fabricated parts and the deposition of the fiber bundles along the designed printing path were significantly improved. The fiber bundle deposition model and the variable speed printing strategy could be helpful for the high-precision 3D printing of CFRTPCs.

Hydrodynamic Analysis of Pipelines Transporting Capsule for Onshore Applications

Abstract— Rapid depletion of energy resources hasimmensely affected the cargo transportation industry.Efforts have been made to develop newer economic andenvironmental friendly modes for this purpose. Bulk solidscan be transported for long distances effectively in pipelines.Raw materials can be stored in spherical containers(commonly known as capsules) transported through thepipeline. For economical and efficient design of anytransportation mode, both the local flow characteristics andthe global performance parameters need to be investigated.Published literature is severely limited in establishing theeffects of local flow features on system characteristics ofHydraulic Capsule Pipelines (HCPs). The present study focuses on using a well-validatedComputational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based solver tosimulate the unsteady turbulent flow of a sphericalcapsule as a simplified case in HCPs for onshoreapplications. A novel numerical model has beenemployed in the present study with the aid of thedynamic mesh technique for calculating the pressureand the velocity variations within such pipelines. Thenumerical model comprises a straight test section. Thenumerical model for capsule flow yields realisticresults for the global flow parameters as compared tothe experimental data from the test rig developed inthe present study. The influence of the carrying fluid(water) on the capsule has been verified by estimatingthe shear forces and the friction coefficient. Inaddition, novel models have been developed forpredicting the wet friction coefficient considering thestart-up effect in such systems.

Motion Analysis of a Single Capsule in a Horizontal Hydraulic Pipeline

A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based solver is used to numerically analyze the motion of a single spherical capsule in a horizontal hydraulic pipeline. A novel numerical model is employed with the aid of the dynamic mesh technique for calculating the pressure and the velocity of the moving capsule. The numerical model comprises a 2m long straight test section of 50mm diameter. The results from the numerical model were close to those from the experimental data from the test rig developed in the study. The capsule is assumed to be a point mass rigid body and the coaxial-annular-flow model around the capsule is used to derive the boundary conditions for water flow at the capsule discontinuity region. The results are compared with experimental work done.

Design, optimization and analysis of a modified Savonius hydro-kinetic turbine (MSHT) with curved winglet and straight blade

The pico-scale power generation in remote locations is now very promising due to small-scale power requirements. The major challenge is harnessing the same from the run-off river streams or canals that have low free-stream flow-speed (less than 1 m/s). Savonius hydro-kinetic turbine can self-start in such flow streams, but it exhibits poor efficiency. This study proposes a novel airfoil-shaped curved winglet that can enhance the functionality of this turbine. The popular semi-circular blade is replaced with a hybrid blade profile consisting of a curved winglet at the front-edge, which is tore out from NACA 63415 airfoil, followed by a straight blade section up to the trailing edge, thereby resulting in a modified Savonius hydro-kinetic turbine. The curved winglet minimizes negative torque effect on the rotor, while the long straight edge offers a greater moment-arm and gap-flow. The research is performed in two stages. In the first stage, three different models of the turbine with various combinations of blade overlapping, side clearance, and winglet offset are designed. Transient Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are run to assess and compare the model performances under different low flow-speeds. Taguchi optimization is then performed to obtain a combination of best design and operating conditions for higher performance. In the second stage, two more design variables of the winglet, namely winglet arc angle and cut-out arc section are introduced on the previous best model and detail analysis is done to further improve the turbine performance. Finally, the two best models are compared to obtain important performance insights of the turbine. Results show that winglet parameters with best cut-out arc section and offset improve performance more than the performance with traditional overlapping or side clearance design considerations. The maximum Cp and CT of 0.36 and 0.75 are obtained for the best model at the best winglet arc angle (a1) of 30° for flow-speed 0.4 m/s, and TSR 0.7 with combinations of 20 % blade overlapping, 6.14 % side clearance, and 15 mm winglet offset. The performance parameters of the turbine is also compared with the existing modified Savonius-turbine designs to emphasize the essential improvement of the current design.

Design study of a low emittance complex bend achromat lattice

Light sources worldwide have experienced rapid growth in the last decades, pushing toward higher brightness with lower emittance to meet growing demands from the user community. The quest for higher brightness motivates the development of low-emittance ring lattices. At this point, all fourth-generation storage ring light sources employ variations of the multibend achromat (MBA) lattice. In this paper, we discuss an extension of this approach, known as complex bend achromat lattice in relation to the future NSLS-II upgrade. A detailed approach for the lattice design will be described and the developed lattice will be presented. The advantages of using our complex bend approach are evident in reaching a natural emittance as low as 23 pm at a beam energy of 3 GeV, providing a straight section of 8.4 m for long insertion devices, and acquiring a ratio of about 50% of free space with respect to the ring circumference. The design includes the use of permanent magnets largely reducing the need for power supplies. Our new approach provides an extension to the MBA concept for the next-generation light source lattice design. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Study on Stamping-Bulging Process of Thin-Walled Superalloy Diaphragm for S-Shaped Bellows.

A combined stamping-bulging forming process was proposed to achieve high-precision forming of large-diameter, ultra-thin-walled, superalloy welded S-type corrugated diaphragms. The underlying principle is to enhance the diaphragm's forming accuracy by increasing the plastic deformation region and reducing springback. Using the ABAQUS version 6.14 finite element analysis software, finite element models were constructed for the stamping, hydraulic bulging, and combined stamping-bulging forming processes of the welded S-type metal corrugated diaphragms. A comparative analysis was conducted on the forming processes of the welded S-type metal corrugated diaphragms under the three forming methods, focusing on equivalent stress, distribution of wall thickness, and forming accuracy. This analysis determined the optimal forming process and the corresponding process parameters for superalloy welded S-type metal corrugated diaphragms. The results show that under a constant drawing force, as the bulging pressure increases, the plastic deformation of the straight sections of the diaphragm becomes more pronounced, resulting in improved shape accuracy. The combined stamping-bulging forming process guarantees the highest degree of shape accuracy for the diaphragm. The optimal process parameters were identified as a 30 t force and a 5 MPa pressure, with a maximum shape error of 0.02 mm. Concerning a plate thickness of 0.3 mm, the maximum deviation rate was found to be 6.7%, which represents a 30% improvement over traditional stamping processes. The maximum wall thinning rate was found to be 3.3%, a 1% reduction compared to traditional stamping processes, confirming the process's feasibility.

Experimental study of pipeline pressure loss laws with large-size gangue slurry during the process of industrial-grade annular pipe transportation

Gangue grouting and backfilling mining technology is one of the key techniques to achieve solid waste disposal and rock movement control in coal mines. The pipeline conveying performance of gangue slurry determines the success or failure of backfilling engineering directly. Due to the high cost of crushing small-sized gangue, research on pipeline transportation of large-sized gangue slurry has been gradually highlighted. In this study, the gangue slurry ratio optimization test and industrial-grade pipeline transportation experiments were conducted, and the optimal ratio of gangue slurry with different large particle size grading was obtained. Additionally, the rheological parameter changes of gangue slurry in pipeline transportation were analyzed, and the changes in slurry mass concentration, slurry flow velocity, and particle size matching of pressure loss in the straight and bent pipe sections of the transportation pipeline were studied. The results show that the optimal ratio for the 0–5 mm particle size gangue slurry is the mass concentration of 65 % and a mass proportion of 0.3: 2: 1 for 2–5 mm, 0.15–2 mm, and 0–0.15 mm particle size gangue; the optimal ratio for the 0–2 mm particle size gangue slurry gangue is the mass concentration of 60 % and a mass proportion of 2:1 for 0.15–2 mm and 0–0.15 mm particle size gangue. Both the mass concentration, flow velocity, and particle size grading of the gangue slurry have a significant impact on the pressure loss during pipeline transportation. The mass concentration of the gangue slurry has the most significant impact on the pressure loss in the straight pipe section, while the flow velocity has the highest impact on the pressure loss in the bent pipe section. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the design of pipeline transportation parameters for gangue grouting and backfilling projects.

Coupling effect of track irregularity and wheel–rail contact conicity on carbody swaying of a metro vehicle: an experimental investigation

A carbody swaying with low frequency of about 2 Hz occurs during vehicles with linear induction motors (LIM) running in shallow curve and straight sections on a China metro line, which significantly deteriorates the ride comfort of passengers. A series of field tests were carried out to identify the main cause and possible solutions. During the tests, the vibration characteristics, dynamic performance, wheel–rail contact condition and track condition were analysed. The test results show that the abnormal carbody swaying is a manifestation of a frequency coupled resonance between the track excitation frequency, bogie hunting frequency and carbody modal frequency at the operating speed. The periodic excitation of the track is the periodic track alignment irregularity with a wavelength of 11–13 m, which is caused by rail surface wear during long-term operation. The carbody swaying can be suppressed by reprofiling the wheel tread to LMA and optimising the suspension parameters.

Influence of bottom protection structures group on the hydraulic characteristics in sharp bends

Bottom protection (BP) is a commonly used engineering measure in river training. A 3D hydrodynamic numerical model is established to study the influence of the overall arrangements of BP structures on the hydraulic characteristics of the sharp bends. Under the action of the BP structures group, the maximum longitudinal flow velocity is closer to the water surface vertically and closer to the concave bank laterally compared with no BP. The high shear stress zones on the riverbed at the exit straight section of the bend do not occur. The so-called primary circulation after the apex of the bend gradually weakens and disappears. If the coverage rate of BP is increased to 1.5 times that of the sequential BP, the average longitudinal flow velocity near the bottom of BP decreases by 10% and the average bed shear stress at the outlet section of the bend decreases by 35%. In the staggered BP condition, the average bed shear stress at the outlet section of the bend is reduced by 23% compared with the sequential BP. Moreover, the results show that the protection effects of the dense BP and the staggered BP are better than that of sequential BP.

Mechanism analysis on heat transfer of supercritical LNG in horizontal U-bend tube

A comprehensive comprehension of the intricate heat transfer mechanisms pertaining to supercritical fluids within U-bend tubes holds paramount significance in the optimization design of submerged combustion vaporizers and other water-bath heating heat exchangers. This paper employs a combined approach of experimental analysis and numerical simulation to explore the complicated heat transfer processes of supercritical liquefied natural gas in the U-bend tube. For a careful consideration of similarity and safety, the N2–Ar mixture is used as the alternative experimental media. Upon validating the model's accuracy using experimental data, this study unveils the mechanism of the coupling effect between centrifugal force and buoyancy on heat transfer based on simulation results. The results show that the internal circulation flow field structure caused by centrifugal force weakens the heat transfer on the inner side within an angle range of approximately 60°. Along the entrance region of downstream straight tubing, secondary flow continues to be predominantly governed by centrifugal forces due to inertia-driven effects. Subsequently, buoyancy-driven secondary flow impels compression upon centrifugally-induced secondary flow towards the inner side, thereby instigating significant augmentation in fluidic heat transfer resistance in both the viscous sub-layer and buffer layer of the inner side. Overall, the downstream straight tube section exhibits a special heat transfer variation pattern characterized by an initial strengthening, followed by deterioration, and ultimately recovery due to the influence of centrifugal force, with a maximum influence distance extending to 175.5d.

Numerical simulation analysis and experimental verification of air flow measurement in large-diameter S-shaped pipe

Abstract The ventilation systems in nuclear power plants, hydropower plants, and other large-scale projects involve the transportation of fluids through large-scale pipelines. To achieve a more stable flow velocity distribution, the fluid needs to pass through a straight pipe section of sufficient length upon entering the pipe. Typically, this straight pipe section should be at least 15 times the inner diameter of the pipe. However, for large-diameter irregular square pipes with a diameter exceeding 1m, where the curved section is short and there are no long straight pipe sections before and after it, the flow field inside the pipe becomes complex, requiring accurate measurement of the flow rate.In this regard, a numerical simulation analysis is conducted to address this challenge. A mean velocity evaluation method based on the coefficient of variation is proposed. This method identifies multiple points within the pipe that best represent the average flow velocity, determining the insertion depth of sensors and the weight coefficients of these multiple measuring points. A calculation formula is derived, utilizing the cross-sectional average velocity as a function with the velocity values at multiple points in the flow field as independent variables. To validate the accuracy of the proposed method, flow measurement experiments are performed on a wind tunnel test bench. The calculated values obtained from the derived formula through numerical analysis are compared with the experimental results. The relative error within the full range is found to be less than 0.54%, confirming the accuracy of the formula. The research findings present a novel measurement method for airflow in large-diameter irregular square pipes and offer valuable practical insights for engineering applications.

Experimental investigation of the movement patterns and deformation of the pigs when passing through a pipe elbow and reducer

Experimentally investigate the movement dynamics of the pigs having various geometric shapes through the pipeline elbows and adapters manufactured from various hyperelastic materials, and assess the risks of their getting stuck in such elements. Experimentally determine the required pressure in the behind-pig space for the experimental pig prototypes to pass through the pipeline elbows and adapters.Pig prototypes of various geometric shapes (cup-type, cylindrical two-disc type, multi-disc type, dumbbell disc type and three-ball dumbbell type) were designed in order to carry out the experimental investigation. Based on pigs' 3D models, the 3D models of casting mould have been designed and printed on a 3D printer. Pig prototypes were manufactured by filling the casting moulds with silicone compound with hardness of 30 units by Shore A hardness scale and polyurethane with hardness of 80 units by Shore A hardness scale.An experimental glass pipeline was designed and mounted to monitor the dynamics of the solid-cast pig prototype movement through the pipeline elbows. Video recordings of the process allowed us to identify and describe the patterns of pig prototype deformations in the glass pipeline elbow. Pressure was measured in the behind-pig space during the movement of pig prototypes through straight sections, the elbow and the adapter of the experimental pipeline made of metal. Measurements were taken for dry and wet inner walls of glass and metal pipelines.Cup-type pigs made of silicone compound showed best results in passing through the elbows at the lowest pressure in the behind-pig space (0.33 kgf/cm2). However, suppose the inner wall of the pipeline is dry. In that case, the pig tightness is lost in the pipeline elbow due to significant deformation of the pig, which causes the behind-pig space pressure to increase to 0.71 kgf/cm2 and augments the risk of the pig getting stuck. The dumbbell disc-type and three-ball dumbbell-type pigs made of silicone compound also show good results in passing through the elbows with low pressure in the behind-pig space (up to 0.5 kgf/cm2). Polyurethanepigs are highly rigid; therefore, for them to pass through the pipeline elbows, the pressure in the behind-pig space should be 2-4 times higher than for pigs made of silicone compound.Only the cup-type pig made of silicone compound can pass through the reducing pipe adapters with pressure in the behind-pig space being at least 8 kgf/cm2.The investigation was performed in experimental mode. Further investigation will entail mathematical and numerical modelling of the pig prototypes movement through the pipeline elbows and adapters.The results obtained during the investigation will help to develop a more thorough approach to planning the process of using the pigs to clean the pipelines with elbows and reduce adapters. They allow us to choose the geometric shape and material of the pigs, taking into account the pipeline operating parameters (inlet pressure and flow rate). It is especially appropriate during the first planned pipeline cleaning with pigs. It allows us to minimize the risk of pigs getting stuck in the pipeline.The subject of investigation is patterns of the pig`s friction coefficient, material hardness and geometric shape, impacting its ability to pass through the elbows and reducing adapters, and the value of the required pressure in the behind-pig space.

The influence of guide vane opening on internal cavitation of Francis turbine

Abstract In response to the theme of national multi energy complementary power grid construction, hydropower stations need to frequently change the opening of active guide vanes. Operation deviates from the rated working condition. And output is adjusted to meet the flexible power demand of users. Cavitation phenomenon as the biggest problem restricting the eccentric operation of Francis turbine. Easily induce cavitation damage to the flow passage components of the unit and shorten the service life of the unit. Therefore, there is a good engineering research background for the cavitation characteristics inside Francis turbines in the process of exploring the variation of guide vane opening. This paper takes a high head Francis turbine as the research object, based on numerical simulation and model test. The results show that the maximum amplitude of the draft tube vortex gradually increases during the process of decreasing the opening. The degree of cavitation is gradually serious, and the streamline distribution of the flow field inside the impeller is uneven. As the opening of the guide vane gradually increases, the vortexof the draft tube gradually decreases. The cavitation degree is weakened, and the streamline distribution inside the impeller is significantly improved. With the increase of the guide vane opening, the low-speed area on the outlet surface of the impeller gradually decreases, resulting in a gradual reduction of the low-speed zone in the straight cone section of the draft tube, a smaller vortex, a weaker cavitation degree. The internal flow distribution of the impeller is significantly improved.