Towards an improved understanding of water hammer column separation in pipelines

Abstract

The importance is considered of the formation of distributed vaporous cavitation zones on the pressure generated by the collapse of a vapour cavity at a valve. An alternative numerical model was developed that describes waterhammer regions, localized vapour cavities, and distributed vaporous cavitation regions separately. The formation of intermediate cavities is also accounted for in the model. The implementation of this numerical model is described. Examples of results from this alternative numerical model and results from the discrete vapour cavity model are compared against experimental data collected at The University of Michigan for a 36 meter long pipeline connecting two reservoirs. (A)