Turbulent Dividing Flow on 60º Bifurcations

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2004

Authors

Rodrigo Maia (Author) FEUP; Nuno Fernando Pereira da Costa (Author) Other

Conference proceedings International

Title: International Conference on Computational and Experimental Engineering and Sciences

Pages: 1012-1017

International Conference on Computational and Experimental Engineering and Sciences

Madeira, 3-5 July

Other information

Abstract (EN): The local energy losses established in pipe junctions, which are common features of piping networks, are highly dependent on some geometrical features and on flow characteristics. For the development of a generalized predictive model addressing those energy losses, it is essential to define a database covering wide ranges of the mentioned variables so that comparisons and validations can be made. The present work was based on an experimental study developed on a FCT experimental project that was on the basis of a M.Sc. thesis of one of the authors. The aim of this study was to obtain detailed information of the flow over a 60-degree junction and of the influence of the area ratio (branch-to-straight pipe - Ab/As) on the flow development, relating it to the correspondent energy losses. For this study two different geometries were considered – one with a branch-to-straight pipe area ratio (Ab/As) equal to 1 (geom. 1) and the other with that ratio equal to 0,7 (geom. 2) – and experimentally investigated for a diverging flow configuration. The Reynolds number, defined at the inlet pipe, was in the range of 5000 to 40000 and the working fluid used was water. The energy losses were determined by means of characterization of the pressure fields correspondent to the referred Reynolds number range, for different flow division (Q1/Q3). The physical explanation of those losses was tried by means of the study of the turbulent flow on the bifurcation, through the characterization of the velocity field and of the separation zones.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6