Projects / Programmes
Modelling of trapped air pockets in hydraulic piping systems
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.13.07 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Process engineering |
Water power |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T140 |
Technological sciences |
Energy research |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.03 |
Engineering and Technology |
Mechanical engineering |
isolated air pocket, gas column, transient pipe flow, combined gaseous cavitation model, unsteady skin friction
Researchers (13)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
38862 |
Grega Belšak |
Materials science and technology |
Researcher |
2021 |
0 |
| 2. |
03923 |
PhD Anton Bergant |
Process engineering |
Head |
2019 - 2023 |
0 |
| 3. |
05912 |
PhD Andrej Bombač |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2023 |
0 |
| 4. |
38848 |
PhD Tadej Dobravec |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2020 - 2023 |
0 |
| 5. |
23083 |
PhD Janez Gale |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2023 |
0 |
| 6. |
32071 |
PhD Jurij Gregorc |
Materials science and technology |
Researcher |
2019 - 2023 |
0 |
| 7. |
38688 |
PhD Uroš Ješe |
Energy engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2023 |
0 |
| 8. |
54859 |
Ajda Kunavar |
Chemical engineering |
Researcher |
2020 - 2021 |
0 |
| 9. |
36237 |
Rok Mavrič |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2023 |
0 |
| 10. |
31779 |
Jernej Mazij |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2023 |
0 |
| 11. |
01371 |
PhD Zlatko Rek |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2023 |
0 |
| 12. |
04101 |
PhD Božidar Šarler |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2023 |
0 |
| 13. |
37776 |
PhD Rizwan Zahoor |
Process engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2023 |
0 |
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Entrapped or entrained air in hydraulic systems significantly affects dynamic behaviour of the system. The effects of air pockets can be either beneficial or detrimental. Pipeline monitoring of the systems, such as inverse transient analysis for leak detection (environmental impact) and pipe roughness calibration (energy losses), requires accurate modelling of transients with consideration of trapped air pockets and columns. The main objective of the research project is to investigate dynamic response of trapped air pockets in relatively short and relatively long water-filled pipeline systems during during transient events. Air pockets will be incorporated as boundary conditions or long air columns into a combined gas cavity model with consideration of unsteady skin friction. For relatively small pocket volume the pocket will be lumped at computing section. For long air columns, a variable length liquid column approach will be used in the model. The new model will be validated against experimental data from a small- and large-diameter pipeline apparatuses. Two-phase flow properties will be investigated for a number of flow types including accelerating and decelerating flow cases. Experimental data for validation study have been acquired by principal investigator during his collaborative experimental reserach work in Adelaide, Delft and Podgorica test facilities.
Significance for science
- better understanding of flow physics in hydraulic piping systems during transient events with particular emphasis on dynamic behaviour of isolated air pockets and long air columns
- development of novel coupled models for the treatment of isolated air pockets and long air columns in hydraulic pipelines
- research results could be applicable to other scientific fields including mathematics & physics and medicine (blood flow in vessels)
Significance for the country
- application of novel transient gas cavity models enables optimal dimensions of piping systems, safer operation of systems and reliable on-line monitoring (on-line leakage detection)
- lower weight of piping systems (optimisation of devices) yields lower material costs, lower energy consumption for manufacturing and lower operational costs
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
