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This paper presents the results of laboratory tests of water hammer phenomenon induced in two series-connected copper pipes with different diameters (a diameter ratio of 1:1.25) by a quick-closing valve installed at the end of the simple upstream tank–pipeline–valve system. Test results were compared with calculations made with the use of various friction loss models incorporated in a one-dimensional model based on a method of characteristics. The calculation takes into consideration quasi-steady and unsteady friction models as well as a special discretization procedure of the solution domain that ensures the elimination of numerical diffusion in the numerical scheme. The main attention was paid to determining the value of the pressure wave speed in the pipes, which has a significant influence on the compliance between the calculations and the experimental results of the pressure amplitudes and wave frequencies. Two methods of determining the wave speed were proposed and evaluated based on the measurements. The results presented in this article indicate that the use of the proposed procedure instead of the classic formulas for determining the pressure wave speed gives the desired correspondence between the frequencies of the measured and calculated waves. Calculation examples made with the use of different friction models showed that application of the developed procedure for discretization of the solution domain and the method used for determining the wave speed opened the possibility of reliable verification of these models, free of numerical errors and frequency discrepancies between the computational and measured wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the numerical algorithm of the developed computer code which calculates performance characteristics of ducted axial-flow hydrokinetic turbines. The code makes use of the vortex lattice method (VLM), which has been developed and used in IMP PAN for years, to analyse the operation of various fluid-flow machines. To verify the developed software, a series of model tests have been performed in the cavitation tunnel being part of IMP PAN research equipment.

One of the basic flow rate measurement methods applied in hydropower plants and recommended by the International Standard IEC 60041-1999 and American National Standard ASME PTC 18-2002 is the pressure-time method, generally known as Gibson method. The method consists in determining the flow rate (discharge) by integration of the recorded time course of pressure difference variations between two cross sections of the hydropower plant penstock. The accuracy of measurement depends on numerous factors and, according to the International Standard, generally is confined within the range 1.5-2.3%. Following the classical approach, the pressure-time method applicability is limited to straight cylindrical pipelines with constant diameters. However, the International Standard does not exclude application of this method to more complex geometries, i.e., curved pipeline (with elbows). It is obvious that a curved pipeline causes deformation of the uniform velocity field in pipeline cross sections, which subsequently causes aggravation of the accuracy of the pressure-time method flow rate measurement results. The influence of a curved penstock application on flow rate measurements by means of the considered method is discussed in this paper. The special calculation procedure for the problem solution has been developed. The procedure is based on the FLUENT computational fluid dynamic solver. Computations have been carried out in order to find the so-called equivalent value of the geometric pipe factor F required when using the pressure-time method. An example of application of this method to a complex geometry (two elbows in a penstock) is presented. The systematic uncertainty caused by neglecting the effect of the elbows on velocity field deformation has been estimated. [DOI: 10.1115/1.3078794] Keywords: hydraulic machines, flow rate measurements, efficiency measurements, pressure-time method, Gibson method

This paper presents a new method for calculating pressure fluctuations in pipelines during a water hammer with liquid column separation. The method is based on the discrete-vapor-cavity model (DVCM). Such kind of models assumes that vaporous cavities are formed in each computational section of the pipeline whenever the pressure drops to the vapor pressure at a given temperature. The proposed new model (new DVCM) brings a significant improvement in the reliability of predictions compared with existing DVCMs. The calculation method based on it eliminates some disadvantages of basic methods used in practice, as shown by comparisons between calculations made for simple hydraulic system under theoretical frictionless conditions using various DVCMs. Additionally, the authors present preliminary verification of the proposed model based on experimental results. The positive results of this verification, and the advantages of the new DVCM, could lead to incorporating them into commercial codes. [DOI: 10.1115/1.3153365]

The paper presents a comparative analysis of calculations performed basing on the selected unsteady friction models and their validation based on the results of own experimental tests. The computer code developed for predicting transient pipe flows includes the models of: Zielke, Trikha, Vardy and Brown, Zarzycki, and Brunone et al. Our own experiments have been conducted at a test rig designed and constructed at the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IMP PAN) in Gdansk in order to test transient pipe flows in a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The results following from this analysis enable the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the models under consideration. [DOI: 10.1115/1.2354521]

The paper presents the results of investigations carried out in connection with a penstock rupture at a small hydropower plant in Poland. The investigations comprised material tests of the ruptured penstock shell, analysis of the stress in the shell of the ruptured penstock section, analysis of hydraulic transients under conditions of failure, and testing of the penstock and gensets after repair. In the case under consideration, excessive water hammer caused by rapid flow cut-off was recognized as the direct cause of the penstock burst. Low strength of the penstock shell because of low quality weld joints and lack of strengthening in places of large stress concentration also contributed to the penstock failure. Results of the case investigation highlight some problems that should be taken into account during the process of design, modernization, and operation of hydropower plants in order to ensure their safe operation.

The effective utilization of micro hydropower sources is often realized through the use of pumps as turbines (PAT). The efficiency of PAT is about the same as that of the original pump. A further increase in efficiency and power output can be achieved by modifying the parts interacting with the flow, especially the impeller and the adjacent volute casing and draft tube. This paper presents a user-friendly calculation model of Francis turbine design and its application for PAT geometry modification. Two different modifications of a single-stage radial centrifugal pump were designed according to this model. The first modification (Turbine) consisted of a complete revision of the impeller geometry, volute casing and draft tube, which corresponded to a conventional Francis turbine. The second modification (Hybrid) was based on altered calculation model and consisted of a modification of only the impeller, which can be used in the original volute casing. Both modifications were tested on hydraulic test circuit at different heads. A comparison of the results of the Hybrid and the Turbine modification with the unmodified machine (Original) proved an increase in overall efficiency by 10%. Both modifications provided a higher flow rate and torque. This resulted in an overall power output increase—an increase of approximately 25% and 40% due to the Turbine and Hybrid modifications, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the Flow-Induced Vibration (FIV) of pivoted cylinders (at a distance) is numerically investigated as a potential source of energy harvesting. In particular, we investigate the effect of pivot point placement, arm length, and natural frequency on the FIV performance of six different cross sections in the Reynolds number of around 1000. All sections have similar mass, area, and moment of inertia to eliminate non-geometrical effects on the performance. Classical studies show that the synchronization phenomenon (lock-in) occurs when the vortex formation frequency is close enough to the body's natural frequency. Due to the configuration of the cylinder in this research (pivoted eccentrically), the natural frequency is also a function of the flow velocity as well as the geometrical specifications of the system. The simulation is done for the arm lengths between −3D and +3D for all cross sections. Results show that maximum output power is principally influenced more by the pivot location than the arm length. Although the box cross section has a higher amplitude of vibration, the circular cross section has the highest efficiency followed by the egg shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]