Modeling of Pipeline Transients: Modified Method of Characteristics

Authors

Stephen L. Wood, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Major/Program

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor's Name

George S. Dulikravich

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Co-Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Igor Tsukanov

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Co-Chair

Third Advisor's Name

Cesar Levy

Fourth Advisor's Name

Leonel Lagos

Keywords

pipeline, transient, method of characteristics, optimization, genetic algorithm, pump operation, blockage detection, blockage removal, high level waste

Date of Defense

7-8-2011

Abstract

The primary purpose of this research was to improve the accuracy and robustness of pipeline transient modeling. An algorithm was developed to model the transient flow in closed tubes for thin walled pipelines. Emphasis was given to the application of this type of flow to pipelines with small radius 90° elbows. An additional loss term was developed to account for the presence of 90° elbows in a pipeline. The algorithm was integrated into an optimization routine to fit results from the improved model to experimental data. A web based interface was developed to facilitate the pre- and post- processing operations.

Results showed that including a loss term that represents the effects of 90° elbows in the Method of Characteristics (MOC) [1] improves the accuracy of the predicted transients by an order of magnitude. Secondary objectives of pump optimization, blockage detection and removal were investigated with promising results.

Identifier

FI11080807

Recommended Citation

Wood, Stephen L., "Modeling of Pipeline Transients: Modified Method of Characteristics" (2011). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 456.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/456