Solution
Water Hammer
Part A. Excess Pressure and Propagation of Pressure wave
A.1 (1.6 pt) Excess pressure and speed of propagation of the pressure wave
When the valve opening is suddenly blocked, fluid pressure at the valve jumps
from π0 to π1 = π0 + βπs, thus sending a pressure wave traveling upstream (to the
left) with speed π and amplitude βπs. Taking positive π₯ direction as pointing to
the right, the velocity of fluid particles next to the valve changes from π£0 to π£1
(π£1 β€ 0). Thus the velocity change is βπ£ = π£1 β π£0.
In a frame moving to left (along β π₯ direction) with speed π, i.e., riding on the
wave (see Fig. S1), velocity of fluid in the pressure wave is π + π£1, while that of the
incoming fluid in the steady flow ahead of the wave is π + π£0. Let π1 be the density
of fluid in the pressure wave. From conservation of mass, i.e., equation of continuity,
we have
π0(π + π£0) = π1(π + π£1) (a1)
or, by letting βπ β‘ π1 β π0,
βπ
π1= 1 β
π0
π1=
π£0 β π£1
π + π£0=
ββπ£
π + π£0 (a2)
Moreover, impulse imparted to the fluid must equal its momentum change. Thus, in
a short time interval π after the valve is closed, we must have
π0(π + π£0)π[(π + π£1) β (π + π£0)] = βπβπ = (π0 β π1)π (a3)
or
βπs = βπ0π (1 +π£0
π) (π£1 β π£0) = βπ0π (1 +
π£0
π) βπ£ β πΌ = β (1 +
π£0
π) (a4)
If π£0/π βͺ 1, we have
βπs = βπ0πβπ£ (a5)
Note that the negative sign in Eqs. (a4) and (a5) follows from the fact that the
direction of propagation is opposite to the positive direction for π₯ axis (and velocity).
Otherwise the sign should be positive. Note also that for a compressional wave
Fig. S1. Pressure wave (shaded) with speed π
T
π£0
π0
π
π0
B
A
πa π₯
π£1
π1 π1
wave
(βπs > 0), the velocity imparted to the fluid particle is in the direction of propagation,
while for an extensional wave (βπs < 0), the velocity imparted is in the opposite
direction of propagation.
Eqs. (a2) and (a4) can be combined to give
βπs = π0π2 (1 +π£0
π)
2 βπ
π1 (a6)
From the definition of the bulk modulus π΅, which is assumed to be constant, it
follows
βπs = π΅π0 β π1
π0= π΅
1/π0 β 1/π1
1/π0= π΅
βπ
π1 (a7)
From Eqs. (a6) and (a7), we obtain
π0π2 (1 +π£0
π)
2
= π΅ (a8)
Thus
π = βπ΅
π0β π£0 β πΎ = 1 π½ = βπ£0 (a9)
However, if in the definition of bulk modulus one uses the fractional change of
density βπ/π0 instead of ββπ/π0, the result is then πΎ = 1 + βπs/π΅.* Either result
is considered valid.
If π£0/π βͺ 1, we have
π = βπ΅
π0 (a10)
*The result (a7) is pointed out by Dr. Jaan Kalda.
A.2 (0.6 pt) Values of π and βπs for water flow
Ans:
From Eqs. (a5) and (a10), we have
π = βπ΅/π0
Ξπs = π0ππ£0 = π£0βπ0π΅
Putting in the given values π£0 = 4.0 m/s, π£1 = 0, π0 = 1.0 Γ 103 kg/m3,
and π΅ = 2.2 Γ 109 Pa, we have
π = βπ΅/π0 = 1.5 Γ 103 m/s (b1)
Ξπs = π£0βπ0π΅ = 5.9 MPa (b2)
so that Ξπs is nearly 59 times the standard pressure.
Note that π£0/π~10β3 so that the use of approximate formulas (a5) and (a10) is
justified when solving tasks in this problem.
Part B. A Model for the Flow-Control Valve
(B.1) (1.0 pt) Excess pressure at valve inlet
Ans:
The model assumes the fluid to be incompressible. Neglecting effects of gravity,
Bernoulliβs principle gives us
1
2π0π£in
2 + πin =1
2π0π£c
2 + πa (c1)
Equation of continuity and definition of contraction coefficient imply that
ππ 2π£in = ππc2π£c = ππ2πΆcπ£c
Therefore
π£c =1
πΆc(
π
π)
2
π£in (c2)
From Eqs. (c1) and (c2), we obtain
βπin = πin β πa =1
2π0π£in
2 [1
πΆc2
(π
π)
4
β 1] =π
2π0π£in
2 (c3)
This may be cast into a form involving only dimensionless variables:
βπin
π0π2=
1
2(
π£in
π)
2
[1
πΆc2
(π
π)
4
β 1] =π
2(
π£in
π)
2
(c4)
where
π = [1
πΆc2
(π
π)
4
β 1] (c5)
Thus we see from eq. (c4) that βπin is a quadratic function of π£in.
Part C. Water-Hammer Effect due to Fast Closure of Flow-Control Valve
(C.1) (0.6 pt) Pressure π0 and velocity π£0 when the valve is fully open
Ans:
According to Bernoulliβs theorem and the definition of πβ, we have
Fig. 2. Valve dimensions and contraction of jet.
π£c π£in
2π 2π
π½
A ΞπΏ
πa
2πc = 2πβπΆc
π0
πin
1
2π0π£0
2 + π0 =1
2π0π£c
2 + πa = 0 + πa + π0πβ = πβ (d1)
From the second equality in the preceding equation, it follows
π£c = β2πβ
Furthermore, from continuity equation and πΆc(π = π ) = 1.0, we have
ππ 2π£0 = π(πΆcπ )2π£c = ππ 2π£c β π£0 = π£c = β2πβ (d2)
Therefore
π0 = πa = πβ β π0πβ (d3)
(C.2) (1.2 pt) Pressure π(π‘) and flow velocity π£(π‘) just before π‘ =π
2=
πΏ
π and π‘ = π
Ans:
When the valve is open, the flow in the pipe is steady with velocity π£0 and
pressure π0. The sudden closure of the valve causes an excess pressure Ξππ on the
fluid element next to the valve, causing it to stop with velocity π£1 = 0. The velocity
change is thus βπ£ = π£1 β π£0 = βπ£0. Thus, according to Eq. (a5), the excess pressure
on the fluid is given by
π₯πs = βπ0πβπ£ = π0ππ£0 (e1)
At time π‘ = π/2 = πΏ/π, the pressure wave reaches the reservoir. The velocity of
fluid in the length of the pipe has all changed to π£(π/2) = π£1 = π£0 + βπ£ = 0 and
the fluid pressure is π(π/2) = π1 = π0 + Ξπs = π0 + π0ππ£0.
At the reservoir end of the pipe, fluid pressure reduces to the constant
hydrostatic pressure πβ = π0 + π0πβ. Equivalently, we may say that the reservoir
acts as a free end for the pressure wave and, in reducing its excess pressure to πβ,
causes a compression wave to be reflected as an expansion wave. Relative to the
hydrostatic pressure πβ, the amplitude of the incoming pressure wave is βπ1r =
π1 β πβ, hence the reflected expansion wave will have an amplitude βπ1β² = ββπ1r
and we have
βπ1β² = ββπ1r = πβ β π1 = (π0 + π0πβ) β (π0 + π0ππ£0) = βπ0π(π£0 β πβ/π) (e2)
(Here we allow the pressure amplitude to have both signs with negative amplitude
signifying an expansion wave.) This will cause the fluid at the reservoir end of the
pipe to suffer a velocity change (keeping in mind that the direction of propagation is
now the same as the +π₯ axis)
βπ£1r = +βπ1β²/(π0π) = β(π£0 β πβ/π)
Consequently, its velocity changes to
π£1r = π£1 + βπ£1r = 0 β (π£0 βπβ
π) (e3)
Ahead of the front of the reflected wave, conditions are unchanged and the particle
velocity is still π£1 = 0 and the fluid pressure is still π1 = π0 + Ξπs, but behind the
wave front the particle velocity now becomes π£1r = β(π£0 β πβ/π) and the
pressure becomes
π1 + βπ1β² = (π0 + π0ππ£0) β π0π (π£0 β
πβ
π) = π0 + π0πβ (e4)
Therefore, just moment before π‘ = π = 2πΏ/π when the front of the reflected wave
reaches the valve, the fluid in the whole length of the pipe will be under the
pressure π(π) = π0 + π0πβ = πβ as given in Eq. (e4) , and all fluid particles in the
pipe will move, as given in Eq. (e3), with velocity π£(π) = π£1r = βπ£0 + πβ/π, i.e., the
fluid in the pipe is expanding and flowing toward the reservoir.
Part D. Water-Hammer Effect due to Slow Closure of Flow-Control Valve
(D.1) (3.0 pt) Recursion relations for Ξππ and π£π
Ans:
Enforcing the approximation πβ = π0 + π0πβ β π0 is equivalent to putting
β = 0 in all of the results obtained in task (e).
(1) Partial closing π = 1
At the valve, immediately after partial closing π = 1, fluid pressure jumps
from π0 to π1, causing flow velocity to change from π£0 to π£1. The pressure and
velocity changes are related by Eq. (a5): 1
π0π(π1 β π0) = β(π£1 β π£0) (f1)
Just before reflection by the reservoir, the fluid in the entire pipe has pressure π1
and velocity π£1. After reflection by the reservoir, i.e., a free end, and before the start
of valve closure π = 2, the fluid in the entire pipe has pressure (Eq. (e4) with β = 0)
π1 β (π1 β π0) = π0 and velocity
π£1β² = π£1 +
β(π1 β π0)
π0π= π£1 + (π£1 β π£0)
(2) Partial closing π = 2
Immediately after partial closing π = 2, valve pressure changes from π0 to π2,
causing flow velocity to change from π£1β² to π£2. The pressure and velocity changes are
given by Eq. (a5): 1
π0π(π2 β π0) = β(π£2 β π£1
β² ) = βπ£2 + π£1 + (π£1 β π£0) (f2)
Using Eq. (f1), we may rewrite the preceding equation as 1
π0π(π2 β π0) = β(π£2 β π£1) β
1
π0π(π1 β π0) (f3)
Just before reflection by the reservoir, the fluid in the entire pipe has pressure π2
and velocity π£2. After reflection by the reservoir and before valve closure π = 3, the
fluid in the entire pipe has pressure
π2 β (π2 β π0) = π0 and velocity
π£2β² = π£2 + (π£2 β π£1
β² )
(3) Partial closing π = 3
Immediately after partial closing π = 3, valve pressure changes from π0 to π3,
causing flow velocity to change from π£2β² to π£3. The pressure and velocity changes are
given by Eq. (a5): 1
π0π(π3 β π0) = β(π£3 β π£2
β² ) = βπ£3 + π£2 + (π£2 β π£1β² ) (f4)
Using Eq. (f2), we may rewrite the preceding equation as 1
π0π(π3 β π0) = β(π£3 β π£2) β
1
π0π(π2 β π0) (f5)
Just before reflection by the reservoir, the fluid in the entire pipe has pressure π3
and velocity π£3. After reflection by the reservoir and before valve closure π = 4, the
fluid in the entire pipe has pressure
π3 β (π3 β π0) = π0 and velocity
π£3β² = π£3 + (π£3 β π£2
β² ) (4) Partial closing π = 4
When the valve is fully shut at valve closing π = 4, the valve becomes a fixed
end, so the fluid velocity at the valve changes from π£3β² to π£4 = 0. The pressure
π4 at the valve is then given by Eq. (a5): 1
π0π(π4 β π0) = β(π£4 β π£3
β² ) = βπ£4 + π£3 β1
π0π(π3 β π0) (f6)
Finally, if we take note of the fact that βπ0 = 0 and π£4 = 0, then all equations
obtained above relating excess pressures and velocity changes after valve closings all
have the same form: βππ
π0π= β(π£π β π£πβ1) β
βππβ1
π0π (π = 1,2,3,4) (f7)
To solve for Ξππ = ππ β π0, we note that, from Eqs. (c3) and (c5), we have
another relation between Ξππ and π£π:
βππ =1
2πππ0π£π
2 (π = 1,2,3) (f8)
where πΆπ represents πΆc for π = ππ and
ππ = [1
πΆπ2
(π
ππ)
4
β 1] (π = 1,2,3) (f9)
Combining Eqs. (f7) and (f8), we have a quadratic equation for π£π: 1
2ππ (
π£π
π)
2
+π£π
π+ (
βππβ1
π0π2β
π£πβ1
π) = 0 (π = 1,2,3) (f10)
which can be solved readily using the formula
π£π
π=
β1 + β1 + 2ππ (π£πβ1
πβ
βππβ1
ππ2 )
ππ (π = 1,2,3) (f11)
If both βππβ1/(ππ2) and (π£πβ1/π) are known, Eq. (f11) may be used to
compute π£π/π and then find βππ/(ππ2) by using Eq. (f8). Therefore, Eq. (f7) may
be solved iteratively starting with π = 1 until π = 3. For π = 4, we know π£π = 0, so
Eq. (f7) may be used directly to find βππ.
Note that, from Eq. (f8), βππβ1 is a quadratic function of π£πβ1, so that if π£πβ1
is known, then π£π may be computed using Eq. (f11) and then βππ may again be
computed using Eq. (f8).
(D.2) (2.0 pt) Estimating Ξππ and π0ππ£π by graphical method
Ans:
To solve Eqs. (f7) and (f8) using graphical method, we rewrite them as follows:
βππ = β(π0ππ£π β π0ππ£πβ1) β βππβ1 (π = 1,2,3,4) (g1)
βππ =ππ
2π0π2(π0ππ£π)2 (π = 1,2,3,4) (g2)
In a plot of βπ vs. π0ππ£, Eq. (g1) and Eq. (g2) correspond to a line passing through
the point (π0ππ£πβ1, ββππβ1) with slope β1 and a parabola passing through the
origin, respectively. Thus one may readily obtain the solutions for each step of valve
closing by locating their points of intersection, starting with π = 1. The result is
shown in the following graph.
-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7
P
/MPa
cv/MPa
P-cv at valve
n=3, r/R=0.2 n=2, r/R=0.3 n=1, r/R=0.4
π = 1
π = 2 π = 3
π = 4
π0ππ£1,ββπ1
π0ππ£2, ββπ2 π0ππ£3, ββπ3
0, βπ4
Excess Pressures and particle velocities at the valve for slow closing
π ππ/π πΆπ ππ π£π/(m/s) π0ππ£π/MPa βππ/(MPa) βππ/(π0cπ£0)
0 1.00 1.00 0.0 4.0 6.0 0.0 0.0
1 0.40 0.631 97.1 3.6 5.8 0.62 10 %
2 0.30 0.622 318. 2.5 3.8 1.0 17 %
3 0.20 0.616 1646. 1.1 1.7 1.1 18 %
π0π = 1.50 Γ 106 kg mβ2 sβ1 π£0 = 4.0 m/s
4 0.00 0.0 0.0 0.64 11 %
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Appendix
(The following table and graph are for reference only, not part of the task.)
For π£0 = 4.0 m/s, π = 1.5 Γ 103 m/s, and π = 1.0 Γ 103 kg/m3, the results
for π£π and Ξππ are shown in the following table and graph. They are computed
according to equations given in task (f). Note that for a sudden full closure of the
valve, we have Ξπsudden = πcπ£0 = 6.0 MPa.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
0.5
1
1.5
0 1 2 3 4 5
Pn /MPa
valve closing step n
Excess pressures at valve
Excess Pressures and particle velocities at the valve for slow closing
π ππ/π πΆπ ππ π£π/(m/s) πππ£π/MPa βππ/(MPa) βππ/(πcπ£0)
0 1.00 1.00 0.0 4.0 6.0 0.0 0.0
1 0.40 0.631 97.1 3.58 5.37 0.624 10 %
2 0.30 0.622 318. 2.50 3.75 0.997 17 %
3 0.20 0.616 1646. 1.13 1.695 1.06 18 %
4 0.00 0.0 0.0 0.643 11 %