Transient Hydraulic Analysis for CAESAR II Evaluation

What is Waterhammer?

Waterhammer is
sometimes called Hydraulic Transients a transient phenomenon that occurs in a liquid piping system when some event causes a departure from steady state

A similar phenomenon happens in vapor lines Usually the lower density means it is of lesser importance

the process the piping system experiences as it adjusts to the new conditions a single or series of coupled pressure/velocity waves that travel at close to the speed of sound through the piping system

Waterhammer Causes

Waterhammer can be caused by many events including

Valve closure or opening (in full or in part) Pump speed change

Trip or startup

Relief valve cracking open Rapid tank pressurization Periodic pressure or flow conditions

Waterhammer and Force Imbalances

Waterhammer causes transient force imbalances in piping systems

This is a result of fast moving pressure waves which can create temporary force imbalances Elbow pairs are especially susceptible to force imbalances due to the change in flow direction

Structural supports need to be able to handle these forces

Waterhammer Video

Waterhammer Software
Waterhammer is a sufficiently complicated process such that modeling software is usually required AFT Impulse is a leading waterhammer software

AFT Impulse has been commercially available since 1996 It has been used to model thousands of piping system transients

Waterhammer Software (2)

Typically the issue of primary interest to the engineering analyst is understanding transient pressure extremes

This allows selection of pipe strength and design for equipment protection and general safety

Calculating Force Imbalances

Waterhammer software like AFT Impulse calculates transient pressures and flows This information can be used to predict transient force imbalances

Traditional Force Calculation

Traditional force calculation uses only pressure differences in the force imbalance

With hydropressure effects on pressure subtracted

Traditional Force Calculation (2)

This works best when flow fully stops quickly, with no in-line components dP = c V

Where c is wavespeed also known as celerity

Often this is referred to as a which is synonymous

Traditional Force Calculation (3)

Complexities of real systems quickly render hand-calculations useless.

How do pressures upstream & downstream of inline components change and add or subtract? What if a valve only partially closes? What about other forms of energy transmission?

Friction losses Momentum changes Area changes

Traditional Force Calculation (4)

Complexities of real systems quickly render hand-calculations useless.

Traditional Force Calculation: Example

Consider the 1080 ft (330 m) system below where the valve at J5 closes 90% over 2 seconds

Traditional Force Calculation: Results

For the initial and final steady-state conditions the force imbalance should be zero

Ignoring friction leads to non-zero steady-state results

Including Friction

Including all forces including fitting pressure losses, friction & momentum improves force calculations
Friction & pressure loss forces

Other forces + PAA + PBA = 0

Force = PB x A Momentum = mBVX,B

Force = PA x A Momentum = mAVX,A

A = D2/4

Ffriction + PAA + PBA =

mAVX,A - mBVX,B

Including Friction and Momentum: Results

Steady-state forces initially and finally are zero

Comparing Methods

Max (k-lbf/kN) Traditional Friction and momentum included 13.5 (60.2) 0.2 (1.0)

Min (k-lbf/kN) 1.3 (5.7) -9.6 (-42.8)

Comparing Methods at First Elbow Pair

Max (k-lbf/kN) Traditional Friction and momentum included 2.7 (11.9) 0.1 (0.3)

Min (k-lbf/kN) 0.5 (2.4) -1.1 (-4.8)

Traditional Method Weaknesses

The use of traditional force imbalance calculation methods can be highly inaccurate

Dont know actual load magnitudes

Directionality of max loads can also be incorrect

Dont know timing of the loads Ignores some loads

Limitations

Transient force imbalances are sensitive to the difference in pressures at a given time

This means it is sensitive to the speed of the pressure wave (wavespeed or celerity)

When waterhammer pressures drop to vapor pressure then transient vaporization can occur

This changes the wavespeed

This is difficult to model using modern methods and hence force generation under cavitating conditions is not reliable

AFT Impulse and CAESAR II

AFT Impulse can output force imbalance data for direct import into CAESAR II AFT Impulse does not have 3-D coordinates and user must match up AFT Impulse forces with CAESAR II model

AFT Impulse and CAESAR II (2)

3 Ways to Analyze this with CAESAR II

Static Equivalent Time-History Analysis Spectral Analysis (CAESAR II AFT Impulse method assumes this)

AFT Impulse Import

Tools > External Interfaces > AFT Impulse

AFT Impulse Import (2)

Tools > External Interfaces > AFT Impulse

AFT Impulse Import (3)

Tools > External Interfaces > AFT Impulse

AFT Impulse Import (4)

Tools > External Interfaces > AFT Impulse

AFT Impulse Import (5)

Open Dynamic Input, Input is almost complete

AFT Impulse Import (6)

Force Sets

AFT Impulse Import (7)

Spectrum Load Cases

AFT Impulse Import (8)

Static/Dynamic Combinations for Stress

AFT Impulse Import (9)

Review/Set Control Parameters & Run

3 Ways to Analyze this with CAESAR II Heres how

Static Equivalent Time-History Analysis Spectral Analysis (CAESAR II AFT Impulse method assumes this)

Conclusions
It is important to model waterhammer events for proper system design and operation AFT Impulse can generate transient forces which can be easily imported into CAESAR II Traditional force estimation techniques which rely on pressure differences can be highly inaccurate Force imbalances in systems with transient cavitation cannot be reliably predicted because wavespeeds change