MATHEMATICAL SIMULATION FOR TRANSIENT FLOW IN PIPES UNDER POTENTIAL WATER HAMMER

Abstract

To protect the physical integrity of a pipeline system, there may be a need to install surge control devices, such as surge relief valves, surge tanks, or air-vacuum valves, at various points in the system. The main purpose of this study is to simulate the transient flow in pipes with water hammer using a mathematical modeling. By taking Omar Almokhtar Reservoir and Omar Almokhtar Grand Reservoir hydraulic system as a case study, where this system located at 35 Km south of Benghazi city. The analysis of simulation of this study is based on a characteristics method assisted by well known software called WANDA which was developed by Delft Hydraulics / Netherlands. Maximum and minimum pressures generated by the different scenarios implemented in this  study confirm that the installed air vessels capacity of 1500 m³ are sufficient to control  all pressure values within the bar rating of the installed  pipes. It is also found that  the pipe  section just upstream of OMG reservoir air valve(s) with adequate capacity is (are) needed at this section of the pipeline. Air vessels with capacity 1000 m³ are not enough to damps the pressures that occur during transient duration.