The hydraulic transportation of piped capsules is a new and energy-saving transportation mode, which is especially suitable for the long-distance and high-stability requirements of material ...transportation. In this paper, the COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to construct a mathematical model of the dynamic characteristics of a piped capsule moving in a straight pipeline, in which the boundary conditions were redeveloped, the inlet velocity distribution function was defined, and the physical experiment was carried out for verification. The dynamic characteristics were analyzed, and through the calculation of the energy consumption, the optimal piped capsule under the research conditions was obtained. The results show that the simulation results and experimental results for the piped capsule’s average moving velocity, axial velocity, and wall shear stress along the cylinder wall were basically consistent, with a maximum error of 14.22%, 2.62%, and 20.13%, respectively. With a decrease in the diameter-to-length ratio of the piped capsule, the axial velocity of the concentric annular gap flow decreased gradually. The area with a large shear stress was mainly concentrated at the front and rear ends of the cylinder wall, especially the rear area of the support feet of the piped capsule. With the increase in the diameter of the piped capsule, the wall shear stress of the capsule increased. Finally, the superior diameter-to-length ratio for the piped capsule under the research conditions was obtained and shown to be ε = 0.4. The research in this paper will provide a theoretical reference for the structural design and dynamic mechanism analysis of the piped capsule.
The boundary layer is the main source of frictional resistance in gap flow, and the study of the flow structure characteristics of the gap flow boundary layer is of great significance for the study ...of gap flow theory. In this study, the PIV technique was utilized to experimentally investigate the gap flow boundary layers with Reynolds numbers of 16,587–56,870 and gap ratios of 0.6–0.8. The characteristics of the wall friction velocity, the boundary layer thickness, and the wall function of the gap flow boundary layer were analyzed, and the influences of the mean velocity of the gap flow and the gap ratio on the flow structure characteristics of the boundary layer were explored. The results show that using PIV to measure the velocity profile in the viscous sub-layer to solve for the wall friction velocity had good precision. The boundary layer thickness was inversely proportional to the mean velocity of the gap flow and the gap ratio. The wall functions of the boundary layer were as follows: in the viscous sub-layer (y+< 5.5), u+=y+; in the transition layer (5.5 <y+< 26), u+=10.071tanh0.071y+; and in the logarithmic layer (y+> 26), u+=2.78lny++3.8. The thickness of the logarithmic layer was proportional to the mean velocity of the gap flow and inversely proportional to the gap ratio. The inner region of the boundary layer extended to y< 0.18δ or y< 0.13(h/2).
To make more efficient use of limited space, improve the energy dissipation effect of the step dissipator, and mitigate the effect of cavitation, we propose a segmented pier-type step dissipator ...structure and used a numerical simulation to study the hydraulic effects of two different arrangements of piers: a double-row arrangement and a staggered arrangement. We’ve drawn the following conclusions from our study: the segmented pier-type structure produces a large water jump at the location of the energy dissipation pier. This involves a large amount of air, promotes air-doping of the water flow in the whole section, and reduces the length of the non-air-doping zone. The staggered pier arrangement produces a better air-doping effect at the water jump and a higher air-doping concentration along the water course. The staggered arrangement also produces a better cavitation mitigation effect and is better able to stabilise the water flow; the flow velocity at the outlet is lower, so the energy dissipation effect is better. A larger positive pressure area forms at the headwater and upstream areas of the energy dissipation pier; a larger negative pressure forms at the top and backwater of the energy areas. The staggered arrangement produces a larger negative pressure; however, under various flow conditions, the difference in the energy dissipation rate between the two forms of pier arrangements is not significant. We obtained a peak energy dissipation rate of 90.04%, which represents an improved energy dissipation effect compared with the control. The step energy dissipator described here is conducive to stabilising the outlet flow, reducing cavitation damage, and improving energy dissipation. These findings provide a valuable reference for the future design of sectional pier-type step energy dissipator structures.
In order to improve the effective utilization of agricultural irrigation water and to reasonably allocate water resources in irrigation areas, it is necessary to use open channel flow measurement ...devices that are accurate and easy to carry. In this study, a spring-plate flow measurement device with different plate widths was designed. Through a combination of theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, the measurement characteristics of the device in specific channels under conditions of 20–105 m3/h flow were studied, the relationship between the flow rate and the force acting on the plate surface was fitted, and the hydraulic characteristics of water flow during its use, such as pressure, velocity distribution, and head loss, were analyzed. The results show that in the process of using the spring-plate flow measurement device, the force on the plate surface increases with the increase in the flow rate, and the force on the plate surface is related to the flow rate in the channel by a power of 5/6. The width of the measurement plate impacts the accuracy of flow measurement, and the smaller the plate width, the larger the error in flow measurement. The distribution of pressure on the measurement plate is similar to that of static pressure, and the pressure increases with the increase in the width of the measurement plate. The upstream flow velocity of the device is small, and the water level increases due to obstruction of the measurement plate. When it connects to the downstream water surface, the water level rapidly decreases, and the flow velocity increases. In using the spring-plate flow measurement device to measure flow, head loss will be produced, and the magnitude of this loss increases with the increase in the width of the measurement plate. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the application of spring plate flow-measuring devices in irrigation areas.
With the continuous operation of check dams, the silting elevation of the whole dam gradually increases. When the silting height is close to the elevation of the broad-crested weir, it will result in ...a large change in the hydraulic characteristics of the original flow pattern. For subsequent reinforcement work, it is necessary to know how excessive sediment deposition affects the overflow from the broad-crested weir into the spillway. However, few studies about discharge coefficients are available in the case of spillways with sediment. In this paper, the hydraulic characteristics and discharge coefficient of a broad-crested weir whose width is 270 mm are investigated with physical experiments under different siltation heights and discharges. The research shows that: (1) With the increase in siltation height, the water level on the weir decreases and the drop of the flow becomes smaller. The overall flow pattern tends to the open-channel flow pattern. (2) In the same siltation height condition, the water surface profile along the broad-crested weir rises with the increase in discharge, and the surface velocity of the water in front of the weir increases with the increase in discharge. However, in the same discharge condition, the water surface profile along the broad-crested weir decreases with the increase in siltation height, and the surface velocity of the water in front of the weir gradually increases, which reflects that the increase in siltation height improves the overflow capacity of the broad-crested weir. (3) The present empirical formulas for the discharge coefficient have large errors when there is sediment accumulation. Therefore, a new formula for the discharge coefficient with sediment deposition is obtained using experimental data and its maximum relative error is 4.02%, which can provide a theoretical basis for risk elimination and reinforcement work on check dams in the Loess Plateau.
To investigate the influence of the guide vane height on the cyclonic flow characteristics of guide vane cyclones, this paper mainly adopts a combination of numerical simulation and physical ...experiments, taking the guide vane height as the research object, analysing the internal spiral flow generation law through the flow velocity distribution in each section of the cyclone and the change trend along the course and comparing the tangential velocity, radial velocity and axial velocity characteristics of the cyclone at different guide vane heights. The results show that the tangential velocity increases with the increase in the guide vane height on the cyclone and then decreases. When the ratio between the height of the guide vane and the inner radius of the cyclone is in the range of 0.5–0.7, a higher−strength and more stable spiral flow can be produced, and the tangential velocity reaches the maximum when the guide vane height is 30 mm and the height−to−diameter ratio is around 0.6. As the height of the guide vane increases, the radial velocity area towards the wall of the tube increases, while the radial velocity area towards the tube axis decreases. The overall distribution of axial flow velocity is similar to that of turbulent flow in a circular tube, and the velocity increases with increasing height of the guide vane. The conclusion of this paper provides a theoretical basis for further optimisation of the cyclone structure parameters.
Hydraulic pipeline transportation of a piped vehicle is a new mode of transportation with energy-saving potential and environmental protection. In order to analyze the turbulent characteristics of ...the flow around the piped vehicle, a large eddy simulation (LES) method was adopted to simulate the hydraulic characteristics and vortex characteristics of the flow at a Reynolds number of Re = 140,467 with diameter-to-length ratios of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.7. The results showed that the main factor that affected the gap flow velocity, the backflow area length, and the turbulence intensity was the cylinder diameter in the diameter-to-length ratio of the piped vehicle. The backflow area lengths for piped vehicles with different diameter-to-length ratios were all less than 1 D, and the axial disturbance distances were about 7.5 D. In addition, a variety of vortex structures existed in the gap flow and the rear flow areas. At the beginning of vortex development, ring vortices were generated at the front and rear ends of the cylinder body. Subsequently, the front ring vortex fell off along the cylinder body and evolved into hairpin vortices. At the same time, a reflux vortex was formed after the rear ring vortex broke away from the cylinder body, and wake vortices were generated behind the rear supports. Finally, some worm vortices were dispersed from the wake vortices. These results can further improve the theoretical system for the hydraulic pipeline transportation of piped vehicles and can provide a theoretical basis for industrial application.
It is of great significance to explore the flow velocity characteristics of piped cars when they are started under different loads. In this paper, the flow velocity characteristics of the water flow ...around a piped car when it is started in the straight pipe section are studied through physical experiments. The masses of the piped cars are 1.5 kg, 1.9 kg, and 2.3 kg, respectively. The results show that, with the increase in the load of the pipeline car, the axial flow velocity in the front section increases, the absolute values of radial flow velocity and circumferential flow velocity increase, and the gradient of flow velocity increases. The positive radial flow velocity and negative circumferential flow velocity regions increase, and the distribution of positive and negative radial flow velocities and circumferential flow velocities is obvious. The gradients of axial, radial, and circumferential flow velocities in the annular section all increase, and the contour spacing becomes smaller and more densely distributed. The absolute values of the radial and circumferential flow velocities increase. The regional demarcation of axial flow velocity in the rear section is more obvious, and the average value of axial flow velocity in the high-flow-velocity area behind the vehicle increases. Additionally, the gradient of flow velocity increases. The absolute values of radial velocity and circumferential velocity increase, the gradient of velocity increases, and the velocity distribution is obviously regional. This study supplements and improves the theoretical study of a piped car when it is started and has certain reference value for the research and application of the hydraulic transport technology of the barrel-loading pipeline.
The step-type energy dissipator is widely used to construct small- and medium-sized reservoirs with its high energy dissipation rate. In order to further improve its air entrainment characteristics ...and energy dissipation, and reduce the influence of cavitation, in this paper, we added a trapezoidal energy dissipation baffle block at the convex corner of the traditional step to form a trapezoidal energy dissipation baffle block-step combination energy dissipator. We used a combination of hydraulic model experiments and numerical simulation to study the hydraulic characteristics. The results showed that the trapezoidal energy dissipation baffle block-step combination energy dissipator initial entrainment point, with the increase in flow rate, gradually moved backward. A step horizontal surface pressure change in the cavity recirculation area showed a prominent “V” shape; in front of the trapezoidal energy dissipation baffle block, there was a rising trend, and in the energy dissipation baffle block gap, there was a declining trend. The step vertical surface pressure showed a decreasing trend, and negative pressure appeared near the convex angle. The cross-section velocity distribution presented a trend of being small at the bottom and large at the surface, with a large velocity gradient in the longitudinal section of the energy dissipation baffle block and a small velocity gradient in the longitudinal section of the nonenergy dissipation baffle block. The energy dissipation rate reached more than 70% within the test range, and the energy dissipation rate gradually decreased with the increase in the flow rate. The combined energy dissipator is conducive to reducing the cavitation hazard and improving the energy dissipation effect, providing a reference for engineering design and existing step energy dissipators to remove risks and reinforcement.
Hydrodynamic forces influence the efficiency and safety of pipeline transport in ocean engineering. A capsule pipeline is an example of pipeline transportation. In this work, a dynamic model is ...proposed to explain the oscillating motion of a capsule in a hydraulic capsule pipeline (HCP). The main study was conducted using a modal analysis of hydrodynamic forces acting on a capsule, which could be divided into frictional drag and pressure drag forces. The results indicated the presence of independent modes with different contributions to the hydrodynamic forces. Ultimately, the first to fiftieth modes represented 94~97.3% of the hydrodynamic force contributions. These modes had their own frequency ranges and power spectrum density (PSD) functions, and the frictional drag and pressure drag were both found to coincide with the narrow-band characteristics of the lower-order modes. However, the PSD functions of the frictional drag were found to fulfill the wide-band characteristics corresponding to the higher-order modes. Then, coherent structures were extracted. As the mode order increased, the vortices became more fragile and the frequency became higher. This phenomenon coincided with an increase in the frequency of the time coefficient peak, which became larger. This work could provide new perspectives on the hydrodynamic forces of pipeline transport, especially its dynamic analysis of the interaction between a rigid capsule and fluid flow.