Water Hammer Simulation Using Experimental and CFD Numerical Models

Water hammer is one of the destructive hydraulic phenomena that occurs in the form of pressure waves in the Pressurized fluid flow systems such as pumping stations، water and oil pipe lines، and hydro-electric installations. Due to importance of water hammer and its destructive effect on pipeline networks، this phenomenon was studied in this investigation by using experimental and numerical models considering two different cases، with and without surge pipe. Data collected for different discharges in arbitrary time intervals were compared with results of CFD numerical model. After determining the optimum network and proper turbulence model the effect of unexpected stopping of water valve on fluid motion and reaction between water and structure was simulated using Fluent software. After testing k-ε and RSM turbulence models، the k-ε Realizable model found to be the best model. Finally، the results of the numerical model were compared with those of experimental model using the statistical analysis، R2، RMSE and RE. The results showed a good agreement between CFD numerical model and experimental model. So CFD model can be used as a suitable numerical model for computing maximum and minimum pressure.