AWWA JAW70292

Water column separation, the rupture of watercolumns in pressurized pipelines, can be triggeredby low- or negative-pressure transients when thepressure falls to vapor pressure, causing the water tovaporize and effectively dividing the water column.This phenomenon must be avoided because it reduces system performance, generates annoying vibrationsand noise, and severely damages equipment.In this article, a Lagrangian method that implementsthe numerical discrete vapor cavity model isproposed for simulating transient water columnseparation. This robust and straightforward modelgreatly improves the reliability of Lagrangian-basednetwork transient analysis models and producesresults identical to those obtained from an Eulerian-based implementation approach.Using the proposed model, utilities will be betterable to identify regions in the distribution systemthat are susceptible to low- or negative-pressuresurges and devise effective strategies tocontrol transients. Installation of properlydesigned surge-protection devices can help preventwater column separation and avoid potentialpathogen intrusion. Includes 27 references, table, figures.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. 101 - No. 6

Published:

06/01/2009

Number of Pages:

10

File Size:

1 file , 760 KB