Hydraulic transients in pipelines due to various valve closure schemes

Abstract

In this study, the hydraulic transient in a pipeline model was considered by utilizing the method of characteristics. The pipeline conveys water from the upstream reservoir to the downstream one, while a valve was set at the downstream end of it. The effect of sudden, linear and stepwise valve closure schemes were analysed by employing a stainless-steel pipe and a ductile pipe. Sudden valve closure was noted to generate higher-pressure transients than linear and stepwise schemes. As the closure time period increases, the value of the maximum pressure transient decreases, in both linear and stepwise arrangements. The transient pressure was perceived to be higher in stainless-steel pipe than in ductile one, in three closure schemes. The simulations were performed by a purpose-developed MATLAB code.