Analitic and experimental study of the transitory phenomena generated by entrapped air pockets in the hydraulic systems

Author(s)

Carlos Augusto de Carvalho Magalhães

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2001-07-20

Examining board members

Hans George Arens; Fazal Hussain Chaudhry; Evaldo Miranda Coiado; Rodrigo de Melo Porto; Podalyro Amaral de Souza

• Advisor: Hans George Arens

Abstract

One of the reasons for the transient behavior is the presence of air confined during these alterations. When the pipes are not properly designed or if it is not completely full or air bleeding, large amounts of air may be confined in the system. Pockets of air can cause severe transient behavior if such pockets deslocate from one place to the other giving rise to local acceleration and consequently large velocities and pressures. The higher pressure may be of the order of 2,2 times the static pressure in the system, as it was confirmed by the experimental procedure. Thus, this paper considers pratical and safe procedure (rigid or elastic models) that permit calculation of transient pressures given that there is no analytical solution available. On the present study, it was presented a dimensionless form of the elastic model, with the incorporation of two aditional independent numbers (&#960 6 and &#960 7). Besides the easiness of programation, the rigid model of variable fluid column is viable without prejudice to the expected results. This study also conducts a sensitivity analysis on the various factors involved in the problem. (AU)