Objective:
Pipelines are an important investment in the infrastructure, building, and construction industry. Simulation-based designs are taking a prominent role in the design, installation, and final delivery of pipeline projects. Key design inputs are provided by Hydraulic Analysis, Surge Analysis, and Pipe Stress Analysis which ensure that pipelines that are designed and installed, can withstand loads coming from surge pressures, temperature, seismic events, and soil movements in the case of underground piping.
The objective of the study is to ensure that the pressures in the Chilled Water piping network are within the acceptable criteria for most severe case surge scenarios. The acceptable criteria for the study are as below:
Maximum Pressure: The maximum pressure in the pipeline at any time and at any point in the network shall always be less than the rated pressure of the pipeline.
2. Minimum Pressure:
Discharge Side: The pressure inside the entire pipeline on the discharge side of the pump house shall not become negative at any point in time during any transient event. Thus the pressure on the discharge side should always be above 0 Bar.
Suction Side: At the suction side of the pump, cavitations shall not happen otherwise it will harm the pump and pipeline.
Some of the common cases of Surge analysis are Pump Shutdown & Pump Start-up events.
Modeling & Analysis: The components are appropriately modeled accounting for their loss coefficient and elevation. Pump data, pipe properties along with boundary conditions such as pressure drop, and various other components like fittings, valves, bends, elbows, tees, inlets, expansion, and contraction are modeled as junctions with elevation and pipes.
The piping network is analyzed for Surge pressure using the software Bentley Hammer.
Outputs: The Graphs during Pump Shutdown & Pump Start-up showing;
· Pressure contours
· Hydraulic grade and Air/Vapor volume near to pump discharge/suction side
