Author(s): H. Prashanth Reddy; M. Hanif Chaudhry; Pranab K. Mohapatra

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Laplace domain; method of characteristics; periodic flow; time domain; transfer function method; transient flow

Abstract: The transfer function method is presented to model periodic flows in water pipelines. Laplace transforms are used to transform the governing equations for transient flows and then converted into the time domain by applying the convolution theorem. The accuracy and computational efficiency of the proposed method are evaluated by comparing the computed results with those obtained by the method of characteristics for series piping systems with different pipe diameters, lengths and wave speeds and also changing the amplitude and frequencies of the periodic oscillation. One branching piping system is also considered. The effect of the variation of computational time intervals is investigated by analysing a series piping system. The present results compare satisfactorily with those obtained by the method of characteristics for periodic flows. The proposed method may be used for online applications, such as for operation and control, state estimation and for leak or blockage detection in water pipelines.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221681003704020

Year: 2010