Piping Systems Library (1D-CFD)
There are numerous aspects that influence the design and subsequently the safe operation of hydraulic piping systems. Many of them can be covered with simple design rules that use data tables or quasi-static calculations.
When it comes to dynamic load cases, numerical simulation comes into play. In this situation, engineers often only consider 3D CFD simulation, which requires large numerical models and is therefore time-consuming for large complex systems.
The 1D simulation of piping systems offers an alternative approach. Due to the reduced numerical complexity, 1D piping system simulation is able to analyze transient changes in the operating condition of the hydraulic pipeline in only one simulation run.
Which piping systems are meant?
- In production or construction machinery, hydraulic pipes supply fluid to the machine so that it can start up and continue working.
- In the oil and gas and other process industries, the pipes are responsible for distributing the fluid throughout the plant.
- In water distribution systems or oil and gas pipelines, the pipe network even extends over long distances.
- Other applications include heating and fire suppression systems in large buildings or product distribution systems such as in breweries or dairies.
- On a much smaller scale, but still with high requirements, hydraulic pipings are found in modern passenger cars or commercial vehicles.
All these piping systems have in common that the medium to be transported is under pressure. This means that the simplest flaw can lead to problems during operation. Especially for large, multi-branched pipe networks, the interaction of the components and the pipe network must be analyzed and understood before the actual commissioning of the system takes place. To ensure safe and reliable operation, the piping systems must therefore be included in the overall system planning right from the start.
Library Features
The governing model equations that must be solved numerically vary depending on the selected model options:
- Default model – Standard hydraulic/pneumatic circuit analysis. These equations are always solved.
- Suitable for gases and liquids – Parameterization takes place via pressure and temperature-dependent substance data
- Viscoelastic hose – Frequency-dependent damping characteristics of hoses and plastic pipes are considered
- Thermal hydraulics – Consideration of heat transfer and dissipative heating
- Support force calculation - calculation of support forces at pipe bends and constrictions
- Fluid-structure interaction – Consideration of pipe wall dynamics (bending, torsion, longitudinal)
- Vapor Cavitation – Pressures below local vapor pressure lead to formation of vapor cavities
- Gas Cavitation – Consideration of the fact that the liquid has the pressure-dependent capability to dissolve gas
- Gas transport – Fractions of undissolved gas travel with the fluid
