University of Southern Queensland Faculty of Engineering and Surveying Analysis of Hydraulic Transients in Pipeline Networks A dissertation submitted by Gert Johannes In fulfillment of the requirements of Courses ENG4111 and 4112 Research Project Towards the degree of Bachelor of Engineering Submitted: November, 2007Abstract For most piping systems the maximum and minimum operating pressures occur during transient operations. ‘Transient operations may result in column separation which refers to the breaking of liquid columns in fully filled pipelines, This may occur in a water hammer event when the pressure in a pipeline drops to the vapour pressure at specific locations such as closed ends, high points or knees (changes in pipe slope). The liquid columns are separated by a vapour cavity that grows and diminishes according to the dynamics of the system. The collision of two liquid columns, or of one liguid column with a closed end, may cause a large and nearly instantaneous rise in pressure. This pressure rise travels through the entire pipeline and forms a severe load on hydraulic machinery, individual pipes and supporting structures. The situation is even worse due to the fact that one water hammer event may cause many repetitions of eavity formation and subsequent cavity collapse. ‘The magnitude of this pressure amplitude may result in hhigh fatigue loading on the pipe and cause the pipe to fail over time due to fa Itis therefore essential for a good design to perform a transient analysis for normal start- up and shutdown and for unplanned events such as @ pump trip associated with a power outage. ‘The analysis of hydraulic transients has historically been a difficult and time consuming undertaking. It developed through various stages from the early 1900's from a graphical method to today’s fully interactive computer based software that can ‘model the transients in real time, This paper revi ws water hammer with column separation from the development of mathematical models of the phenomenon in the early 20th century to the current modem software such as the Method of numerical solutions techniques used Characteristics and Wave Characteristic Methods. A list and discussion on a wide This range of transient mitigation methods and strategies are presented and reviewed. list ranges from direct actions and devices such as surge anticipating control valves to indirect and passive mitigating techniques such sequencing of pump start ups. The paper aims to present a structured procedure whereby a pipeline can be analysed and married with an appropriate transient mitigating strategy. Two projects are discussed in which a transient analysis using modem software was conducted toUniversity of Southern Queensland Faculty of Engineering and Surveying ENG4II1 Research Project Part 1 & ENG4I12 Research Project Part 2 Limitations of Use The Council of the University of Southern Queensland, its Faculty of Engineering and Surveying, and the staff of the University of Southern Queensland, does not accept any responsibility for the truth, accuracy or completeness of material contained within or associated with this dissertation, Persons using all or any part of this material do so at their own risk, and not at the risk of the Council of the Uni ersity of Southern Queensland, its Faculty of Engineering and Surveying or the staff of the University of Southern Queensland. This dissertation reports an educational exercise and has no purpose or validity beyond this exercise. The sole purpose of the course "Project and Dissertation” is to contribute to the overall education within the student's chosen degree programme. This document, the associated hardware, software, drawings, and other material set out in the associated appendices should not be used for any other purpose: if they’ are so used, itis entirely at the risk of the user. Prof Rod Smith Dean Faculty of Engineering and Surveying