Improving the Flow Pattern in Pipes by Using Elbows as Flow Straighteners

La Rondelle, Sophie (2023) Improving the Flow Pattern in Pipes by Using Elbows as Flow Straighteners. Bachelor's Thesis, Chemical Engineering.

Preview	Text BScThesisS4520394.pdf Download (9MB) | Preview
	Text toestemming.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (159kB)

Abstract

In this paper, four different flow straighteners inside the elbow part of a pipe were designed. The behaviour of a turbulent water flow through these flow straighteners in three different piping systems was simulated. The aim was to improve the flow pattern after an elbow by modifying the structure of the elbow. This paper documents the plots of the velocity streamlines, pressure distribution and vorticity field for the simulations that have been made to predict the behaviour of the flow. The research was performed by developing Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics while employing the $\kappa$-$\varepsilon$ model as the RANS turbulence model to analyse the turbulent flow. The mesh and geometry of the models were also created in COMSOL. The study focuses on the vorticity development and pressure distribution of the fluid through the systems. One of the main findings was that Disturbance Plate A, which contained a pipe in the center of the elbow with a diameter of 0.5$\cdot$D and ten smaller pipes with diameter of 0.2$\cdot$D around it, showed the best results in reducing the vortex formation in a short straight pipe run after the elbow. Furthermore, after analysing the experimental results for the pressure drop, the relation between the pressure drop and the surface area was found to be exponential. Finally, some recommendations were made to improve the accuracy of the results in the experiments.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Druetta, P.D.
Degree programme:	Chemical Engineering
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	21 Jun 2023 10:02
Last Modified:	21 Jun 2023 10:02
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/30056

Actions (login required)

View Item