Modern vision for critical flow in an egg-shaped section (Part II)

Water Sci Technol. 2022 Sep;86(5):1207-1221. doi: 10.2166/wst.2022.259.

Abstract

The main aim of this research was to examine the simultaneous effects of all flow parameters on the critical regime occurrence frequency in an egg-shaped conduit. Furthermore, one may first study the impacts of the conduit's generator diameter, then the influence of the generator diameter/longitudinal slope, and finally the effect of all parameters: the generator diameter, longitudinal slope, roughness and viscosity. It has been concluded that all these parameters, combined, have limit values that can generate a single critical state from which a diagram can be drawn showing different states of the critical flow that can be observed. Notably, this diagram is established according to the following practical ranges: relative roughness 0 ≤ ε/D ≤ 5.10-2, generator diameter 0.25 m ≤ D ≤ 4 m and Galileo number 2.105 ≤ √Ga ≤ 4.107. This revealed that the critical regime can develop smooth, rough and transition domains. Critical flow is very unstable; therefore, it is to be avoided in practice, which means that the dimensions and the slope of the conduit must be such that they do not cause such a state of flow. This explains why knowledge of the characteristics of the critical flow, including the frequency of its occurrence for a given installation, is essential.

MeSH terms

  • Viscosity
  • Water Movements*