A numerical Study of Bifurcation- A case Study of Phukot Karnali HEP

Method:

1. Creation of geometry as data provided.

2. Mesh Independent test to find out best cell size on the basis of head loss.
3. Changing of branching angle in both directions forward and backward at the interval of 5 degrees
to find out best angle.
4. Changing of cone angle to find out best angle.
5. Insertion of sickle plate.
6. Combine the best branching angle, best cone angle and sickle plate.
7. Run Simulation and examine the results.

Geometry:

Section 4-4
Section 1-1

Figure 1 : Geometry of Manifold

Geometry is created using spaceclaim with the branching angle 45 degree.

Mesh Independent Test:

Table 1: Mesh Independent Test

Mesh Independent Test

Element Size Section Pressure (Pascal Velocity (m/s) Head Loss(m)
Section 1-1 1639850.00 5.29577 -
341800
Section 3-3 1634830.00 5.40702 0.45

Section 1-1 1639980.00 5.28388 -

467887
Section 3-3 1635310.00 5.38516 0.42

Section 1-1 1640110.00 5.27442 -

736386
Section 3-3 1635830.00 5.34898 0.40

Section 1-1 1640180.00 5.26459 -

1198507
Section 3-3 1636110.00 5.33278 0.38

Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26305

1627760
Section 3-3 1636230.00 5.32584 0.37

Section 1-1 1640240.00 5.26154 -

2319488
Section 3-3 1636310.00 5.32092 0.37
 Figure 2: Head loss and Element Size

From this test best cell size is obtained as 350 mm.

Change of Branching angle:

Table 2: Branching angle and Head loss

Branching angle Sections Pressure (Pascal Velocity (m/s) Head Loss(m)

Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26362 -
Section 2-2 1638670.00 5.30609 0.13
30 degree
Section 3-3 1638340.00 5.30079 0.17
Section 4-4 1639170.00 5.29505 0.09

Section 1-1 1640220.00 5.26341 -

Section 2-2 1637290.00 5.31746 0.27
35 degree
Section 3-3 1637470.00 5.31081 0.26
Section 4-4 1639180.00 5.29371 0.09

Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26308 -

Section 2-2 1636320.00 5.33473 0.36
40 degree
Section 3-3 1636870.00 5.31966 0.31
Section 4-4 1639190.00 5.29648 0.09

Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26305 -

Section 2-2 1635560.00 5.34971 0.43
45 degree
Section 3-3 1636230.00 5.32584 0.37
Section 4-4 1639180.00 5.29513 0.09

Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26315 -

Section 2-2 1634710.00 5.36905 0.50
50 degree
Section 3-3 1635580.00 5.33565 0.43
Section 4-4 1639160.00 5.29691 0.09

Section 1-1 1640210 5.26312

Section 2-2 1633930 5.39878 0.57
55 degree
Section 3-3 1634870 5.34467 0.50
Section 4-4 1639140 5.29791 0.09

Section 1-1 1640210 5.26423

Section 2-2 1633060 5.43678 0.64
60 degree
Section 3-3 1634140 5.34879 0.57
Section 4-4 1639140 5.29782 0.09
 Figure 3: Branching angle and Head loss

From the analysis, with the decrement of branching angle, head loss is also decreased but no effect on
outlet 3. Head loss in outlet 2 is greater than outlet 1 in only for 30 degree.
Cone Angle:

Cone Length (mm) Cone angle (Degree) Section Pressure (Pascal) Velocity (m/s) Head Loss(m)
Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26309 -
8.69 Section 2-2 1638970.00 5.31426 0.10
9000
4.92 Section 3-3 1638630.00 5.30035 0.14
4.92 Section 4-4 1639220.00 5.29506 0.08

Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26362 -

7.83 Section 2-2 1638670.00 5.30609 0.13
10000
4.43 Section 3-3 1638340.00 5.30079 0.17
4.43 Section 4-4 1639170.00 5.29505 0.09

Section 1-1 1640220.00 5.26414 -

7.13 Section 2-2 1638480.00 5.30516 0.16
11000
4.03 Section 3-3 1638020.00 5.30036 0.20
4.03 Section 4-4 1639200.00 5.29549 0.09

Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26347 -

6.54 Section 2-2 1637970.00 5.30429 0.21
12000
3.70 Section 3-3 1637870.00 5.29885 0.22
3.70 Section 4-4 1639120.00 5.29493 0.09
Cone length is reduced up to 9000 mm, below which it isn’t practicable to construct and increased up to
12000mm. For 9000 mm least head loss is found out.

Sickle Plate:

Geometry Sections Pressure (Pascal) Velocity (m/s) Head Loss(m)

Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26 -
30 degree without sickle Section 2-2 1638670.00 5.31 0.13
plate Section 3-3 1638340.00 5.30 0.17
Section 4-4 1639170.00 5.30 0.09
Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26 -
30 degree with sickle Section 2-2 1638460.00 5.31 0.15
plate Section 3-3 1635610.00 5.30 0.45
Section 4-4 1636680.00 5.30 0.34

Head loss is increased when sickle plate is inserted where maximum increment is seen in outlet 3.
Combination of all best options:

Combination Pressure (Pascal Velocity (m/s) Head Loss(m)

Section 1-1 1640210.00 5.26397 -
30 degree baranching
Section 2-2 1638660.00 5.3152 0.13
angle, 9000 mm cone
Section 3-3 1635510.00 5.30282 0.46
length, sickle plate
Section 4-4 1636960.00 5.30144 0.31

Examine Results:

Figure 4: Velocity Streamlines of Whole Manifold

Disturbance can be seen near the junction of pipe. First bifurcation has unsymmetrical cone angle and
second has symmetrical cone angle whose effects can be seen as uneven velocity distribution for first one
but evenly for second one.
 Figure 5: Pressure Distribution at the Whole Manifold

From Bernoulli’s theorem, as velocity decreases pressure increases and vice- versa hence we can compare
velocity stream lines and pressure at the body side by side. High pressure is found to be inlet, at the
branching part of outlet 2 and at the part of second bifurcation.
 Figure 6: Streamlines at the first Bifurcation

Turbulences can be seen due to bifurcation where velocity is higher at the outer part in the main
pipe. A plane is created normal to the bifurcation point to see pressure and velocity contours.

Figure 7: Pressure and Velocity Contours at First Bifurcation

 Figure 8: Streamlines at the second bifurcation

Velocity distribution is not steady due to turbulence caused near bifurcation but pattern is somehow same
in both branches due to the same cone angle. Again, another plane is created at normal to bifurcation
point to see velocity and pressure contours.

Figure 9: Pressure and Velocity Contours at second Bifurcation

Figure 10: Pressure Contours at the wall of first and second bifurcation