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EEEP 2021 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 983 (2022) 012088 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/983/1/012088

Practical analysis of cleaning water supply pipeline using air

and water flushing technology

Wenqi Yuan1, 3, Feng Chen2 and Jie Ding1

1
Shanghai Yun Shui Water Engineering Design Co., Ltd.
2
Shanghai Hongbo Engineering Consulting Management Co., Ltd.
3
E-mail: blueround@163.com

Abstract. To ensure the safety of water quality, pipe network cleaning and security
management are put forward higher requirements. Traditional single-phase water flushing pipe
technology requires high velocity and large flow rate of water, which does not suitable for
large-diameter pipes. Air and water flushing pipes are new pipeline cleaning technology, which
has high efficiency, good washing effect, and can save a lot of water. The principles of air-
water flushing large-diameter, large-deviation-elevation, and many- ups-and-downs pipes are
described in this paper. Based on the two-phase flow theories, it analyzes complex hydraulic
characteristics and control parameters for flushing pipeline. Combine with engineering practice,
air and water flushing diameter of 800 mm pipeline in Shanghai city and flushing pipe
parameters are introduced. The air and water flushing effect and water resource consumption
reduction are analyzed, as well.

1. Introduction
Water supply pipe network likes a huge reactor. With water flowing through the pipe network, clear
water reacts with the pipe wall, resulting in pollution of water quality. To ensure the safety of water
quality, pipe network cleaning and security management are put forward higher requirements. For
traditional engineering applications, single-phase water flushing is used to clean water supply pipes.
The single-phase water flushing pipe technology requires high velocity, which greater than 1m/s in the
pipe, in generally. It asks for large flow rate of water, which waste water resource, especially does not
suitable for large-diameter pipes.
Air and water flushing pipe technology is a new type of flushing technology in recent years [1]. It
has high efficiency, good washing effect, and can save a lot of water. After air is fed into the water
supply pipe, the air-water two-phase flow is formed, and its flow is more complicated than the single-
phase flow. In large diameter and undulating pipes, the flow becomes much more complex. Therefore,
it is more difficult to control the flow cleaning water supply pipeline using air and water flushing
technology. The principles of air-water flushing large-diameter, large-deviation-elevation, and many-
ups-and-downs pipes are described in this paper. Based on the air and water two-phase flow theories,
it analyzes complex hydraulic characteristics and control parameters for flushing pipeline. Combine
with engineering practice, air and water cleaning diameter of 800 mm pipeline in Shanghai city and
flushing pipe parameters are introduced. The flushing effect and water resource consumption
reduction are analyzed, as well.

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution
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Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd 1
EEEP 2021 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 983 (2022) 012088 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/983/1/012088

2. Theory and analysis

2.1. The principle of air-water flushing

As air is fed into the water supply pipe, air and water two-phase flow is formed. Air-water two-phase
flow is a very complex physical processs [2]. According to the analysis of characteristics of air-water
flow in water supply pipeline, there are dispersion flow, intermittent flow and separation flow [3]. Air-
watr two-phase flow patterns are shown in Figure 1.

dispersion flow intermittent separation flow

flow
Figure 1. Air-water two-phase flow patterns.
There are mainly two aspects of physical reasons of air-water flushing pipe:
(1) The cleaning effect of air-water two-phase flow on the inner wall of tube.
When air-water two phase flow in the pipe, the flow patten as intermittent flow, there is a obvious
vibration and water shock. The pressure in the pipe has a great fluctuation, which causes impurities on
the inner wall of the pipe to fall off. When the scattered bubbles flow in the pipeline, the function of
the cleaning tube wall is similar to the filter gas and water back washing [4]. The vibration of the
dispersed bubbles in the pipe can increase the shear force of the tube wall and break the dirt on the
surface of the inner wall of the pipe to reach the washing effect.
(2) Air and water intermittently flow in the pipe causes the fluctuation of velocity and pressure in
the pipe, forming transient flow and cleaning the inner wall of the pipe.
When air is intermittently added into the pipeline, the velocity and pressure fluctuate in the pipe.
The compressibility of air in the pipe increases the fluctuation, causing transient flow, causing
controllable water hammer. The pressure alternately produces air bubble compression and expansion,
which acts on the flow velocity, with further affects the pressure in the tube. The pressure and velocity
are coupled with each other, which aggravate the pressure fluctuation. The increase of pressure
fluctuation enhances the inertia shear stress to pipe inner wall. Thus, the pipeline cleaning is more
thorough. The intermittent regime is an ideal pipeline cleaning flow pattern, which leads to pressure
fluctuations can be seen in Reference [5].

2.2. Flow pattern transitions theory

Flow pattern refer to the phase distribution of the flow. Since the flow pattern of air-water two-phase
flow directly affects the energy loss mechanism and other flow characteristics of the fluid, the
discrimination of flow pattern is the basis of the study of two-phase flow. The discriminant methods of
flow pattern mainly include flow pattern discriminant method and discriminant method based on flow
mechanism analysis. The Taitel flow pattern division method considers the factors of flow pattern
transformation comprehensively and can directly determine the flow pattern according to the
characteristics of pipelines, so it is suitable for a wide range of pipe diameters and physical properties.
Taitel divides the two-phase flow pattern into five flow types: stratified smooth (SS), stratified
wavy (SW), intermittent (I), annular-dispersed liquid (AD), dispersed bubble (DB). The Taitel flow
pattern is shown in Figure 2. The model for predicting flow pattern transitions can be referred to
Reference [6].
The gas-liquid two-phase flow pattern in the water supply pipeline can be controlled by adjusting
the input parameters, so as to control the flushing of the pipeline.

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EEEP 2021 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 983 (2022) 012088 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/983/1/012088

Figure 2. Taitel flow pattern.

2.3. Analysis of hydraulic influence of air and water flushing

Air and water flow is more complicated than the single-phase flow. It is more difficult to control the
flow cleaning water supply pipeline using air and water flushing technology. With the increase of pipe
diameter, the intake of air and water requirements are increased. However, the supply of air and water
in the water supply system is limited. Thus, with the increase of pipe diameter, the flow velocity in the
pipe is reduced, which is unfavorable to flushing effect. In descending pipe section, with the increase
of pipe diameter, separation flow area expands [7]. The decrease of fluid velocity reduces the ability of
air to move downstream.
When fluid flow, the friction coefficient of air and tube wall is less than that of water and tube wall,
so in the horizontal pipe, the presence of air reduces the head loss. In inclined downward pipeline,
under the interaction of flow thrust and buoyancy, air drops slowly or even stays still. Because the
density of air is far less than that of water, the static pressure of air is much smaller than that of water.
The pressure energy recover in downward pipeline can not fully compensate the pressure energy
consumed by the lifting fluid in the riser section, resulting in gravity pressure drop, which makes the
head loss increase sharply [5]. This is the main reason for the increase of head loss caused by air in
water supply pipeline. When the inlet condition of the pipe unchanged, the increase of pipeline
elevation difference makes head loss increasing, therefore, it is more difficult to rinse the pipe.
If there are many undulating sections in pipeline, the gravity pressure drop will overlap and the
head loss will increase further.
Therefore, it is nesserary to improve the conditions of air-water flow, so that the air and water
flushing can be carried out efficiently.

2.4. Analysis of air and water flushing control method

The air and water flushing pipeline can be controlled by pipeline parameters and hydraulic parameters.
(1) Pipeline parameters
The pipeline parameters are mainly related to the pipes that need to be rinsed, including pipe
diameter, pipeline undulation, pipe length, pipe valves, pipe exhaust valves and so on. The pipe length,
pipe valves, and pipe exhaust valves are physical properties, but it can be decided or operated during
the process of air and water flushing, which can be used as the operating factors. For a built pipeline to
be rinsed, the length of pipe determines the number of pipe fluctuations and the total gravity pressure
drop. Based on the calculation of total head loss, which including frictional head loss, local head loss
and gravity pressure drop, it can be determined a reasonable length of flushing pipeline. The
calculation method of total head loss of air and water has been presented in paper.
Pipe valves, and pipe exhaust valves have an important influence on the control of flow velocity
and air accumulation and release in the part of the pipe. It is necessary to combine the actual situation
and carry out the operation.
(2) Hydraulic parameters
Hydraulic parameters are mainly related to fluid control factors. In the process of air and water
flushing, the two-phase flow pattern is very important. The decisive factors of flow pattern are air flow

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EEEP 2021 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 983 (2022) 012088 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/983/1/012088

rate, water flow rate, intermittent flow rate of air and water. These factors need to be selected and
operated according to the actual situation of pipeline flushing.
Above all, through the rational selection of pipeline parameters and hydraulic parameters, the
efficiency of the pipeline flushing is controlled in a high range, the washing effect is better, and the air
and water flushing pipe has a wide range of applicability.
In the water supply pipeline, through the adjustment of input pipeline parameters and hydraulic
parameters, the flow pattern can meet the requirements of flushing, so as to realize flushing. Detailed
parameters that need to be identified and adjusted appropriately in conjunction with project practices.

3. Case study

3.1. Basic introduction of case

An engineering practice of case study has been carried on air and water flushing a water supply
pipeline with diameter of 800 mm in Shanghai city. The total length of the pipeline is 6806 m, which
crossing 11 rivers, including 7 horizontal directional drillings and 4 pipe bridges. The schematic of the
flushing pipeline is shown in Figure 3, the way of crossing rivers and its size as shown in Table 1.

Figure 3. Schematic of flushing pipeline.

Table 1. Flushing pipe sections through rivers way and dimensions.
Elevation Difference Length
Sections Channel number Crossing way
(m) (m)
T1 horizontal directional drilling 15.0 252
Q1 pipe bridge 3.0 65
S1
T2 horizontal directional drilling 13.0 200
Q2 pipe bridge 3.0 81
T3 horizontal directional drilling 10.0 180
S2 T4 horizontal directional drilling 8.0 450
Q3 pipe bridge 3.0 75
Q4 pipe bridge 2.5 82
T5 horizontal directional drilling 11.0 250
S3
T6 horizontal directional drilling 9.0 145
T7 horizontal directional drilling 20.0 188

3.2. Air and water flushing method and parameters

Pipe valve, flow meter, pressure gauge and aerated pipe are installed upstream of the flushing pipe
section. Valves and discharge port are installed downstream of the flushing pipe section. The
downstream valve is closed, so that the flushing pipe section is relatively isolated and the flushing
flow can be discharged from the outlet. The air pipe intake equipment composes air compressor, air
storage tank, air supply pipe, air control valve, flowmeter, pressure gauge and central controller. The
schematic diagram of air and water flushing equipment and process is shown in Figure 4. Before air
and water flushing, the single-phase water flow in the pipe section. The flow velocity of single-phase
water in the pipe is adjusted through valve1. Then air is introduced into the pipe, and the air entry
intermittence frequency is controlled by flowmeter 2 and pressure gauge 2. By controlling the opening
and closing interval time by air control valve and valve 1. As to control air and water flow, the
washing effect is realized. The air compressor and central controller are shown in Figure 5.

4
EEEP 2021 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 983 (2022) 012088 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/983/1/012088

Central
Aerated pipe
controller
Air compressor
air control valve

air storage
tank Flowmeter 2
Discharge port
Pressure gauge 2 Pressure gauge 1
Valve3（open）

Valve2（closed） Valve 1 Flowmeter 1

The flushing pipe
Water flow

Figure 4. Schematic diagram of air and water flushing equipment and process.

(a) Air compressor (b) Central controller

Figure 5. Equipments air compressor and central controller.
The head loss and local head loss are calculated according to the full pipe flow, and the gravity
pressure drop is calculated according to maximum pressure drop, as the worst condition, the hydraulic
calculation of the pipeline is carried out. Combined with the actual conditions of pipeline, such as
location of discharge port, the length of each flushing section is determined. The pipe is divided into
three sections to be flushed. The length of first flushing section S1 is 3021 meters, and the flow comes
from upstream connected pipe. The length of second flushing section S2 is 2553 meters, and the flow
comes from upstream S1 connected section. And the length of third flushing section S3 is 1234 meters,
and the flow comes from upstream S2 connected section. Each section crossing rivers are shown in
Figure 3 and Table 1.
The worst head loss and coming flow pressure of each section are shown in Table 2. It can be seen
that the worst head loss of S1 and S2 sections are less than the coming flow pressure, and the process
of air and water flushing can be carried out sucessfully. The worst head loss of S3 section is much
greater than the coming flow pressure. In the case of section S3, the length is only 1234 meters, but it
contains 1 bridge and 3 horizontal directional drilling sections. The cumulative gravity pressure drop
is 42.5 meters. Considering the head loss of full pipe flow, the worst head loss could be 44 mters. The
hydraulic condition is very disadvantageous for the two-phase flow. It will be difficult to flushing with
air and water, the phenomenon of air-water separation flow is formed in section. It is necessary to take
measures to reduce gravity pressure drop and carry on the air and water flushing.
Table 2. The worst head loss for flushing pipe.
Section The worst head loss (m) Coming flow pressure (m)
S1 32.0 33.0
S2 25.0 31.0
S3 44.0 29.0

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EEEP 2021 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 983 (2022) 012088 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/983/1/012088

According to calculation of the worst head loss of pipe section, combined with the outflow
situation and real-time monitoring data, the hydraulic parameters are adjusted properly, and the good
washing effect is obtained. The hydraulic parameters of each pipe section, as shown in Table 3. The
valve 1 is fully open during flushing each pipe section. Exhaust valve properly open to control the
amount of air in pipe, thereby reducing the pressure drop. Among sections, the worst head loss is
greater than the coming flow pressure in S3 pipe section, which makes it difficult to flushing with air
and water.
Table 3. Hydraulic parameters for flushing pipe.
Input time ratio of air and
Section Coming flow pressure (m) Intake pressure (MPa)
water (s)
S1 33.0 0.40-0.60 20:30
S2 31.0 0.40-0.60 20:20
S3 29.0 0.40-0.60 15:30
In the flushing parameters, the coming flow pressure is determined by water supply system, the
flushing pipe location and other factors. Before flushing, hydraulic dispatching should be done by
water supply department. Under the premise of ensuring the safety of pipe network, the coming flow
pressure should be improved as much as possible to ensure the air and water flushing. The intake
pressure of 3 flushing sections are the same as 0.40-0.60MPa, and the pressure value is greater than
the coming flow pressure, therefore air can input into the pipe.
Combined with the outflow situation and real-time monitoring data, the input time ratios of air and
water are obtained showing in Table 3. It can be seen that the ratio of S1 is slightly smaller than the
one of S2, and the ratio of S3 is the smallest. The reason mainly due to the relationship between the
worst head loss and the coming flow pressure. Special, the worst head loss of S3 is greater than the
coming flow pressure. It is necessary to reduce the amount of air, reduce air and water separation
length in inclined downward pipe, and reduce gravity pressure drop. At the same time, the exhaust
valves at the top of downward pipe can effectively control the gravity pressure drop and achieve air
and water flushing in S3section successfully.

3.3. The effect and analysis

(1) Outflow situation
As pipeline flushing parameters are adjusted, the air and water outflow at the outlet of the section are
discharged intermittently. The outflow situations are shown in Figure 6. It can be seen that air and
water in the outlet are fully mixed, and there are intermittent blasting noises during the flushing. This
means that pipeline parameters and hydraulic parameters are selected reasonably. The outlet is
intermittently accompanied by homogeneous outflow. The pipe flushing efficiency.

Figure 6. Outflow situation of air and water flushing pipe.

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EEEP 2021 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 983 (2022) 012088 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/983/1/012088

(2) Water quality

The outflow water quality is sampled and tested every 15mins. The turbidity of water quality was
analyzed by portable turbidimeter at the scene. When the turbidity meets the water quality requirement,
the air and water flushing stopped, and the samples were taken to the water quality laboratory for
detailed analyse.
The outflow water quality in S2 section is shown in Figure 7. It can be seen that the outflow water
quality has increased rapidly in the early stage of flushing, and then the water quality has improved
rapidly in a short period of time, which will soon meet the water quality requirements of the flushing
pipe.
1000

800
Turbidity / NTU

600

400

200

0
0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195
Time / min

Figure 7. The outflow water quality in S2 section.

(3) Flushing time
Total time of air and water flushing for each section is 4.0 hour, 3.5 hour and 5.0 hour, respectively.
The time is related to the efficiency of the flushing. Compared with S1 and S2 sections, the hydraulic
condition of S3 section is relatively poor, which has been analyzed in the previous article. The
efficiency of air and water flushing reduced, and total time for S3 section increased. The instantaneous
single-phase water flow rate in S3 section upstream is shown in Figure 8. The average flow rate in the
pipe is 608.2 m3/h.
1400.00

1200.00

1000.00
Flow rate / m 3 /h

800.00
average flow
600.00 rate
400.00

200.00

0.00
0:00 0:30 1:00 1:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00
Time / hour:min

Figure 8. Water flow rate of S3 section.

(4) Water consumption comparison
According to engineering experience, the single-phase water flushing diameter of 800 mm pipe is
about 3 hours per kilometer. According to code for design of outdoor water cupply engineering, the
velocity of flushing water is not less than 1.2m/s. The total water consumption between single phase
water flushing and air-water flushing are shown in Table 4.

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EEEP 2021 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 983 (2022) 012088 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/983/1/012088

Table 4. Comparison of water consumption between single-phase water and air-water flushing pipe.
Total flushing time Flow rate Total water consumption
(hour) (m3/h) (m3)
Single-phase water flushing 20.4 2170.4 44276.2
Air and water flushing 12.5 608.2 7602.5
It can be seen that water requirement for air and water flushing is only 28.0% of the single-phase
water flow. The liquid-phase conversion velocity is 0.34 m/s, which greatly reduces the incoming
water requirement. In the case, the project can save 36673.7 m3 water resource. The total water
required for air-water flushing is only 17.2% of water consumption of the single-phase water flushing,
which greatly saves water resources.

4. Conclusions
The principles of air-water flushing large-diameter, large-deviation-elevation, and many- ups-and-
downs pipes are described in this paper. Based on the two-phase flow theories, it analyzes complex
hydraulic characteristics and control parameters for flushing pipeline. Combine with engineering
practice, air and water flushing diameter of 800 mm pipeline in Shanghai city and flushing pipe
parameters are introduced.
According to the analysis of the washing effect, water requirement for air and water flushing is
only 28.0% of the single-phase water flow, which greatly reduces the incoming water requirement. In
the case study, the total water required for air-water flushing is only 17.2% of water consumption of
the single-phase water flushing, which greatly saves water resources.

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[3] Cheng Lixin, Ribatski G and Thome J R 2008 Two-phase flow patterns and flow pattern maps:
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[4] Vashisth S and Nigam K D P 2009 Prediction of flow profiles and interfacial phenomena for
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