Numerical Investigation of Static and Transient Flow Behavior in a DN450 Class 600 API Ball Valve During Opening

IF 3.3 3区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL

Flow Measurement and Instrumentation Pub Date : 2026-10-14 DOI:10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2026.103665

G. Shanmugasundar, M. Vanitha, Jasgurpreet Singh Chohan, S.P. Samal, B. Swarna, Kathick Muniyappan, Ankur Bansod, Sourabh Shukla

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Ball valves used in large-diameter industrial pipelines experience substantial changes in hydraulic resistance and internal flow structure during opening, particularly under partial-opening conditions. However, the transient evolution of separation, recirculation, and pressure recovery in large-diameter ball valves remains insufficiently understood. In this study, the transient internal flow behaviour of a DN450 Class 600 API ball valve was investigated using three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics with a sliding-mesh approach. The evolution of pressure, velocity, pressure difference, flow resistance coefficient, and internal flow structures was examined over different valve opening positions. Mesh independence was established using three computational grids, and the selected mesh provided negligible changes in the monitored hydraulic parameters with further refinement. The dynamic transient behavior revealed that during the opening sequence, the peak operational pressure drop reaches 350 kPa at 30% opening, accompanied by dynamic localized flow acceleration exceeding 29.6 m/s. These transient effects trigger strong separation zones that decay rapidly once relative opening exceeds 85%. At approximately 85% opening, the dominant recirculation structure substantially decreases in strength and the downstream flow becomes more uniform. The novelty of the present work lies in correlating the transient evolution of back-step and recirculation structures with pressure recovery and hydraulic resistance in a large-diameter DN450 Class 600 ball valve using a moving-mesh framework. The findings provide engineering guidance for valve operation and geometric optimization aimed at reducing hydraulic losses and improving downstream flow uniformity.

查看原文本刊更多论文

DN450 600级API球阀开启过程中静态和瞬态流动特性的数值研究

用于大口径工业管道的球阀在开启过程中，特别是在部分开启状态下，其水力阻力和内部流动结构发生了较大的变化。然而，对于大直径球阀中分离、再循环和压力恢复的瞬态演化，人们仍然知之甚少。在这项研究中，采用滑动网格三维计算流体动力学方法研究了DN450 600类API球阀的瞬态内部流动行为。研究了不同阀门开启位置下压力、速度、压差、流阻系数和内部流动结构的变化规律。采用三种计算网格建立了网格独立性，所选网格对监测的水力参数变化进行了进一步细化，可以忽略不计。动态瞬态特性分析表明，在开启过程中，当开启度为30%时，运行压降峰值达到350 kPa，同时伴有超过29.6 m/s的局部动态流动加速度。这些瞬态效应触发强烈的分离带，一旦相对开度超过85%，分离带就会迅速衰减。在约85%开度时，优势再循环结构强度显著降低，下游流动更加均匀。本工作的新颖之处在于将大直径DN450 600级球阀的回退和再循环结构的瞬态演变与压力恢复和水力阻力联系起来。研究结果为降低水力损失和改善下游流动均匀性的阀门操作和几何优化提供了工程指导。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Flow Measurement and Instrumentation 工程技术-工程：机械

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

13.60%

发文量

123

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： Flow Measurement and Instrumentation is dedicated to disseminating the latest research results on all aspects of flow measurement, in both closed conduits and open channels. The design of flow measurement systems involves a wide variety of multidisciplinary activities including modelling the flow sensor, the fluid flow and the sensor/fluid interactions through the use of computation techniques; the development of advanced transducer systems and their associated signal processing and the laboratory and field assessment of the overall system under ideal and disturbed conditions. FMI is the essential forum for critical information exchange, and contributions are particularly encouraged in the following areas of interest: Modelling: the application of mathematical and computational modelling to the interaction of fluid dynamics with flowmeters, including flowmeter behaviour, improved flowmeter design and installation problems. Application of CAD/CAE techniques to flowmeter modelling are eligible. Design and development: the detailed design of the flowmeter head and/or signal processing aspects of novel flowmeters. Emphasis is given to papers identifying new sensor configurations, multisensor flow measurement systems, non-intrusive flow metering techniques and the application of microelectronic techniques in smart or intelligent systems. Calibration techniques: including descriptions of new or existing calibration facilities and techniques, calibration data from different flowmeter types, and calibration intercomparison data from different laboratories. Installation effect data: dealing with the effects of non-ideal flow conditions on flowmeters. Papers combining a theoretical understanding of flowmeter behaviour with experimental work are particularly welcome.