Pipe Bend (G)

Pipe bend segment in a gas network

Since R2023a

Libraries:
Simscape / Fluids / Gas / Pipes & Fittings

Description

The Pipe Bend (G) block represents a curved pipe in a gas network. You can define the pipe characteristics to calculate losses due to friction and pipe curvature.

Pipe Curvature Loss Coefficient

The coefficient for pressure losses due to geometry changes comprises an angle correction factor, C_angle, and a bend coefficient, C_bend:

$K_{l o s s} = C_{a n g l e} C_{b e n d} .$

The block calculates C_angle as:

$C_{a n g l e} = 0.0148 θ - 3.9716 \cdot 10^{- 5} θ^{2},$

where θ is the value of the Bend angle parameter, in degrees.

The block calculates C_bend from the tabulated ratio of the bend radius, r, to the pipe diameter, d, for 90° bends from data based on Crane [1]:

Diagram displaying 90° pipe bend

r/d	1	1.5	2	3	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	20	24
K	20 f_T	14 f_T	12 f_T	12 f_T	14 f_T	17 f_T	24 f_T	30 f_T	34 f_T	38 f_T	42 f_T	50 f_T	58 f_T

The block interpolates the friction factor, f_T, for clean commercial steel from tabular data based on the pipe diameter [1]. This table contains the pipe friction data for clean commercial steel pipe with flow in the zone of complete turbulence.

Nominal size (mm)	5	10	15	20	25	32	40	50	72.5	100	125	150	225	350	609.5
Friction factor, f_T	.035	.029	.027	.025	.023	.022	.021	.019	.018	.017	.016	.015	.014	.013	.012

The correction factor is valid for a ratio of bend radius to diameter between 1 and 24. Beyond this range, the block employs nearest-neighbor extrapolation.

Losses Due to Friction in Laminar Flows

The pressure loss formulations are the same for the flow at ports A and B.

When the flow in the pipe is fully laminar, or below Re = 2000, the pressure loss over the bend is

$Δ p_{l o s s} = \frac{μ λ}{2 ρ_{I} d^{2} A} \frac{L}{2} {\dot{m}}_{p o r t},$

where:

μ is the relative humidity.
λ is the Darcy friction factor constant, which is 64 for laminar flow.
ρ_I is the internal fluid density.
d is the pipe diameter.
L is the bend length segment, which is the product of the Bend radius and the Bend angle parameters: $L_{b e n d} = r_{b e n d} θ .$
A is the pipe cross-sectional area, $\frac{π}{4} d^{2} .$
${\dot{m}}_{p o r t}$ is the mass flow rate at the respective port.

Losses due to Friction in Turbulent Flows

When the flow is fully turbulent, or greater than Re = 4000, the pressure loss in the pipe is:

$Δ p_{l o s s} = (\frac{f_{D} L}{2 d} + \frac{K_{l o s s}}{2}) \frac{{\dot{m}}_{p o r t} | {\dot{m}}_{p o r t} |}{2 ρ_{I} A^{2}},$

where f_D is the Darcy friction factor. The block approximates this value by using the empirical Haaland equation and the Internal surface absolute roughness parameter. The block takes the differential over each half of the pipe segment, between port A to an internal node, and between the internal node and port B.

Pressure Differential

The block calculates the pressure loss over the bend based on the internal fluid volume pressure, p_I :

$p_{A} - p_{I} = Δ p_{l o s s, A}$

$p_{B} - p_{I} = Δ p_{l o s s, B}$

Mass Balance

Mass conservation relates the mass flow rates to the dynamics of the pressure and temperature of the internal node representing the gas volume

$\frac{\partial M}{\partial p} \frac{d p_{I}}{d t} + \frac{\partial M}{\partial T} \frac{d T_{I}}{d t} = {\dot{m}}_{A} + {\dot{m}}_{B},$

where:

$\frac{\partial M}{\partial p}$ is the partial derivative of the mass of the gas volume with respect to pressure at constant temperature and volume.
$\frac{\partial M}{\partial T}$ is the partial derivative of the mass of the gas volume with respect to temperature at constant pressure and volume.
p_I is the pressure of the gas volume.
T_I is the temperature of the gas volume.
t is time.
$\dot{m}$ _A and $\dot{m}$ _B are the mass flow rates at ports A and B, respectively. The flow rate at a port is positive when gas flows into the block through that port.

Energy Balance

Energy conservation relates the energy and heat flow rates to the dynamics of the pressure and temperature of the internal node that represents the gas volume

$\frac{\partial U}{\partial p} \frac{d p_{I}}{d t} + \frac{\partial U}{\partial T} \frac{d T_{I}}{d t} = Φ_{A} + Φ_{B},$

where:

$\frac{\partial U}{\partial p}$ is the partial derivative of the internal energy of the gas volume with respect to pressure at constant temperature and volume.
$\frac{\partial U}{\partial T}$ is the partial derivative of the internal energy of the gas volume with respect to temperature at constant pressure and volume.
Φ_A and Φ_B are the energy flow rates at ports A and B, respectively.

Variables

To set the priority and initial target values for the block variables prior to simulation, use the Initial Targets section in the block dialog box or Property Inspector. For more information, see Set Priority and Initial Target for Block Variables.

Nominal values provide a way to specify the expected magnitude of a variable in a model. Using system scaling based on nominal values increases the simulation robustness. Nominal values can come from different sources, one of which is the Nominal Values section in the block dialog box or Property Inspector. For more information, see Modify Nominal Values for a Block Variable.

Ports

Conserving

expand all

A — Liquid port
gas

Gas conserving port associated with the liquid entry or exit port

B — Liquid port
gas

Gas conserving port associated with the liquid entry or exit port

Parameters

expand all

Pipe diameter — Pipe diameter
`0.01 m` (default) | positive scalar

Diameter of the pipe.

Bend radius — Bend circle radius
`0.04 m` (default) | positive scalar

Radius of the circle formed by the pipe bend.

Bend angle — Bend angle
`90 deg` (default) | positive scalar

Swept degree of the pipe bend.

Internal surface absolute roughness — Pipe wall roughness
`15e-6 m` (default) | positive scalar

Pipe wall absolute roughness. The block uses this parameter to determine the Darcy friction factor, which contributes to pressure loss in the pipe.

References

[1] Crane Co. Flow of Fluids Through Valves, Fittings, and Pipe TP-410. Crane Co., 1981.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2023a

Pipe Bend (G)

Description

Pipe Curvature Loss Coefficient

Losses Due to Friction in Laminar Flows

Losses due to Friction in Turbulent Flows

Pressure Differential

Mass Balance

Energy Balance

Variables

Ports

Conserving

A — Liquid port gas

B — Liquid port gas

Parameters

Pipe diameter — Pipe diameter 0.01 m (default) | positive scalar

Bend radius — Bend circle radius 0.04 m (default) | positive scalar

Bend angle — Bend angle 90 deg (default) | positive scalar

Internal surface absolute roughness — Pipe wall roughness 15e-6 m (default) | positive scalar

References

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

A — Liquid port
gas

B — Liquid port
gas

Pipe diameter — Pipe diameter
`0.01 m` (default) | positive scalar

Bend radius — Bend circle radius
`0.04 m` (default) | positive scalar

Bend angle — Bend angle
`90 deg` (default) | positive scalar

Internal surface absolute roughness — Pipe wall roughness
`15e-6 m` (default) | positive scalar

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.