How to model tanks with inlets above liquid level - partially filled pipes missunderstood?

Question

Andreas 2023-8-4

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此问题的直接链接

https://ww2.mathworks.cn/matlabcentral/answers/2004712-how-to-model-tanks-with-inlets-above-liquid-level-partially-filled-pipes-missunderstood

回答： Yifeng Tang 2023-8-28

采纳的回答： Yifeng Tang

support_cpc2.slx

Hi everyone,

Update:

See last comment:

problems:

perpetuum mobilé with partially filled pipe (IL) blocks

OLD:

I am trying to model a system in Simscape and Simscape Fluids which looks like the following scheme:

Somehow I cannot figure out how to face the limitations of the Tank (IL) block asking for all inlets being below liquid level.

Those tanks try to equalize pressure and thus there is volume flow between the tanks even if the pumps are shut off (see attached model). This is not the case in reality when there is free outflow above the liquid level.

Any idea anyone?

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Andreas 2023-8-6

@Sam Chak thanks for your answer.

I updated the diagram a bit:

i am only looking for pressure / hydraulics in this model, so regard the heat exchangers as simple flow resistance.

The tanks are not open (so there is no loss of liquid - did that wrong in the first scheme), but the upper inlets are above the liquid level (min 0.5 m) and above the pump level (> 2.5 m).

Pump P1 has constant rpm, Pump P2 has a pulse signal on rpm (on / off). The liquid levels should behave as in the following scheme:

Important: There is no volume flow when both pumps are shut down hence the inlets are above liquid and pump level. Without check valve, the liquid level of the upper inlet pipes will fall to the corresponding tank level (level upper inlet tank 1 = level tank 2 and vice versa), but the tanks itself won't equalize.

But I have found no way to model this behavior with tank (IL) and partially filled pipe (IL) blocks so far.

In all cases, the tanks will try to equalize its levels.

Yifeng Tang 2023-8-9

tank_pipe_loop_TL.slx

Hi Andrea,

Looking at the diagram you have, especially the way you'll pump the liquid, I wonder if you really need the partially filled pipe. I put together a simple proof-of-concept model, where the tank outlets and the pipes in between have 2.5m of elevation and two pumps are moving the fluids. The initial liquid levels in the tanks are set at 2m so the A ports are always above the water, which will issue a warning (but that's OK).

Looking at the results of flow rate and water levels in the tank, things look quite reasonable. But I'll let you interrogate the model a bit harder and see if things make sense. I think the key here is that the total elevation needs to sum to zero around the loop, or you'll end up with a (super nice!) infinite source of energy from gravity.

This should work OK as long as the pump is running. If the pump is turned off, however, you may need to add a local restriction block to synchronize with the pump shaft speed to cut the flow. Otherwise I think you'll get some extra mass magically appear in the system.

Also, I used the thermal liquid domain as an example, since I saw heat exchangers in your diagram and I thought you may need this domain later. But the same idea should work with isothermal liquid domain too. Both domains have the tank block and a pipe block from Simscape Fluids library. Only the pipe blocks from the Simscape Fluids, not the foundamental library, have the A-B elevation options.

Andreas 2023-8-28

编辑：Andreas 2023-8-28

Hi @Yifeng Tang ,

thanks again - your model works and withstood all my testing so far. I'd like to mark your comment as solution - would you mind changing it to an answer?

Yifeng Tang 2023-8-28

Good to know! Will do that.

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Answer 1

Yifeng Tang 2023-8-28

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链接

此回答的直接链接

https://ww2.mathworks.cn/matlabcentral/answers/2004712-how-to-model-tanks-with-inlets-above-liquid-level-partially-filled-pipes-missunderstood#answer_1295097

tank_partial_pipe_loop_TL.slx

You can find here two examples on how to use a tank block and a partially filled pipe together in an isothermal liquid model. The corresponding components in the thermal liquid domain work in the same fashion. An example model, built to mimic your drawing of the design, is attached.

It appears to me that the key here are:

(1) make sure the total sum of height changes is zero for any loop.

(2) include an offset of the tank outlet height when calculating the AL signal for the partially filled pipe block, following the example in the Doc.