A Validation Method of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulation against Experimental Data of Transient Flow In Pipes System

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a significant engineering and technology design tool for modelling and analysis of incompressible and compressible flows in pipes. CFD has gained relevancy by providing cost-effective means of simulating real flows by the numerical solutions of the governing equations of fluid dynamics. CFD is largely depended on currently in taking decisions in fluids flows scenarios either closed or opened channels. Transients flow phenomena occurrence in oil, gas and water pipelines is inevitable due to some complex pipes network set-up, the sudden closure of control valves or unexpected failure of mechanical systems such as pumps or compressors as the case may be. Using CFD software to simulate transient's flow in pipeline could be demanding for effective and efficient predictions. This research paper is aimed at a method of CFD simulation results validation against published experimental transient data. CFD software such as applied flow technology (AFT) Impulse 4.0 was adopted as a case study for this research paper. The experimental data and boundary conditions were closely maintained to perform the transient's simulation on AFT Impulse 4.0 workspace. Results obtained from the CFD simulation of two transients' flows scenarios were validated with reasonable convergence with some published experimental data from the Hydraulic Engineering Research Institute (Institute cerceteriHidrotehnice –I.C.H.). It was a novelty that validation of published experimental data against CFD simulated results establishes cost-effectiveness and significant time reduction in testing and evaluation flow predictions in pipe systems at the design stage. Thus, this CFD software validation method against experimental results showcasesthe practicability, applicability and acceptability of estimating the credibility of fluid modelling commercial software.