Flow Investigation Around a V-Sector Ball Valve

Abstract

Experimental and computational methods were used to study the structure and behavior of the shedded vortices around a V-ball valve. Strouhal frequency for shedded vortices around the valve over a range of operating conditions and flow rates using water as the medium were measured. The information gathered in this study would help to predict at what operating conditions pipe ruptures might occur. A dynamic pressure transducer was used to determine the Strouhal frequency. LDV was used to measure the mean velocity and turbulence magnitudes. FLUENT was used to develop a two dimensional fluid dynamics model. Flow was visualized using high-speed video photography. A dominant large three-dimensional vortex downstream of the valve was detected. The centerline of this vortex is a shadow of the valve lip. A fifth degree polynomial describing the relationship between the Strouhal number and Reynolds number is obtained.