Dynamics of Air Flow in Sewer Conduit Headspace

Abstract

Pressurization in sanitary sewer conduit atmosphere is modeled using computational fluid dynamics techniques. The modeling approach considers both turbulent and laminar flow regimes. The turbulent model takes into consideration the turbulence-driven secondary currents associated with the sewer headspace and hence the Reynolds equations governing the air flow field are closed with an anisotropic closure model which comprises the use of the eddy viscosity concept for the turbulent shear stresses and semiempirical relations for the turbulent normal stresses. The resulting formulations are numerically integrated. The turbulent model outputs are verified with experimental data reported in the literature. Satisfactory agreement is obtained between numerical simulations and experimental data. Mathematical formulas and curves as functions of longitudinal pressure gradient, wastewater velocity, and sewer headspace geometry are developed for the cross-sectional average streamwise velocity.