Steady oscillatory flow in a branched piping system with partial blockages is studied by using the frequency response method. The peak pressure frequency diagrams at the downstream end are developed with the partial blockage at different locations in the system by using the transfer matrix method. A systematic procedure is presented to estimate the size and the location of a single partial blockage in the system. For more than one partial blockage, it is observed that there is a definite relationship between the frequency responses of the individual and combined partial blockages.

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Keywords:
branched piping system, partial blockage, steady-oscillatory flow, frequency domain, transfer matrix method, peak pressure frequency diagram, pipe flow, fluid oscillations, waves, flow instability, transfer function matrices
Topics:
Frequency response, Junctions, Pipes, Piping systems, Pressure, Flow (Dynamics)
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Copyright © 2006
 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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