Unit for viewing the restart of time-dependent fluid flow

Abstract

The present invention refers to a unit for viewing the time-dependent fluid flow restart, comprising two hydraulically connected reservoir tanks ( 1, 2 ); two auxiliary pipes ( 3 ); a main pipe ( 4 ) between the reservoir tanks ( 1, 2 ) and between the auxiliary pipes ( 3 ); a viewing box ( 15 ); a pressurization system ( 20 ); data acquisition software; and a particle image velocimetry (PIV) system ( 8 ); wherein the main pipe ( 4 ) is made of a transparent acrylic material that allows the viewing of the fluid inside the same; wherein the viewing box ( 15 ) encompasses the main pipe ( 4 ) and allows its viewing; and wherein the unit views the restart of the time-dependent fluid flow in transient regime.

1 . A system for displaying a restart of time-dependent fluid flow in a transient regime,
 a first reservoir tank containing a first fluid;   a second reservoir tank containing a second fluid, wherein the first reservoir tank comprises a fluid and the second reservoir tank comprises another fluid;   a first auxiliary pipe hydraulically connected to the first reservoir tank   a second auxiliary pipe hydraulically connected to the second reservoir tank;   a main pipe hydraulically connected to the first and second auxiliary pipes, wherein the main pipe is made of a transparent acrylic material that allows viewing of the fluid inside the main pipe;   a viewing box surrounding at least a portion of the main pipe and allows its viewing;   a pressurization system connected to the first and second reservoir tanks; and   a particle image velocimetry (PIV) system positioned adjacent the viewing box to measure a fluid flow in the main pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second reservoir tanks are hydraulically connected to the main pipe through the auxiliary pipes. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 an adapter connected to a top cover of each of the first and second reservoir tanks, wherein the adapter allows the entry of compressed air to pressurize the first and second reservoir tanks and cause the first and second fluid to flow from one tank to another through the first and second auxiliary pipe and the main pipe;   a sight gauge installed on a side of each of the first and second reservoir tanks to view a fluid level inside the tanks; and   a thermocouple fixed inside each of the first and second reservoir tanks to record a temperature of the system during the flow restart tests.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the main pipe is made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the pressurization system comprises:
 a pressure gauge connected to the top cover of each of the first and second reservoir tanks;   a pressure relief valve connected to the top cover of each of the first and second reservoir tanks   a solenoid valve fluidly connected to each adapter of each of the first and second reservoir tanks; and   a pressure regulator valve fluidly connected to each solenoid valve of the first and second reservoir tanks.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the pressure regulator valve and the solenoid valves are located upstream of the first and second reservoir tanks. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the solenoid valves allow the pressurization of only one reservoir tank and block the pressurization of the other tank reservoir tank. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the solenoid valves are installed downstream of the pressure regulator valve, and allow the air to flow both ways. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second auxiliary pipes comprises a pressure sensors to measure an operating pressure and/or a pressure variation at the restart of the flow, wherein the measurements are used to determine a wall shear stress (τ w ) of the first and second auxiliary pipes. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second auxiliary pipes further comprise a shut-off valve installed at an inlet and an outlet of the first and second auxiliary pipes, wherein the shut off valves control the fluid flow during the tests of fluid restart. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the main pipe further comprises four thermocouples, wherein the thermocouples are positioned outside and inside the viewing box and record a temperature of the flow restart. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the pressure relief valves installed on the cover of each reservoir tank are configured to depressurize the system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising data acquisition software monitors and records the pressure and temperature values given by the pressure sensors and thermocouples. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the particle image velocimetry (PIV) system calculates a velocity profiles and velocity gradients, wherein a yield stress is calculated directly from the velocity profiles by means of their first derivative (velocity gradients). 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the main pipe is immersed in water.