# I Rigid column fluid mechanics

1. Jan 2, 2017

### axe34

Hello, please see attached text below - this concerns ''rigid column theory''. When a valve is closed, the pressure rises at the valve; the pressure rises above the reservoir pressure by ΔP with a height increase ΔH above H. When the valve is opened, this right hand pressure will disappear and the fluid will start to flow through the open valve.

Why is ΔH = H - Hf?

Last edited: Jan 2, 2017
2. Jan 2, 2017

### BvU

So the driving force / $\left ( {\pi\over 4} d^2 \rho g \right ) \ \$ ΔH is the head H at the entrance of the pipe minus the head loss in the pipe.

3. Jan 2, 2017

### axe34

I've drawn so many diagrams and simply cannot show that delta H = H - Hf!!

4. Jan 2, 2017

### BvU

That a question ?

5. Jan 5, 2017

### axe34

The explanations given in the attached document (the first post in this thread) are poor in my opinion.
Here is how I interpret it: when the valve closes, it seems to imply that a piezometer at the valve with show height H + ΔH

Thus, if we define positive direction to the right,

∑forces on the fluid in horizontal pipe = m.a

(ρgH + ρ0).A - (ρg(H+ΔH) + ρ0).A = ρAL. dv/dt where: ρAL is the mass of fluid in the horizontal pipe and ρ0 is atmospheric pressure (A is pipe cross section)

This gives ΔH = - L/g dv/dt which implies that when delta H is positive, then there will be a deceleration of flow.

Similarly, upon valve opening, we will see:

If positive direction still to the right,
∑forces on the fluid in horizontal pipe = m.a

(ρgH + ρ0)A - (ρg(H-ΔH) + ρ0)A = ρAL. dv/dt

thus ΔH = L/g dv/dt which implies that when delta H is as shown on the diagram, then there will be a deceleration of flow.

Now, I always though that head loss was as shown in the following diagram:

I've drawn the energy grade line (EGL) and hydraulic grade line (HGL) as the piezometer. ΔH, as defined in diagram 2 on this post is shown in white. Delta H is not equal to H - Hf (Hf also called HL).

So, where have I gone wrong?

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6. Jan 5, 2017

### BvU

To be honest, I so far only reacted to the part of your question I could recognize ($H_f$). For the pressure surge I have to read up too.
Text says they close the valve gradually, so the stuff keeps flowing. Instead of assuming a linear deceleration as in the link, the book stops with (2.2a), basically $F = ma$. So I agree with you, up to and including
Note that in fact so far we haven't said anything about the magnitude of $\Delta H$.
Rememer that $\Delta H$ is a difference.

Upon valve opening, the inital head at he valve is H and the valve has to counter it with a force $\rho g H A$. Any form of opening the valve lowers the force the valve can exercise on the liquid (the head at the valve), so there is a negative $\Delta H$ available to accelerate the cylinder of liquid.

So imho the baseline for $\Delta H$ in your second picture is the top line and $\Delta H < 0$.

As such, I see no wrong in the treatment in the text: there are no excessive claims, just manipulation of a few equations.

Your third diagram depicts a steady state: ${du\over dt}=0$ so there is no $\Delta H$.