Analysis of Turbulent Flow Speed Profiles in Pressure Pipes Using the Dissimilar Similitude Technique Applied to an Electrolytic Tank: Implementation and Experimental Characterization

• Published in: IEEE transactions on instrumentation and measurement Vol. 57; no. 8; pp. 1547 - 1553
• Main Authors: Bucci, G., Fiorucci, E., Spena, A.R., Di Nucci, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.08.2008; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Analytical models; Computational modeling; Computer simulation; Data acquisition system; dissimilar similitude; electrical analogy; electrolytic tank; Equations; Fluid dynamics; Mathematical model; Mathematical models; Personal communication networks; Prototypes; Reliability engineering; speed profile; Studies; turbulent flow; Voltage; electrical analogy; turbulent flow; Data acquisition system; dissimilar similitude; electrolytic tank; speed profile
• ISSN: 0018-9456; 1557-9662
• DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2008.922065

In this paper, the analysis of speed profiles in pressure pipes, which is a fluodynamic problem that is still a matter of discussion, particularly for variable flow conditions, is presented. Even if the increasing performance of PCs allows the successful adoption of numerical techniques in the simulation of practically all systems, the actually available mathematical models can supply only approximate solutions in simulating the interaction of a real viscous fluid with a surface during a turbulent flow regime. To solve this problem, a theoretically more accurate method based on dissimilar similitude has been investigated, because of its cost-effective advantage over any other comparable experimental method. More specifically, the fluodynamic analysis was carried out by applying the analogies between the fluid speed profiles in a pressure pipe and the voltage profiles on an electrolytic tank. In the paper, the theoretical backgrounds regarding the idea are reviewed, and an experimental system based on an electrolytic tank is proposed. Furthermore, the performance of the implemented system, which has been evaluated by an experimental characterization, is discussed.