1 Applications and limitations of HiTrans v3.

x HiTrans solves transient flows for liquid media, modelling the full elastic equations for liquid and pipeline. 1.1 Cavitation and column break When liquid pressure is reducing and vapour pressure is reached, the media changes its physical phase, from liquid to vapour, developing what is known as cavitation. When cavitation appears on pipelines, the presence of vapour cavities may cause a discontinuity of the liquid media, normally called as column break. When this situation is arrived, the theoretical basis assumed for the modelling are no longer valid. Once vapour pressure is reached, the simulation is automatically paused and HiTrans displays a warning message with the time and location of the first point where cavitation was developed. Beyond this time, HiTrans numerical modelling results are no longer valid and are just a (sometimes useful) numerical presentation. After this message is displayed, HiTrans continues the numerical modelling up to the final simulation time. This is only done to give the user an idea about how far results are from cavitation and where are the problematic points. This is the reason why it is possible to obtain results without physical meaning (for water at 20C is possible to obtain pressure results lower than -10m). From an engineering point of view this is not an important limitation in modelling, since pipeline systems are normally designed to avoid cavitation, by using several control devices such as surge tanks, air vessel, etc., to eliminate the risk of the high pressure pulses that develop when pressure raises and physical phase changes suddenly again. A further concept is that vapour phase modelling 'state of the art' is not very accurate in all situations. Then, in most cases the results that can be obtained with such models must be regarded as an order of magnitude' value. For all these reasons we support the idea that modelling the liquid phase of the flow is not an important limitation in HiTrans to be used as a tool for engineering design. 1.2 Air Valves modelling Air valves are sometimes used as devices for surge protection. HiTrans models the air intake and air release process to assist engineers to specify, size and locate air valves as surge protection devices. Theoretical bases and limitations The basic formulation for HiTrans calculations are: The volume of air is always located under the air valve (the air can only exit the system by the air valve). The air-liquid interface is the entire cross section of the pipe (the air pocket is a cylinder).

Celerity of the pressure wave remains constant

Important: HiTrans users should evaluate the application of these assumptions in order to use air valves as a protection device at his own risk. 2 Disclaimer 2.1 HiTrans is intended to be used by trained hydraulic engineers, with experience in transient flow analysis and modelling. Before start using HiTrans, all the users must read carefully the 'Applications and limitations' chapter of HiTrans Help. 2.2 HiTrans has been designed as a guide for hydraulic engineering calculations and design, and is not intended to replace the judgement of a qualified engineer on a particular project. 2.3 Although an important effort has been made to validate results, numerical modelling can have always some unknowns concepts and some dispersion errors. In most cases all assumptions done for any device are shown in HiTrans help documentation or are available on request from HiTrans support centre support@istec.com.uy. Is a responsibility of the users to be sure that any specific device agrees with the assumptions made in HiTrans algorithms. 2.4 ISTEC Ingeniera is not responsible for any results or use made of HiTrans's results, nor for any damages or litigation that result from the use of HiTrans. ISTEC Ingeniera assumes no liability for interpretations or implementations made by the users of HiTrans.