modelPipe

Model of a pipe with finite volume discretization along the flow path

Extends from Buildings.Fluid.Interfaces.LumpedVolumeDeclarations (Declarations for lumped volumes), Buildings.Fluid.Interfaces.PartialTwoPortInterface (Partial model with two ports and declaration of quantities that are used by many models), Buildings.Fluid.Interfaces.TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters (Parameters for flow resistance for models with two ports).

Information

Model of a pipe with flow resistance and optional heat storage. This model can be used for modeling the heat exchange between the pipe and environment. The model consists of a flow resistance Buildings.Fluid.FixedResistances.PressureDrop and nSeg mixing volumes Buildings.Fluid.MixingVolumes.MixingVolume.

Parameters

TypeNameDefaultDescription
BooleanhomotopyInitializationtrue= true, use homotopy method
IntegernSeg10Number of volume segments
Modelica.Units.SI.LengththicknessInsThickness of insulation
Modelica.Units.SI.ThermalConductivitylambdaInsHeat conductivity of insulation
Modelica.Units.SI.LengthdiameterPipe diameter (without insulation)
Modelica.Units.SI.LengthlengthLength of the pipe
Dynamics › Conservation equations
Modelica.Fluid.Types.DynamicsenergyDynamics (from LumpedVolumeDeclarations)Modelica.Fluid.Types.Dynamics.DynamicFreeInitialType of energy balance: dynamic (3 initialization options) or steady state
Modelica.Fluid.Types.DynamicssubstanceDynamics (from LumpedVolumeDeclarations)energyDynamicsType of independent mass fraction balance: dynamic (3 initialization options) or steady state
Modelica.Fluid.Types.DynamicstraceDynamics (from LumpedVolumeDeclarations)energyDynamicsType of trace substance balance: dynamic (3 initialization options) or steady state
Advanced › Dynamics
Modelica.Fluid.Types.DynamicsmassDynamics (from LumpedVolumeDeclarations)energyDynamicsType of mass balance: dynamic (3 initialization options) or steady state, must be steady state if energyDynamics is steady state
Initialization
Medium.AbsolutePressurep_start (from LumpedVolumeDeclarations)Medium.p_defaultStart value of pressure
Medium.TemperatureT_start (from LumpedVolumeDeclarations)Medium.T_defaultStart value of temperature
Medium.MassFraction[Medium.nX]X_start (from LumpedVolumeDeclarations)Medium.X_defaultStart value of mass fractions m_i/m
Medium.ExtraProperty[Medium.nC]C_start (from LumpedVolumeDeclarations)fill(0, Medium.nC)Start value of trace substances
Medium.ExtraProperty[Medium.nC]C_nominal (from LumpedVolumeDeclarations)fill(1E-2, Medium.nC)Nominal value of trace substances. (Set to typical order of magnitude.)
Dynamics
RealmSenFac (from LumpedVolumeDeclarations)1Factor for scaling the sensible thermal mass of the volume
Assumptions
BooleanallowFlowReversal (from PartialTwoPort)true= false to simplify equations, assuming, but not enforcing, no flow reversal
Nominal condition
Modelica.Units.SI.MassFlowRatem_flow_nominal (from PartialTwoPortInterface)Nominal mass flow rate
Modelica.Units.SI.PressureDifferencedp_nominal (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)Pressure difference
Advanced
Modelica.Units.SI.MassFlowRatem_flow_small (from PartialTwoPortInterface)1E-4*abs(m_flow_nominal)Small mass flow rate for regularization of zero flow
Advanced › Diagnostics
Booleanshow_T (from PartialTwoPortInterface)false= true, if actual temperature at port is computed
Flow resistance
BooleancomputeFlowResistance (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)true=true, compute flow resistance. Set to false to assume no friction
Booleanfrom_dp (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)false= true, use m_flow = f(dp) else dp = f(m_flow)
Realn (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)2Flow exponent, n=1 for laminar, n=2 for turbulent
BooleanlinearizeFlowResistance (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)false= true, use linear relation between m_flow and dp for any flow rate
RealdeltaM (from TwoPortFlowResistanceParameters)0.1Fraction of nominal flow rate where flow transitions to laminar
RealReC4000Reynolds number where transition to turbulence starts

Connectors

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Modelica.Fluid.Interfaces.FluidPort_aport_a (from PartialTwoPort)Fluid connector a (positive design flow direction is from port_a to port_b)
Modelica.Fluid.Interfaces.FluidPort_bport_b (from PartialTwoPort)Fluid connector b (positive design flow direction is from port_a to port_b)

Components

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Modelica.Units.SI.MassFlowRatem_flow (from PartialTwoPortInterface)port_a.m_flowMass flow rate from port_a to port_b (m_flow > 0 is design flow direction)
Modelica.Units.SI.PressureDifferencedp (from PartialTwoPortInterface)port_a.p - port_b.pPressure difference between port_a and port_b
Medium.ThermodynamicStatesta_a (from PartialTwoPortInterface)if allowFlowReversal then Medium.setState_phX(port_a.p, noEvent(actualStream(port_a.h_outflow)), noEvent(actualStream(port_a.Xi_outflow))) else Medium.setState_phX(port_a.p, noEvent(inStream(port_a.h_outflow)), noEvent(inStream(port_a.Xi_outflow)))Medium properties in port_a
Medium.ThermodynamicStatesta_b (from PartialTwoPortInterface)if allowFlowReversal then Medium.setState_phX(port_b.p, noEvent(actualStream(port_b.h_outflow)), noEvent(actualStream(port_b.Xi_outflow))) else Medium.setState_phX(port_b.p, noEvent(port_b.h_outflow), noEvent(port_b.Xi_outflow))Medium properties in port_b
Buildings.Fluid.FixedResistances.PressureDroppreDroFlow resistance
Buildings.Fluid.MixingVolumes.BaseClasses.MixingVolumeHeatPortvolVolume for pipe fluid

Revisions

  • June 17, 2026, by Michael Wetter:
    Updated implementation to allow a flow coefficient n that is different from 2. This allows use of the model for not fully turbulent flow.
    This is for Buildings, #4620.
  • April 14, 2020, by Michael Wetter:
    Changed homotopyInitialization to a constant.
    This is for IBPSA, #1341.
  • February 5, 2015, by Michael Wetter:
    Renamed res to preDro for #292.
  • October 10, 2014, by Michael Wetter:
    Changed minimum attribute for nSeg from 2 to 1. This is required for the radiant slab model.
  • October 8, 2013, by Michael Wetter:
    Removed parameter show_V_flow.
  • September 13, 2013 by Michael Wetter:
    Replaced nominal with default values as they are computed using the default Medium values.
  • February 15, 2012 by Michael Wetter:
    Changed base class from which the model extends. Propagated parameters of volume to the top if this model.
  • February 12, 2012 by Wangda Zuo:
    First implementation.