modelCheckValve

Check valve that avoids flow reversal

Extends from Buildings.Fluid.BaseClasses.PartialResistance (Partial model for a hydraulic resistance), Buildings.Fluid.Actuators.BaseClasses.ValveParameters (Model with parameters for valves).

Information

Implementation of a hydraulic check valve. Note that small reverse flows can still occur with this model.

Main equations

The basic flow function

ṁ = sign(Δp) k √ Δp  ,

with regularization near the origin, is used to compute the mass flow rate through the fully closed and fully open valve, respectively. The valve is considered fully closed when subjected to a negative pressure drop, and its flow coefficient k is then equal to l * Kv_SI, where Kv_SI is equal to Kv but in SI units. The valve is considered fully open when the pressure drop exceeds dpValve_closing, and its flow coefficient k is then equal to Kv_SI. For valve positions between these two extremes, a quintic spline interpolation is applied to determine the mass flow rate as a function of the pressure drop across the valve.

Typical use and important parameters

The parameters m_flow_nominal and dpValve_nominal determine the flow coefficient of the check valve when it is fully open. The leakage ratio l determines the minimum flow coefficient, for negative pressure differences. The parameter dpFixed_nominal allows to include a series pressure drop with a fixed flow coefficient into the model. The parameter dpValve_closing determines when the flow coefficient starts to increase, which is typically in the order of dpValve_nominal.

Implementation

The check valve implementation approximates the physics where a forward pressure difference opens the valve such that the valve opening increases, causing a growing orifice area and thus increasing the flow coefficient. Near dp=dpValve_closing, the valve is fully open and the flow coefficient saturates to the flow coefficient value determined by dpValve_nominal and m_flow_nominal. For typical valve diameters, the check valve is only fully open near nominal mass flow rate. Therefore, the model sets dpValve_closing=dpValve_nominal/2 by default.

Parameters

TypeNameDefaultDescription
BooleanhomotopyInitialization (from PartialResistance)true= true, use homotopy method
Modelica.Units.SI.MassFlowRatem_flow_turbulent (from PartialResistance)Turbulent flow if |m_flow| >= m_flow_turbulent
Reall0.001Valve leakage, l=Kv(y=0)/Kv(y=1)
RealkFixedif dpFixed_nominal > Modelica.Constants.eps then m_flow_nominal/sqrt(dpFixed_nominal) else 0Flow coefficient of fixed resistance that may be in series with valve, k=m_flow/sqrt(dp), with unit=(kg.m)^(1/2).
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 PartialResistance)Pressure drop at nominal mass flow rate
Modelica.Units.SI.PressureDifferencedpValve_nominal (from ValveParameters)Nominal pressure drop of fully open valve, used if CvData=Buildings.Fluid.Types.CvTypes.OpPoint
Modelica.Units.SI.PressureDifferencedpFixed_nominal0Pressure drop of pipe and other resistances that are in series
Modelica.Units.SI.PressureDifferencedpValve_closingdpValve_nominal/2Pressure drop when the check valve starts to close
Advanced
Modelica.Units.SI.MassFlowRatem_flow_small (from PartialTwoPortInterface)1E-4*abs(m_flow_nominal)Small mass flow rate for regularization of zero flow
Booleanfrom_dp (from PartialResistance)false= true, use m_flow = f(dp) else dp = f(m_flow)
Realn (from PartialResistance)2Flow exponent, n=1 for laminar, n=2 for turbulent
Booleanlinearized (from PartialResistance)false= true, use linear relation between m_flow and dp for any flow rate
Advanced › Diagnostics
Booleanshow_T (from PartialTwoPortInterface)false= true, if actual temperature at port is computed
Flow Coefficient
Buildings.Fluid.Types.CvTypesCvData (from ValveParameters)Buildings.Fluid.Types.CvTypes.OpPointSelection of flow coefficient
RealKv (from ValveParameters)Kv (metric) flow coefficient [m3/h/(bar)^(1/2)]
RealCv (from ValveParameters)Cv (US) flow coefficient [USG/min/(psi)^(1/2)]
Modelica.Units.SI.AreaAv (from ValveParameters)Av (metric) flow coefficient
Pressure-flow linearization
RealdeltaM (from ValveParameters)0.02Fraction of nominal flow rate where linearization starts, if y=1
Advanced › Nominal condition
Modelica.Units.SI.DensityrhoStd (from ValveParameters)Inlet density for which valve coefficients are defined

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

Revisions

  • October 14, 2024, by Antoine Gautier:
    Refactored using a spline interpolation. This is for issue 1937.
  • February 3, 2023, by Michael Wetter:
    Corrected graphical annotation.
  • September 16, 2019, by Kristoff Six and Filip Jorissen:
    Implementation of a hydraulic check valve. This is for issue 1198.