IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

Session 3
Protection Devices and Sizing in HAMMER
Hydropneumatic Tank

Objectives:
The main objective of this session is to use the following features in Bentley
HAMMER CONNECT Edition:
1. Applying different protection devices to force main lines (mainly
Hydropneumatic Tank).
2. Running different transient scenarios with protection devices installed and
monitoring their performance.

Problem Statement:
It is required to protect and test the performance of the protection devices for force
main FM-A.
In the current session we will focus mainly on using Hydropneumatic Tanks at the
pumping station for protecting the line against power failure of pumps. Sizing of the
tank will be based on the power failure scenario in the previous session.
Preliminary tank sizing will be done neglecting the tank geometry and water level
fluctuations inside the tank during the simulation. These factors shall be considered
during the final design for an exact solution. Different transient scenarios need to be
checked with the protection installed.
Hydropneumatic tanks can be installed either at a T or inline as shown in the figure
below. The typical approach is to model the vessel as in the inline case and consider
the losses in the short piping through the outflow loss coefficient of the tank.
However, this neglects the effects of water momentum of accelerating water through
that short pipe. In case of large diameters and flows this effect may be significant. In
this workshop we shall model the HT tank two times and compare the results.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-1 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

Procedures:
>> Sizing of Hydropneumatic Tank (Inline)
1. We shall try using a hydropneumatic tank at the pump station to protect the line in
case of pumps power failure. The tank shall be installed just downstream the
pumps.
2. As an initial guess, we can assume the tank to have an initial air volume of 3 m3
and an initial pressure equal to the steady state working pressure of the line. The
pipe connecting the tank to the header is assumed to be 400mm.
3. First, make a copy of the file as we are going to repeat all the steps one more time
to model the HT tank at a Tee.
4. Make the “Base” scenario current. Draw a hydropneumatic tank beside J-17 as in
the figure below.

5. Draw pipes connecting the tank to J-17 and J-68.

6. Edit the properties of pipes P-22 and P-23 as in the following table. Properties of
P-23 is identical to P-62 (except for subtracting 10m from its total length)
P-22 P-23
Length 10 m 368.96 m
Diameter 600 mm 600 mm
Material Ductile Iron Ductile Iron
Hazen William 130 130

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-2 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

7. Now Open the “Alternatives” and “Scenarios” and create new alternatives and
scenarios as shown in the figure below.

8. Make “Without Protection” as the “Active Topology” alternative for “Power

Failure” and “Emergency Startup-High Flow” scenarios. Also, make “With
Protection” the “Active Topology” alternative for all the “With Protection”
scenarios.
9. Now set the “Power Failure” scenario current. Open the “Active Topology
Selection” tool; select the newly added pipes and the HT tank and set them
inactive for the current scenario.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-3 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

10. Now make any of the “With Protection” scenarios current. Open the “Active
Topology Selection” tool; select the HT tank and P-22 to make them active for
the current scenario. Also select P-62 to be inactive.

11. It is recommended to edit the HT tank properties with the “Base” scenario made
current. This will be helpful if the model file contains different physical scenarios.
Even though, the changes that will be made to the HT physical properties in the
“Base” scenario will be copied to all child scenarios. Only changes made in the
child scenarios are contained.
12. Now set the “Base” scenario current and double click on the HT element to edit
its parameters as in the figure below.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-4 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

Set the “Elevation” and the

“Elevation (Base)” fields to
233.39. This is the elevation of
the original junction J-17 and
now corresponds to the initial
water elevation in the tank.

Set the “Minor Loss

Coefficient (Outflow)”
field to 2.5 for instance.

Set the “Volume (Tank)”

field to 10,000 L.

Set the “Treat as

Junction?” field to “True”.

Assume the “Diameter (Tank

Inlet Orifice)” 400mm.

Set the “Ratio of Losses” to 1.0

Set the “Has Bladder?”

option to “False”.

Make the “Volume of Gas

(Initial)” 3000 L.

Set the “Report Period” to 10

13. Setting the “Treat as Junction?” field to “True” forces the program to neglect
the storage volume of the tank in the steady state and extended period simulations.
14. Setting the “Has Bladder?” option to “False” make the program automatically
sets the initial gas pressure in the vessel to the steady state pressure at its location
while keeping the initial gas volume at this value (3000 L). If this option is set to
“True”, we will have to enter the initial pressure of gas in the bladder (precharge
pressure) and program will assume that this pressure corresponds to a volume of
gas that is equal to the total volume of the tank “Volume (Tank)” (it assumes that
the bladder occupies the total volume of the tank at the precharge pressure). Then
the program will subject it to the steady state pressure of the system to calculate
the actual volume at the beginning of the simulation. We can set this option to
“True” if we have a bladder type vessel and need to check the HT tank

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-5 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

performance in other transient scenarios where a different number of pumps are

operating.
15. Keep the “Elevation Type” to “Fixed”. This will make the program assume that
the water elevation inside the tank is fixed at the “Elevation (m)” value.
16. Create a new profile from HT-2 till R-2, name it Profile 2.
17. Go to the “Calculation Options” and enable “Text Reports”.

18. Now run the model. Notice that the check valve slam shuts almost when power
failure occurs. Examine the maximum and minimum pressures in the system from
the calculation summary. Plot the maximum and minimum pressure envelops
along Profile 2.

19. Examine the User Notifications carefully. Note the closure time for check valves.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-6 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

20. Special care should be taken to ensure that the maximum transient pressures do
not exceed the maximum transient allowance for pipes and equipment in the
system. If it exceeds, the vessel volume might need to be increased or throttling
for backflow should be considered (not recommended).
21. If the level of protection is sufficient, we need to know the maximum air volume
in the vessel during the simulation. To do this, go to Report > Analysis Detailed
Report. A text file opens with Wordpad for the simulation but save your model
first.
22. Search for the word “GAS” in the file. You will find values of the air volume,
pressure, and flow in and out of the tank with time. Scroll with your mouse and
pick up the largest volume value.

23. The maximum volume was 10.404 m3 and was reached after about 32.20 sec from
the start of the simulation (27.20 sec after power failure). Note that the inflow in
or out from the tank at the maximum value is about 0. Since the maximum air
volume exceeded the total volume of the tank, a warning message was issued in
the user notifications.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-7 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

24. Now scroll back to the beginning of the Gas vessel table in the report and note the
initial volume and head at time 0. The head was 276.7m; this makes the initial gas
pressure 43.21m after subtracting the elevation of the tank. The tank Elevation is
taken in the calculations as the initial water elevation inside the HT Tank and is
kept fixed throughout the simulation (approximation).

25. Another way to find the max gas expansion and min gas volume is from Report >
Analysis Output Log. A text file opens with Wordpad for the simulation but
save your model first. Search for Gas word in the file. You will find values of the
max and min air volume and max and min pressure.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-8 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

26. Finally, the easiest way to view the HT tank results is from the transient results
viewer > Extended Node data. You can plot time series curves for gas pressure,
inflow, and gas volume for each HT Tank. Please note that the provided gas
pressures are absolute pressures. Make sure that the Report Period (Transient) is
set to a value other than 0 in the HT tank properties window to enable this feature.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-9 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

>> Running the Case of Low Flow with Protection

1. Now we need to check on the maximum volume of the vessel if power failure
occurs during low flow conditions.
2. First, make the “Base” scenario current to make the HT tank with bladder as
was discussed earlier. This is to start the power failure at low flow conditions with
the same mass of air prescribed in the high flow case as 3000 L. With the “Base”
scenario current, edit the HT tank properties as in the figure below.

Set the “Volume (Tank)” to

3000 L.

Set the “Has Bladder?”

option to “True”.

Enter 43.3m as the

“Pressure (Gas-Preset)”.

Make sure that other

settings are the same.

3. Go to the scenarios manager and make the “With Protection” scenario under the
“Low Flow” scenario current.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-10 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

4. Make sure that the edits we performed to the HT tank in the “Base” alternative are
reflected here.
5. Now run both the initial conditions and the transient analysis of the scenario.
6. A plot for the maximum and minimum pressure envelopes along profile 2
indicates that the case of “High Flow” is more critical which was expected.

7. Save the file and open the text report generated for this simulation. Search for the
HT tank element in the file. Notice that the initial gas volume is now 4.057m3 and
the maximum volume is 6.640m3.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-11 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

8. We concluded now that the case of “Low Flow” was not the critical case for this
force main.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-12 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

>> Running the Emergency Startup Scenario with Protection

1. Similar to what we have done before, we will run the case of emergency startup
with the HT installed.
2. Make the “With Protection” scenario under the “Emergency Startup-High
Flow” scenario current.

3. Set the HT tank properties as in the previous case of low flow.

4. Run both the initial conditions and the transient analysis.
5. A plot for maximum and minimum pressure envelopes indicated that the
emergency startup case yielded almost the same minimum pressures as the power
failure scenario. However, the maximum pressure envelope is much higher.
6. Special care should be taken to ensure that the maximum transient pressures do
not exceed the maximum transient allowance for pipes and equipment in the
system. If it exceeds, soft startup of pumps should be considered in the startup
scenario (not recommended to increase the vessel volume).

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-13 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

7. However, the maximum volume of the tank is changed a little bit and almost
occurred at the same time as the “Shut Down After Time Delay” case. This can
be due to an inaccurate calculation of the “Torque (Nominal)” value and using a
time step for the calculations that results in large modifications in wave speed.
Setting the time step to 0.005sec can decrease the difference.

8. In this scenario, we are more interested in the maximum gas pressure

(corresponding to the minimum volume in the vessel). This is also reported in the
User notifications of the simulation. The reported pressure in the user notifications
is the absolute pressure while the pressures in the detailed report are the gauge
pressures. Difference between both values is approximately 10.33m (at sea level)

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-14 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

>> Additional Tasks (Inline Connection)

1. Try increasing the pump inertia to 20 kg.m2 and re-run the scenario of power
failure at high flow with the same initial gas volume as before.
2. Raise the HT tank elevation field by 5m to be 238.39m and re-run all the
simulations.
3. Change the tank outlet pipe diameter to 100mm instead of 400mm and see how
this value affects the results.
4. Try increasing the time step to be 0.2 sec and compare the final tank volume in
case of high flow power failure.
5. Change the Gas Law Exponent to 1.0 and 1.4 and run the Power Failure-High
Flow scenarios and compare the results.
6. Size HT tanks for protection of FM-B and FM-C against power failure.
>> Questions (Inline Connection)
1. Does increasing the pump inertia affect the results?

2. How does raising the level of the tank affect its volume?

3. How does increasing the initial air volume affect the final tank volume?

4. How does changing the tank outlet diameter affect the results?

5. Does the Time Step Selection affect accuracy of the results?

6. Fill in the following table

Gas Law Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum
Exponent Transient Pressure Transient Pressure Gas Volume Gas Volume
1.0
1.2
1.4

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-15 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

>> Sizing of Hydropneumatic Tank (At a Tee)

1. We shall try repeat the protection by installing the HT tank at a Tee. Now open
the original file FM-A.wtg.
2. We shall use the same HT tank properties used above; initial air volume of 3 m3
and an initial pressure equal to the steady state working pressure of the line. The
pipe connecting the tank to the header is assumed to 400mm.
3. First, make the “Base” scenario current. Draw a hydropneumatic tank beside J-17
as in the figure below.

4. Draw a pipes connecting the tank to J-17.

5. Edit the properties of pipes P-22 as in the following table.

Length 10 m
Diameter 400 mm
Material Ductile Iron
Hazen William 130

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-16 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

6. Now Open the “Alternatives” and “Scenarios” and create new alternatives and
scenarios as shown in the figure below.

7. Make “Without Protection” as the “Active Topology” alternative for “Power

Failure” and “Emergency Startup-High Flow” scenarios. Also, make “With
Protection” the “Active Topology” alternative for all the “With Protection”
scenarios.
8. Now set the “Power Failure” scenario current. Open the “Active Topology
Selection” tool; select the newly added pipes and the HT tank and set them
inactive for the current scenario.

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-17 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

9. Now make any of the “With Protection” scenarios current. Open the “Active
Topology Selection” tool; select the Ht tank and P-22 to make them active for the
current scenario.

10. Now set the “Base” scenario current and double click on the HT element to edit
its parameters as in the figure below.

Set the “Elevation” and the

“Elevation (Base)” fields to
233.39. This is the elevation of
the original junction J-17 and
now corresponds to the initial
water elevation in the tank.

Set the “Minor Loss

Coefficient (Outflow)”
field to 1.0 for instance.

Set the “Volume (Tank)”

field to 10,000 L.

Set the “Treat as

Junction?” field to “True”.

Assume the “Diameter (Tank

Inlet Orifice)” 400mm.

Set the “Ratio of Losses” to 1.0

Set the “Has Bladder?”

option to “False”.

Make the “Volume of Gas

(Initial)” 3000 L.

Set the “Report Period” to 10

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-18 Jan 2020

IHD443-Design of Pipelines and Pumping Stations Session 3

11. Go to the “Calculation Options” and enable “Text Reports”.

12. Now run the model. Notice that the check valve slam shuts almost when power
failure occurs. Examine the maximum and minimum pressures in the system from
the calculation summary. Plot the maximum and minimum pressure envelops
along Profile 1.

>> Questions (Tee Connection)

1. Why does connecting the HT-tank as a Tee affect the results? Which case do you
trust more, inline connection or Tee connection?

2. Try increasing the length of the connecting pipe P-22 to 30m and re-run the
model. What happened?

3. Does increasing the tank volume (initial gas volume) solve the situation?

A. El Ansary & M. Elkordy 3-19 Jan 2020