Local Restriction (TL)

Time-invariant reduction in flow area

Library

Thermal Liquid/Elements

Description

The Local Restriction (TL) block models the pressure drop due to a time-invariant reduction in flow area such as an orifice. Ports A and B represent the restriction inlets. The restriction area, specified in the block dialog box, remains constant during simulation.

The restriction consists of a contraction followed by a sudden expansion in flow area. The contraction causes the fluid to accelerate and its pressure to drop. The pressure drop is assumed to persist in the expansion zone—an approximation suitable for narrow restrictions.

Local Restriction Schematic

Mass Balance

The mass balance in the restriction is

`$0={\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{\text{A}}+{\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{\text{B}},$`
where:

• ${\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{\text{A}}$ is the mass flow rate into the restriction through port A.

• ${\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{\text{B}}$ is the mass flow rate into the restriction through port B.

Momentum Balance

The pressure difference between ports A and B follows from the momentum balance in the restriction:

`${p}_{\text{A}}-{p}_{\text{B}}=\frac{{\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{A}{\left({\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{A}{}^{2}+{\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{Ac}{}^{2}\right)}^{1/2}}{2\text{\hspace{0.17em}}{C}_{\text{d}}^{2}{S}_{R}{\rho }_{\text{u}}},$`
where:

• pA is the pressure at port A.

• pB is the pressure at port B.

• Cd is the discharge coefficient of the restriction aperture.

• SR is the cross-sectional area of the restriction aperture.

• ρu is the liquid density upstream of the restriction aperture.

• ${\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{\text{Ac}}$ is the critical mass flow rate at port A.

The critical mass flow rate at port A is

`${\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{\text{Ac}}={\mathrm{Re}}_{\text{c}}\sqrt{\pi {S}_{R}}\frac{{\mu }_{\text{u}}}{2},$`
where:

• Rec is the critical Reynolds number,

`${\text{Re}}_{c}=\frac{|{\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{\text{Ac}}|D}{{S}_{\text{R}}{\mu }_{\text{u}}},$`

D is the hydraulic diameter of the restriction aperture.

• μu is the liquid dynamic viscosity upstream of the restriction aperture.

The discharge coefficient is the ratio of the actual mass flow rate through the local restriction to the ideal mass flow rate,

`${C}_{d}=\frac{{\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{ideal}}{\stackrel{˙}{m}},$`
where:

• $\stackrel{˙}{m}$ is the actual mass flow rate through the local restriction.

• ${\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{ideal}$ is the ideal mass flow rate through the local restriction:

`${\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{ideal}={S}_{R}\sqrt{\frac{2{\rho }_{u}\text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left({p}_{A}-{p}_{B}\right)}{1-{\left({S}_{R}/S\right)}^{2}}}.$`
where S is the inlet cross-sectional area.

Energy Balance

The energy balance in the restriction is

`${\varphi }_{\text{A}}+{\varphi }_{\text{B}}=0,$`
where:

• ϕA is the energy flow rate into the restriction through port A.

• ϕB is the energy flow rate into the restriction through port B.

Variables

Use the Variables tab in the block dialog box (or the Variables section in the block Property Inspector) to set the priority and initial target values for the block variables prior to simulation. For more information, see Set Priority and Initial Target for Block Variables.

Assumptions and Limitations

• The restriction is adiabatic. It does not exchange heat with its surroundings.

• The dynamic compressibility and thermal capacity of the liquid in the restriction are negligible.

Parameters

Restriction Area

Enter the flow cross-sectional area of the local restriction. The default value is `1e-5` m^2.

Cross-sectional area at ports A and B

Enter the flow cross-sectional area of the local restriction ports. This area is assumed the same for the two ports. The default value is `1e-2` m^2 .

Characteristic longitudinal length

Enter the approximate longitudinal length of the local restriction. This length provides a measure of the longitudinal scale of the restriction. The default value is `1e-1` m.

Discharge coefficient

Enter the discharge coefficient of the local restriction. The discharge coefficient is a semi-empirical parameter commonly used to characterize the flow capacity of an orifice. This parameter is defined as the ratio of the actual mass flow rate through the orifice to the ideal mass flow rate:

`${C}_{d}=\frac{{\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{ideal}}{\stackrel{˙}{m}},$`
where Cd is the discharge coefficient, $\stackrel{˙}{m}$ is the actual mass flow rate through the orifice, and ${\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{ideal}$ is the ideal mass flow rate:
`${\stackrel{˙}{m}}_{ideal}={S}_{r}\sqrt{\frac{2\rho \text{\hspace{0.17em}}\left({p}_{A}-{p}_{B}\right)}{1-{\left({S}_{r}/S\right)}^{2}}}.$`

The default value is `0.7`, corresponding to a sharp-edged orifice.

Pressure recovery

Specify whether to account for pressure recovery at the local restriction outlet. Options include `On` and `Off`. The default setting is `On`.

Critical Reynolds number

Enter the Reynolds number for the transition between laminar and turbulent flow regimes. The default value is `12`, corresponding to a sharp-edged orifice.

Ports

The block has two thermal liquid conserving ports, A and B. These ports represent the inlets of the local restriction.