Modelling leakage of sewage pipes laid in a porous ground: A case study of Tororo District

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This study gives an account of leaks in sewer pipelines through a permeable ground by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) bearing single leakage via simulation of fluids from Ansys Fluent 17.2 commercial software based on normal k-ε model with steady state condition. The segment of the pipe was a three dimensional having a cylinder length of 40mm, a pipe diameter of 20 mm, and leak orifice diameter of 2 mm with absorbent ground of length 25 mm and breadth 30 mm. The aim for the research was to decrease the rate of wastewater leaks from pipelines buried in the ground using CFD. The obtained results from simulation showed that once the flow was subjected to an outlet pressure from 100000 Pa to 275000 Pa the wastewater leaks from pressures of 99499 Pa to 278799.8 Pa signifying that increase in outlet pressures increases the pressure at the leak orifice and similarly an increase in inlet velocity caused an increase in velocity at the point and no substantial alteration in wastewater drift rate with increased inlet velocities. Thus, following of pressure and velocity vectors along the pipe was a tremendously imperative device that recognizes leakages as these arenas are disturbed by trepidations together before and after leakage points.