Numerical simulation and experimental study on water flow in Y-type tube

A series of experiments and numerical simulation of water flow in the Y type tube with circular cross section have been carried on to meet the request of the design for fork tube in the Yixing Hydropower Plant. The SIMPLE method is applied in the calculations of Reynolds averaged flow equation and k e turbulence equation. By using DPIV system and pressure difference gauge, the detail measurement of water flow in the horizontal plane of fork tube is made. It is shown that the calculation result is in good agreement with the experimental data including the water head loss and flow pattern. It is also concluded that the flow losses of reverse flow in branches are larger than that of direct flow. Under the condition of the same velocity, the flow energy losse in single tube is larger than that in double tube. Energy losses of direct flow in single tube are larger than that of reverse flow.