The ability to obtain correct estimates of the hydraulic characteristics of a nozzle check valve by finite-volume numerical simulation is discussed. The evaluation of the numerical results is performed by comparison of the computed pressure drops inside the valve with experimental measurements obtained on an industrial check valve. It is shown that, even with high mesh refinement, the obtained result is highly dependent on the choice of the turbulence model. The renormalization group theory (RNG) $k-ε$ model proves to be the more accurate to describe the flow inside the valve, which is characterized by repeated flow decelerations and accelerations and by boundary layer development under adverse pressure gradient. Pressure-drop and flow coefficients computed by adopting the RNG model agree well with the experimental values at different positions of the plug. The opening transient of the valve is also analyzed by an unsteady flow simulation where the motion of the plug is taken into account. The characteristic curve of the valve obtained in steady flow conditions is finally compared with the transient opening characteristic, highlighting a temporary increase in the pressure drop, which occurs because of a large unsteady separation region downstream of the plug.

1.
Pandula
,
Z.
, and
Halász
,
G.
, 2002, “
Dynamic Model for Simulation of Check Valves in Pipe Systems
,”
Period. Polytech., Mech. Eng.-Masinostr.
,
46
, pp.
91
100
.
2.
Lee
,
T. S.
, and
Leow
,
L. C.
, 2001, “
Numerical Study on Effects of Check Valve Closure Flow Conditions on Pressure Surges in Pumping Station With Air Entrainment
,”
Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids
,
35
, pp.
117
124
. 0271-2091
3.
Li
,
G.
, and
Liou
,
J. C. P.
, 2003, “
Swing Check Valve Characterization and Modeling During Transients
,”
ASME J. Fluids Eng.
0098-2202,
125
, pp.
1043
1050
.
4.
Goodwin
,
R.
, and
Jenkins
,
K.
, 2000, “
Anti-Pressure Surge Developments on Dual Plate Check Valves
,”
Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Pressure Surges
,
BHRA
,
Harrogate, England
.
5.
Hannah
,
B.
,
Sponsel
,
J.
,
Gormley
,
R.
, and
Kostelnik
,
M.
, 2001, “
Detailed Performance Comparisons Between Swing Type and In-Line Nozzle Check Valves
,”
Proceedings of the Eighth EPRI/NMAC Valve Technology Symposium
.
6.
Gormley
,
R.
, and
Michel
,
I.
, 2002, “
Axial Flow Check Valve Dynamic Response: Using Test Results to Select Optimum Valve Design
,”
Proceedings of the Seventh NRC/ASME Valve and Pump Testing Symposium
, Vol.
4
, pp.
2A
77
, Paper No. NUREG/CP-0152,.
7.
Stevenson
,
M. J.
, and
Chen
,
X. D.
, 1997, “
Visualization of the Flow Patterns in a High-Pressure Homogenizing Valve Using a CFD Package
,”
J. Food. Eng.
,
33
, pp.
151
165
. 0260-8774
8.
Agaphonov
,
B. N.
,
Goryachev
,
V. D.
,
Kolyvanov
,
V. G.
,
Ris
,
V. V.
,
Smirnov
,
E. M.
, and
Zaitsev
,
D. K.
, 1999, “
Simulation of 3d Turbulent Flow Through Steam-Turbine Control Valves
,”
Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Finite Volumes for Complex Applications
,
R.
Vielsmeer
,
F.
Benkhaldoun
, and
D.
Hanel
, eds.,
Hermes Science
,
London
, pp.
743
750
.
9.
,
J.
,
Banaszkiewicz
,
M.
,
Karcz
,
M.
, and
Winowiecki
,
M.
, 1999, “
Numerical Simulation of 3D Flow Through a Control Valve
,”
Cieplne Maszyny Przepływowe-Turbomachinery
,
115
, pp.
29
36
. 0002-7820
10.
Morita
,
R.
,
,
F.
,
Mori
,
M.
,
Tezuka
,
K.
, and
Tsujimoto
,
Y.
, 2007, “
CFD Simulations and Experiments of Flow Fluctuations Around a Steam Control Valve
,”
ASME J. Fluids Eng.
0098-2202,
129
, pp.
48
54
.
11.
Davis
,
J. A.
, and
Stewart
,
M.
, 2002, “
Predicting Globe Control Valve Performance, Part I: CFD Modeling
,”
ASME J. Fluids Eng.
0098-2202,
124
, pp.
772
777
.
12.
Davis
,
J. A.
, and
Stewart
,
M.
, 2002, “
Predicting Globe Control Valve Performance, Part II: Experimental Validation
,”
ASME J. Fluids Eng.
0098-2202,
124
, pp.
778
783
.
13.
Leutwyler
,
Z.
, and
Dalton
,
C.
, 2006, “
A Computational Study of Torque and Forces Due to Compressible Flow on a Butterfly Valve Disk in Mid-Stroke Position
,”
ASME J. Fluids Eng.
0098-2202,
128
, pp.
1074
1082
.
14.
Launder
,
B. E.
, and
Spalding
,
D. B.
, 1974, “
The Numerical Computation of Turbulent Flows
,”
Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng.
0045-7825,
3
, pp.
269
289
.
15.
Kruisbrink
,
A. C. H.
, 1999, “
Mannesmann Demag Nozzle Check Valve DN 600 Type DRV-B PN 10; Test Report
,” WL Delft Hydraulics.
16.
, 2001,
StarCD Version 3.15 User Guide
,
Computational Dynamics Ltd.
,
London
.
17.
Issa
,
R. I.
,
Gosman
,
A. D.
, and
Watkins
,
A. P.
, 1986, “
The Computation of Compressible and Incompressible Recirculating Flows by a Non-Iterative Implicit Scheme
,”
J. Comput. Phys.
0021-9991,
62
, pp.
66
82
.
18.
Issa
,
R. I.
, 1986, “
Solution of the Implicitly Discretised Fluid Flow Equations by Operator-Splitting
,”
J. Comput. Phys.
0021-9991,
62
, pp.
40
65
.
19.
Yakhot
,
V.
,
Orszag
,
S. A.
,
Thangam
,
S.
,
Gatski
,
T. B.
, and
Speziale
,
C. G.
, 1992, “
Development of Turbulence Models for Shear Flows by a Double Expansion Technique
,”
Phys. Fluids A
0899-8213,
4
(
7
), pp.
1510
1520
.
20.
Chen
,
Y. S.
, and
Kim
,
S. W.
, 1987, “
Computation of Turbulent Flows Using an Extended k-ε Turbulence Closure Model
,”
NASA
, Report No. CR-179204.
21.
Hirt
,
C. W.
,
Amsden
,
A. A.
, and
Cook
,
J. L.
, 1974, “
An Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian Computing Method for All Speeds
,”
J. Comput. Phys.
0021-9991,
14
, pp.
227
253
.
22.
Demirdzic
,
I.
, and
Peric
,
M.
, 1988, “
Space Conservation Law in Finite Volume Calculations of Fluid Flow
,”
Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids
0271-2091,
8
, pp.
1037
1050
.
23.
Norris
,
L. H.
, and
Reynolds
,
W. C.
, 1975, “
Turbulent Channel Flow With a Moving Wavy Boundary
,”
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
, Report No. FM–10.