Numerical Study of the Flow Distribution in Parallel Pipes of Water Cooling System of Diesel Locomotives

This study employs a numerical approach to investigate the flow distribution characteristics within the parallel branch pipes of a water cooling system in diesel locomotives. The analysis reveals a considerable non-uniformity in the flow distribution within the parallel branch pipes of the cooling system, with 15% flow deviations. To address this issue, a study of the pipeline's velocity and pressure fields was conducted. The results uncovere that changes of the area of recirculation regions and static pressure are the primary contributors to this non-uniform flow distribution. As a solution, interceptors were installed in both the manifold box and the branch pipe inlets to regulate the flow within the pipeline. Among the measures involving using flow interceptors in the manifold box, when three interceptors are used and their cross section areas are S1 = 32 cm2, S2 = 28 cm2, S3 = 24 cm2, the most effective regulation appears, the flow deviation decreases to approximately 6%, but the pressure drop increases 11%. Installing one interceptor with different cross section area at every branch pipe inlet reduces the flow distribution unevenness from 15% to about 2%, the pressure drop increases 10%. This underscores the effectiveness of installing an interceptor at every branch pipe inlet for flow regulation.