Information for the Pseudo Spiral Tube (PST).

Pseudo spiral tube (PST) is formed by joining twenty six elbows joined together by twisting each
elbow at 90 degree. The pipe elbows are a 45degree elbow defined by the following three parameters:
The bend angle , (elbow angle) = 45 degree
Internal Diameter of Pipe, d = 54.8 mm
Elbow Bend radius, r = 75 mm
Angle of twist, = 90 degree

Figure 1: Elbow parameters

Design of a PST
A spiral shape tube can be made by joining several elbows together at different twisitng angles within
this range 0<<180. The geometry of a section of PST produced using a number of elbows can be
described using the following parameters , see Figure 2
Amplitude, A, : the maximum distance from the elbow centre line to the PST centre line.
Pitch, P : the distance between two spiral peaks.
Length, L : the distance between the central points of both ends.

Figure 2: PST parameters defined

TYPICAL PST ( PST GEOMETRY TO BE DEVELOPED) see Figure 3 and 4

The length of the PST is about 3 m long using 26 elbows. The amplitude A is determined from the
formula A/d = 0.5; hence A = 27.4 mm. The pitch of the PST , P = 437.7 mm.
A single elbow can be described using two parameters to represent turning angles around the central
line, and around the bend centre , Y.
 02 and 0 Equation (1)

At the end y =0, hence, x= -r. the end circle centred at x = -r, y = r and z = 0. The elbow bend centre is
at x = -r, y =0 and z =0.
The three components , x, y and z of eqution one is a representative of sinusodal equation . you can
google information on that online.

To connect a second elbow to the first elbow, the second elbow has to rotate by degree, (that is the
elbow angle), around the bend centre. To form a spiral, second elbow can also rotate by degrees
around the circle centre of the connecting surface. Therefore , the second elbow model is obtained by
two rotations. The beginning end of the rotated (second) elbow will match the finishing end of the
first elbow. This procedure is repeated with subsequent elbows to obtain a length of PST. Figure 4 is a
typical PST roduced with a MATLAB program

Figure 3: Full length of the Pseudo spiral tube picture constructed using 26 of 45 degree
elbows twisted by 90 degrees
Figure 4: Typical CFD mesh of the PST constructed using 26 of 45 degree elbows twisted
by 90 degrees.
The PST geometry and mesh to be produced for my job should be exactly as Figure 4.

Figure 5: Beginning of the spiral tube

Figure 6 : Middle of the spiral tube

Figure 7: Part of the spiral tube

Figure 8: End part of the spiral tube

Development of the 3D flow pipe geometry and mesh with the PST in ANSYS ICEM
The flow pipe geometry to be produced will be used for simulation of two-phase flow. The
pipe flow geometry consists of a horizontal and vertical pipe. The horizontal section consists
of straight pipe, PST and blind T at its end. The vertical comprises a Venturi meter and
discharge straight pipe. In the geometry development , you have to join or merge the
horizontal and vertical together to avoid leakage when the mesh is produced. You know
better than me , the term use in ANSYS ICEM to merge the pipes. The 3D geometry has to
be produced in millimetres.
Please find a sketch of the flow pipe geometry on Figure 9.
Figure 9: sketch of the flow pipe geometry
Below is the dimension for the geometry as stated on the sketch:

Table 1: Dimensions for the flow pipe geometry in mm

Points X coordinate (mm) Y coordinate (mm) Z coordinate (mm)

0 0.000 0.000 0.000
1 -109.600 27.40 0.00
2 -109.600 -27.40 0.00
3 -54.800 27.40 0.00
4 -54.800 -27.40 00
5 10932.60 -27.40 0.00
6 10987.40 -27.400 00
7 11047.68 -27.40 00
8 11047.68 27.40 000
9 10987.40 27.40 00
10 10932.60 27.40 0.00
11 10987.40 54.800 0.00
12 10932.60 54.80 0.00
13 10987.40 142.48 0.00
14 10932.60 142.48 0.00
15 10973.70 216.40 0.00
16 10946.30 216.00 0.00
17 10973.70 243.00 0.00
18 100946.30 243.00 0.00
19 10987.40 335.9240 0.00
20 10932.60 335.9240 0.00
21 10987.40 3075.9240 0.00
22 10932.60 3075.9240 0.00
A -109.600 0.00 0.00
B 11047.68 0.00 0.00

Points A and B are middle or interior line that could help in marking the centre line of the PST
and the pipe. You may ignore it.
Please remove to create the 3D surfaces at the entrance, beginning and end of the PST, the
Blind T( end of horizontal pipe), at joint of vertical and horizontal pipe, beginning and end of
the Venturi meter and the end of the vertical pipe.
NOTE:
Three different 3D geometries are to be developed at distances 5D, 10D, and 15D.
D stands for the pipe diameter = 54.8 mm
5D = 5 x 54.8 = 274 mm
10D = 10 x 54.8 = 548 mm
15D = 15 x 54.8 = 822 mm
The total length of horizontal pipe from point 0 is 11047.68. all measurement is taken from
point 0.
How to determine the starting point of the PST from point 0 for each distance:

First develop the PST by joining 26 of 45 degree elbows twisted at 90 degree in a

trial folder. Calculate the total length of the PST.
For each distance find the sum of the PST length and the distance
Subtract sum from the total horizontal pipe length

See figure , example of the pipe flow mesh produced without the PST tube.

Figure 10: 3D mesh of the flow pipe without PST

Please remember to join or merge the vertical and horizontal pipes together.

OTHER INFORMATION THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL:

Figure 11: this is about 55% close to my job. But this work is not accurate because it is just
like wavy tube formed from 45 degree elbows. In my job The concave amplitude should have
two adjacent elbows twisted at 90,as well as the convex amplitude. In all, it should have
about 8 concave and convex amplitudes to form the 26 elbows. But figure 11 has 13
concave amplitudes.Also , in the above figure 11 it is started with convex amplitude which is
wrong, it has to start with concave amplitude similar to figure 12.
Figure 12 below is a typical PST tube

Figure 12: this is a typical PST tube formed by joining sixteen 45 degree elbows twisted at
different angles as shown in Table 1 below