Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/L49949/01
Title:	SIMULATION OF BUILDING DRAINAGE VENT SYSTEM OPERATION
Principal Investigator:	Swaffield, Professor J
Other Investigators:	Campbell, Dr D McDougall, Dr JA
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Building Engineering & Surveying
Organisation:	Heriot-Watt University
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 August 1997	Ends:	31 January 2000	Value (£):	78,409
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Building Ops & Management
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Flow conditions in multi-storey building drainage sysems are unsteady, with attenuating water waves in the horizontal branches and an entrained unsteady airflow in the interior stacks. The establishment of this airflow is accompanied by low amplitude air pressure transient propagation that is responsible for the possible depletion of appliance tap seals, which protect the habitable space from the drainage system odours, and the operation of relief devices. Current international and UK design codes, based on steady flow empirical observations, cannot provide design guidance as to the venting required by reduced water use applications, including wc's introduced as part of the drive for water conservation. Application of unsteady flow analysis based on the proven method of characteristics will allow the simulation of air pressure transient propagation within drainage and vent network, yielding design guidance as to the venting necessary with reduced water use and allowing the assessment of reduced pipe sizing. This research will develop a Windows based simulation, drawing on current and previous EPSRC funded research that will provide code and design guidance to system specifiers and appliance manufacturers. Close liason with research institutes, code bodies and industry will ensure that the research is relevant to the drainage design industry.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.hw.ac.uk