Difference between revisions of "Gas Gun Design Tool"

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Hall Consulting's '''Gas Gun Design Tool''' is a simulation program to aid the design of [[pneumatic cannon]]s. It is available [http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT here].
 
Hall Consulting's '''Gas Gun Design Tool''' is a simulation program to aid the design of [[pneumatic cannon]]s. It is available [http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT here].
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==Common problems for first time users==
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Read, and follow, the [http://thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT/installation.html installation instructions] for GGDT before installing.
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In the "Resevoir Data" section (parameters describing the pressure chamber) the default value for "Inner Diam" is 1.95 inch. This value is for a coaxial design  where the barrels is within the chamber. For other designs, for example ball valves or diaphragm valves, this value should be set to zero.
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==Suitable parameters for various valves==
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''(This section needs a lot more info)''
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A rough rule of thumb for calculating the Flow Coefficient (C<sub>v</sub>) for various valve types;
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C<sub>v</sub> = K * D<sup>2</sup>
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Where D is the seat diameter in centimetres, and K is
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= 1 for a sprinkler or ball valve
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= 2 for a piston of QEV
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= 3 for a burst disc.
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This formula is not 100% accurate, but it's easy to use, remember, and reasonably accurate.
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Using this formula we get a C<sub>v</sub> of 3.4 for a 1/2" [[QEV]].
  
 
==Physics model==
 
==Physics model==
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# Valve configuration and opening times. In fact, GGDT models five different types of valve: chamber sealing pilot (see [[piston valve]]s), barrel sealing pilot (ie, barrel sealing [[diaphragm valve]]s and [[piston valve]]s, [[burst disk]], [[hammer valve]], and "generic." Each of these valves have different behaviors and GGDT accounts for these behaviors (more on that below).
 
# Valve configuration and opening times. In fact, GGDT models five different types of valve: chamber sealing pilot (see [[piston valve]]s), barrel sealing pilot (ie, barrel sealing [[diaphragm valve]]s and [[piston valve]]s, [[burst disk]], [[hammer valve]], and "generic." Each of these valves have different behaviors and GGDT accounts for these behaviors (more on that below).
# Pressure drop across the valve oriface.
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# Pressure drop across the valve orifice.
 
# Temperature (and thus pressure) increase in the valve pilot due to work performed by gun gases on the valve piston/diaphragm.
 
# Temperature (and thus pressure) increase in the valve pilot due to work performed by gun gases on the valve piston/diaphragm.
 
# Gas leakage from the main valve body into the upper valve chamber ([[pilot]]).
 
# Gas leakage from the main valve body into the upper valve chamber ([[pilot]]).
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# Temperature effects on gas properties (and thus, performance).
 
# Temperature effects on gas properties (and thus, performance).
 
# Performance limitations due to flow choking in the valve or the barrel.
 
# Performance limitations due to flow choking in the valve or the barrel.
# Valve effective oriface increases due to lowered valve throat Mach number.
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# Valve effective orifice increases due to lowered valve throat Mach number.
 
# Temperature (and thus pressure) drop in the barrel due to work performed by the gas accelerating the projectile.
 
# Temperature (and thus pressure) drop in the barrel due to work performed by the gas accelerating the projectile.
 
# Gas leakage around the projectile in the barrel.
 
# Gas leakage around the projectile in the barrel.
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==Use==
 
==Use==
 
See Hall's [http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT page] on use
 
See Hall's [http://www.thehalls-in-bfe.com/GGDT page] on use
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{{stub}}
 
{{stub}}
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[[category:Concepts]]

Latest revision as of 12:30, 18 June 2010

Hall Consulting's Gas Gun Design Tool is a simulation program to aid the design of pneumatic cannons. It is available here.

Common problems for first time users

Read, and follow, the installation instructions for GGDT before installing.

In the "Resevoir Data" section (parameters describing the pressure chamber) the default value for "Inner Diam" is 1.95 inch. This value is for a coaxial design where the barrels is within the chamber. For other designs, for example ball valves or diaphragm valves, this value should be set to zero.

Suitable parameters for various valves

(This section needs a lot more info)

A rough rule of thumb for calculating the Flow Coefficient (Cv) for various valve types;

Cv = K * D2

Where D is the seat diameter in centimetres, and K is

= 1 for a sprinkler or ball valve
= 2 for a piston of QEV
= 3 for a burst disc.


This formula is not 100% accurate, but it's easy to use, remember, and reasonably accurate. Using this formula we get a Cv of 3.4 for a 1/2" QEV.

Physics model

As of version 4.2, in modeled the following features:

  1. Valve configuration and opening times. In fact, GGDT models five different types of valve: chamber sealing pilot (see piston valves), barrel sealing pilot (ie, barrel sealing diaphragm valves and piston valves, burst disk, hammer valve, and "generic." Each of these valves have different behaviors and GGDT accounts for these behaviors (more on that below).
  2. Pressure drop across the valve orifice.
  3. Temperature (and thus pressure) increase in the valve pilot due to work performed by gun gases on the valve piston/diaphragm.
  4. Gas leakage from the main valve body into the upper valve chamber (pilot).
  5. Performance differences due to different gases.
  6. Temperature effects on gas properties (and thus, performance).
  7. Performance limitations due to flow choking in the valve or the barrel.
  8. Valve effective orifice increases due to lowered valve throat Mach number.
  9. Temperature (and thus pressure) drop in the barrel due to work performed by the gas accelerating the projectile.
  10. Gas leakage around the projectile in the barrel.
  11. Compressibility (Mach) effects on air pressure both in front of and behind the projectile to include the creation of shocks. (see shock heating)

However, it does not consider:

  1. Energy losses associated with turbulence or frictional forces between the gas and the gun's reservoir/barrel walls. In other words, pressure drops due to bends or rough edges in the gun's plumbing.
  2. Reservoir fineness ratio's effect on performance.
  3. Freezing or liquification of gun gases.

However, these are not a major concern in most launchers, as they require very long barrels or very high pressures to notice. Typically, the GGDT outputs numbers within 5-10% of the measured value, although this is somewhat clouded by not knowing the proper input numbers.

Use

See Hall's page on use

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