CERIS Researchers Take Best Paper Award at International Conference in Delft

A study led by João Paulo Ferreira, researcher at CERIS and Invited Assistant Professor at DECivil/IST, has been distinguished with the Best Paper Award at the 15th International Pressure Surges Conference, held in Delft, The Netherlands.
The award-winning paper “Further understanding thermodynamics processes of entrapped air pockets during transient events” was developed in collaboration with Marta Cabral and Dídia Covas, also from CERIS and Instituto Superior Técnico.

The research tackles a critical challenge in hydraulic engineering: the impact of trapped air inside pressurised pipelines. Under transient conditions, these air pockets can significantly amplify pressure peaks, increasing the risk of damage and system failure.
Combining controlled laboratory experiments with high-speed imaging and advanced image processing techniques, the team was able to track air pocket behaviour in real time. The results show that their thermodynamic response is not constant, as often assumed, but varies dynamically during compression and expansion phases. This led to the development of a new approach to better estimate these processes.The findings have direct implications for the design and operation of hydraulic systems, including water supply networks, pumping systems, and hydropower infrastructure.

This international recognition highlights the strength of collaborative research within CERIS and reinforces its position at the forefront of advancing knowledge in hydraulic engineering.

Congratulations to the team!