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Water distribution modeling is the latest technology in a process of advancement that began two millennia ago when the ...

H A E S T A D

M E T H O D S

ADVANCED WATER DISTRIBUTION MODELING AND MANAGEMENT F i r s t

E d i t i o n

H A E S T A D

M E T H O D S

ADVANCED WATER DISTRIBUTION MODELING AND MANAGEMENT F i r s t

E d i t i o n

Authors Haestad Methods Thomas M. Walski Donald V. Chase Dragan A. Savic Walter Grayman Stephen Beckwith Edmundo Koelle

Managing Editor Adam Strafaci

Project Editors Colleen Totz, Kristen Dietrich Contributing Authors Scott Cattran, Rick Hammond, Kevin Laptos, Steven G. Lowry, Robert F. Mankowski, Stan Plante, John Przybyla, Barbara Schmitz Peer Review Board Lee Cesario (Denver Water), Robert M. Clark (U.S. EPA), Jack Dangermond (ESRI), Allen L. Davis (CH2M Hill), Paul DeBarry (Borton-Lawson), Frank DeFazio (Franklin G. DeFazio Corp.), Kevin Finnan (Bristol Babcock), Wayne Hartell (Haestad Methods), Brian Hoefer (ESRI), Bassam Kassab (Santa Clara Valley Water District), James W. Male (University of Portland), William M. Richards (WMR Engineering), Zheng Wu (Haestad Methods), and E. Benjamin Wylie (University of Michigan) HAESTAD PRESS Waterbury, CT USA

ADVANCED WATER DISTRIBUTION MODELING AND MANAGEMENT First Edition, Second Printing © 2003 by Haestad Methods, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Graphic image reprinted courtesy of ESRI and is used herein with permission. Copyright © ESRI. All rights reserved. Graphic image reprinted courtesy of Jim McKibben, CH2MHill, Inc. and ESRI and is used herein with permission. Indexer: Beaver Wood Associates Proofreaders: Kezia Endsley and Beaver Wood Associates Special thanks to The New Yorker magazine for the cartoons throughout the book. © The New Yorker Collection from cartoonbank.com. All Rights Reserved. Page 17 - (1988) Charles Barsotti

Page 349 - (1988) Leo Cullum

Page 57 - (1987) Bernard Schoenbaum

Page 366 - (1989) Bernard Schoenbaum

Page 62 - (1996) Frank Cotham

Page 402 - (1987) Lee Lorenz

Page 83 - (2002 ) Dean Vietor

Page 419 - (1988) Arnie Levin

Page 115 - (1989) J. B. Handelsman

Page 437 - (2001) Tom Hachtman

Page 136 - (2001) Peter Steiner

Page 450 - (2002) David Sipress

Page 162 - (1990) Roz Chast

Page 461 - (1999) Danny Shanahan

Page 170 - (2002) Arnie Levin

Page 474 - (1997) Arnie Levin

Page 183 - (1999) Jack Ziegler

Page 505 - (2001) Mike Twohy

Page 202 - (2002) Aaron Bacall

Page 513 - (1996) Frank Cotham

Page 212 - (1987) Dana Fradon

Page 520 - (1995) Ed Fisher

Page 255 - (1992) Dana Fradon

Page 536 - (2001) Dean Victor

Page 271 - (2002) Charles Barsotti

Page 552 - (1990) John O’Brien

Page 274 - (2001) Jack Ziegler

Page 584 - (1992) Danny Shanahan

Page 300 - (1993) Tom Cheney

Page 598 - (2001) Eldon Dedini

Page 319 - (1996) Edward Koren

Page 622 - (1999) Danny Shanahan

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2002107275 ISBN: 0-9714141-2-2

Haestad Methods, Inc. 37 Brookside Rd. Waterbury, CT 06708-1499 USA

Phone: +1-203-755-1666 Fax: +1-203-597-1488 e-mail: [emailprotected] Internet: www.haestad.com

“A little experience often upsets a lot of theory.” -Cadman

Dedicated to the men and women who design, build, operate, and protect the water supply systems of the world. -The Authors

Over ten thousand practicing engineers, professors, and students have adopted Water Distribution Modeling as a technical resource for their organizations, universities, and libraries. Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management builds on this successful text with new material from some of the world’s leading experts on water distribution systems. The following pages show just a few of the comments we have received from our readers.

“This book contains an excellent summary of the knowledge acquired by many experts in water distribution system modeling.” Allen L. Davis, PhD, PE CH2M Hill USA “The Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management book is an excellent, comprehensive and authoritative book. If you work in this field or want to know more about it, this is the book to have.” Lee Cesario, PE Denver Water USA “Water Distribution Modeling gives insight into the intricacies of modelling. The book is well-written and equally as good for beginners as it is for practicing engineers. I congratulate Haestad . . .” Sachin Shende CMC Ltd. INDIA “Once again Haestad Methods has assembled a comprehensive document, this time covering advanced techniques of water distribution system management. Sections on GIS and system security are particularly timely given advances in data management and concerns about system vulnerability.” James W. Male, PhD, PE University of Portland USA “This is an absolutely comprehensive reference for anyone involved in water distribution system analysis, design, and modeling. Chapters such as the one on SCADA data exemplify how contemporary this work is.” Kevin Finnan Bristol Babcock USA

“I have been doing computer modeling of water distribution systems for 15 years. Haestad Methods’ Water Distribution Modeling is the most comprehensive reference resource on hydraulic network modeling. This book is a must-have for anyone engaged in distribution system modeling, whether you use Haestad's software or not.” Jeff H. Edmonds, PE URS Corporation USA “...an excellent reference for students, engineers, and professors since it combines the theoretical and practical aspects of designing a water distribution network. It saves you the time of searching through the different literature references since it covers all aspects related to network modelling . . . The fact that it covers designing, operating, and maintaining a water distribution network makes it my preferred reference.” Mohamad Shehab, MSc Halcrow International Partnership UNITED ARAB EMIRATES “Outstanding resource. Every engineer that models water distribution should own a copy of this book. I also feel that this should be a required manual for all engineering students. We are currently ordering several more copies for our firm.” Michael S. Wilson England Thims & Miller, Inc. USA “This book should be required reading for any engineer performing water distribution analysis. A++.” Keith W. Walthall, EIT Hunter Associates Texas, Ltd. USA

“Not only does it contain basic modeling theory, but it also provides very specific modeling methods and approaches. I would recommend this book for anyone involved in hydraulic modeling, from beginner to professional.” Michael J. Whimpey, PE Central Utah Water Conservancy District USA “As an environmental and water engineering firm, we found this book to be most comprehensive from theory to practice.” Yoav Yinon, MSc DHV MED ISRAEL “Once my staff started using the book, it became a must-have reference that keeps getting passed around and utilized on a daily basis, not only for modeling issues but general engineering guidance.” Jerry Wakefield, PE Apex Engineering USA “This is a must-read for any young engineer trying to obtain the PE License. It is also extremely helpful and enlightening for the seasoned Professional Engineer.” David Vogelsong City of Fredericksburg USA “This book is an excellent resource, and it can be used to gain professional development hours.” Vincent Townsend, PE, PLS Fleming Engineering, Inc. USA

“This book is the most comprehensive book on water distribution system modelling that I have read in my 27 years of engineering. . . . It is a welcome addition to my reference library.” Pete Shatzko, PE Shatzko Engineering, Ltd. CANADA “This has become my most used source book for all my hydraulic questions. I can now go to one book in our library rather than going back to my old college textbooks. . . . [It is] a very good investment.” Gene E. Thorne, PE Gene E. Thorne & Associates, Inc. USA “A book of this nature has been needed in the water distribution modeling arena since this type of engineering software has been in existence. The book covers from A to Z how to make the modeling software produce results that simulate the true field conditions of water distribution systems.” Joe Stanley, PE City of Eden, NC USA “This book is a ‘must’ for all water distribution modelers. It gives a good review of the fundamental concepts and provides a common-sense approach to understanding the essentials of water distribution modeling. Purchasing this book is money well spent; it will act as a continued source of reference.” Robert Niewenhuizen City of Swift Current CANADA

“If you are involved with water distribution modeling, you must have this book. Even if you have no background in water distribution modeling, the simplicity with which it presents modeling techniques makes it easy for anyone to follow.” Michael P. McShane, EIT City of Richland USA “Excellent book—brought me up to speed in an area in which my company does a lot of work.” Richard C. Miller, PE J. Kenneth Fraser and Associates USA “. . . Advanced methodologies such as water quality modelling, genetic algorithms, and GIS are so simply presented that instant modelling skills can be picked up readily. Above all, everything is presented in one comprehensive book. I am proud to be an owner of this wonderful professional companion.” David Oloke, MSc, MASCE, MNSE, MSEI Enplan Group, Consulting Engineers UK “Dr. Walski and his co-authors have produced a thorough work on water distribution system modeling and hydraulics . . . Any engineering consultant or utility operator who deals with water distribution system evaluation, planning, or operation should have this book.” Anthony P. O'Malley, PE Larkin Group, Inc. USA

“Water Distribution Modeling has provided excellent guidance, both in practical and theoretical areas, to design water distribution networks in Central America.” Martin A. Ede, BSc, Dip. Ag. Econ., C.Eng., F.I. Agr. E. Land & Water Bolivia, Ltda. BOLIVIA “I found this book to be very informative, and I'm constantly referring to it. . . . We unfortunately have only one copy at the City, and it is always being passed around from person to person—that is the only bad comment I have.” Rod Collins City of Nampa USA “A wealth of helpful information in one volume.” Daniel Summerfield, PE DJ & A, P.C. USA “The bibliography alone is worth the price. It is very well organized for quick referencing, as well as reading cover to cover.” Rebecca Henning U.S. Army Corps of Engineers USA “I have found the book very useful at my work in water distribution system design. It is easy to understand and contains a wealth of information.” Kristján Knutsson Honnun, Ltd. ICELAND

“I've been in water/wastewater engineering for 30 years and have not, until now, seen a book on water system modeling that is as well-written, comprehensive, and easy to read as Water Distribution Modeling. I can't say enough about it—an absolute must for every engineer’s bookshelf.” Gary A. Adams, PE Obsidian Group, Inc. USA “One of the most useful books in the business. If you happen to be in the consulting business, this book will help you over and over to get to the optimal solution. I have used it plenty of times, and every time it gives me a better understanding of the behavior of hydraulic networks.” Alfonso Castaños, MS Kuroda MEXICO “One of the best engineering books.” Lionel Sun, PE, MS Seattle Public Utilities USA “Water Distribution Modeling has quickly become the water distribution modeling text for Banning Engineering. It is a complete resource that is easy to use and understand. We have used it to re-vamp our water distribution modeling procedures and have used it to develop one of our lunchtime training series classes on water distribution. We recommend it highly!” Jeffry W. Healy, PE Banning Engineering, P.C. USA “Superb knowledge volume. I am really looking forward to further in the series.” Garry McGraw, NZCE Matamata Piako District Council NEW ZEALAND

“This is a must-have book for civil site consultants. The book is well-organized and very insightful. It is the first book I open when I have a question about water distribution modeling. I highly recommend the purchasing of this book if you are in any way connected to the water distribution field.” Gregory A. Baisch, EIT Connor & Associates, Inc. USA “Great one-stop reference for water distribution system design and modeling. Water transport and distribution is made easy by the introduction of this wonderful book. Every water engineer should have it in his library.” Elfatih Salim, PE Fairfax County Government, VA USA “This book is much more than a book on modeling. It can be referenced by any technically qualified individual who is interested in a clear approach to understanding how a welldesigned water system is built, operated, and maintained. It is a handsomely bound volume that should certainly be on the reference shelf of any waterworks engineer who is actively involved with the design, maintenance, or operation of water systems.” William M. Richards, PE WMR Engineering USA “Having undertaken engineering design and analysis of water distribution systems for a number of years, I have always been disappointed that I couldn't find reference material that dealt with computer modeling in a comprehensive manner. This book is the one that I've searched for!” Kelly G. Cobbe, P.Eng. Cumming Cockburn, Ltd. CANADA

“Positively the most significant contribution to the literature on simulation and modeling of water distribution systems over the last 15 years. From the point of view of a practicing engineer in this area, it is a very powerful addition to my armory of resource materials with the advantage that it is available in a single text. A four-star publication indeed!” Rakesh Khosa, PhD Indian Institute of Technology INDIA “Water Distribution Modeling is a powerful tool and a reference workbook for all professionals in the area of water distribution. From basic hydraulic knowledge and techniques and modelling paradigms to the practical examples, all items are very well explained in a clear and practical way.” Afonso Povoa, Eng. Pascal - Engenheiros LDA PORTUGAL “I've been using three or four books to compile information on water distribution methods over the years. This is the first book I have encountered that has a comprehensive knowledge and a clear presentation of useful situations in water distribution. Haestad's Water Distribution Modeling book has replaced the other books on my shelf.” Alison Foxworth Edwards & Kelcey Engineers, Inc. USA “A real masterpiece in water distribution modeling.” Marcelo Monachesi Gaio COPASA BRAZIL

“The Water Distribution Modeling text is a first-rate source for learning about the subject. It’s also a great resource book to have on your bookshelf. The tests at the end of each chapter are particularly useful and can be sent in for PDH/continuing education credits. I’m very happy with this book!” P. Scott Beasley, PE Crawford Design Company USA “An excellent resource on hydraulic modeling and water distribution systems in general. It is the first resource I turn to when I have modeling questions. Definitely a must for your engineering library.” Shane K. Swensen, PE Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District USA “I do not litter my desk with several reference books anymore when I am designing water distribution networks because Haestad’s Water Distribution Modeling contains all I need to know.” Herbert Nyakutsikwa Nyakutsikwa HJ Engineering Services ZIMBABWE “Water Distribution Modeling has been a very useful resource for us with our water distribution system’s GIS integration.” Timothy White James W. Sewall Company USA

Acknowledgments As with Water Distribution Modeling, this book’s predecessor, the delivery of Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management was the result of the efforts of many people. First and foremost, I want to thank the more than ten thousand individuals who have adopted Water Distribution Modeling as a technical resource for their organizations, universities, and libraries. Your comments, feedback, and encouragement are what drove this project. Many authors contributed to Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management. Led by Tom Walski and the staff of Haestad Methods, they include Stephen Beckwith, Scott Cattran, Donald Chase, Walter Grayman, Rick Hammond, Edmundo Koelle, Kevin Laptos, Steven Lowry, Robert Mankowski, Stanley Plante, John Przybyla, Dragan Savic, and Barbara Schmitz. Information on the individual authors and the chapters to which they contributed is provided in the next section, “Authors and Contributing Authors.” It is the synthesis of everyone’s ideas that really makes this book such a practical and helpful resource. Extra special thanks to the project editors, Kristen Dietrich and Colleen Totz, for their countless hours of hard work and dedication to weave the information from many authors and reviewers into a cohesive and accessible textbook. The new chapter on transient analysis presented some unique challenges, as it was originally authored by Edmundo Koelle in Portuguese. Thank you to Pedro Piña, Berenice G. Alves, and Pedro Santos Viera for providing translation services, and to Frank DeFazio, Keven Laptos, Bill Richards, and Ben Wylie for offering technical review comments. Many engineers, technical support representatives, and product specialists at Haestad Methods reviewed the chapters and accompanying examples and provided valuable input. These reviewers included Tom Barnard, Joshua Belz, Jack Cook, Samuel Coran, Steve Doe, Andres Gutierrez, Jennifer Hatchett, Gregg Herrin, Wayne Hartell, Keith Hodsden, Rajan Ray, Michael Rosh, Sasa Tomic, Michael Tryby, Ben White, and Ben Wilson. Houjung Rhee, Kristen Dietrich, Tom Walski, Don Chase, and Walter Grayman contributed to the discussion topics and exercises at the end of each chapter. The illustrations and graphs throughout the book were created and assembled under the direction of Peter Martin with the assistance of Haritha Vendra and Adam Simonsen of Haestad Methods, and Cal Hurd and John Slate of Roald Haestad, Inc. Special thanks to Richard Madigan at cartoonbank.com for The New Yorker cartoons throughout the book and to the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association; Crane Valves; Peerless Pumps; AWWA Research Foundation; National Fire Protection Association; Red Valve Company; Val-Matic; F.S. Brainard & Company; Badger Meter, Inc.; CMB Industries; Hersey Products; and the City of Waterbury Bureau of Water for providing us with additional illustrations.

Several people were involved in the final production and delivery of the book. Thank you to Lissa Jennings for managing publishing logistics; Rick Brainard and Jim O’Brien for providing artistic guidance and cover design; Ben Ewing and Prince Aurora for their creative energy in the design of the Web site; Corrine Capobianco and Emily Charles for expanding the book’s online presence through Amazon.com and other Web sites, Wes Cogswell for managing the CD and software installation efforts, Jeanne and David Moody of Beaver Wood Associates for developing a superb index, and Kezia Endsley for her thorough proofreading services. We greatly appreciate the contributions of our peer reviewers Lee Cesario, Bob Clark, Jack Dangermond, Allen Davis, Paul DeBarry, Frank DeFazio, Kevin Finnan, Wayne Hartell, Brian Hoefer, Bassam Kassab, Jim Male, Bill Richards, Zheng Wu, and Ben Wylie. They provided exceptional insights and shared practical experiences that added enormously to the depth of the work. Finally, special thanks to Haestad Methods executive vice president, Niclas Ingemarsson, who provided the human resources and management guidance to get the job done, and to the company president, John Haestad, who provided the vision and motivation to make this collection of ideas a reality.

Adam Strafaci Managing Editor

Authors and Contributing Authors

Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management represents a collaborative effort that combines the experiences of over twenty contributors and peer reviewers and the engineers and software developers at Haestad Methods. The authors and contributing authors and the chapters they developed are:

Authors Thomas M. Walski Haestad Methods, Inc. (Chapters 1-5, 7-10, 12, 13) Donald V. Chase University of Dayton (Chapters 1-5, 7-10) Dragan A. Savic University of Exeter, United Kingdom (Chapters 7, 8, 10, Appendix D) Walter Grayman W.M. Grayman Consulting Engineer (Chapters 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11) Stephen Beckwith A.L. Haime and Associates Pty., Ltd., Australia (Chapter 6, Appendix E) Edmundo Koelle Campinas University, Brazil (Chapter 13)

Contributing Authors Scott Cattran Woolpert LLP (Chapter 12) Rick Hammond Woolpert LLP (Chapter 12) Kevin Laptos Gannett Fleming, Inc. (Chapter 13) Steven G. Lowry Consultant (Chapter 6) Robert Mankowski Haestad Methods, Inc. (Chapter 12)

Stanley Plante Camp, Dresser & McKee, Inc. (Chapter 12) John Przybyla Woolpert LLP (Chapter 12) Barbara Schmitz CH2MHill (Chapter 12)

Haestad Methods The Haestad Methods Engineering Staff is an extremely diverse group of professionals from six continents with experience ranging from software development and engineering consulting, to public works and academia. This broad cross section of expertise contributes to the development of the most comprehensive software and educational materials in the civil engineering industry. In addition to the specific authors credited in this section, many at Haestad Methods contributed to the success of this book.

Thomas Walski, PhD, PE Thomas M. Walski, PhD, PE, Vice President of Engineering for Haestad Methods, has been named a Diplomate by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. Over the past three decades, Dr. Walski has served as an expert witness; Research Civil Engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Engineer and Manager of Distribution Operation for the City of Austin, Texas; Executive Director of the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority; Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at Wilkes University; and Engineering Manager for the Pennsylvania American Water Company. Over the past decade, he has also taught more than 2,000 professionals in Haestad Methods’ IACET-accredited water distribution modeling courses. A widely published expert on water distribution modeling, Dr. Walski has written several books, including Analysis of Water Distribution Systems, Water Distribution Simulation and Sizing (with Johannes Gessler and John Sjostrom), and Water Distribution Systems – A Troubleshooting Manual (with Jim Male). He was also editor and primary author of Water Supply System Rehabilitation and was chair of the AWWA Fire Protection Committee, which produced the latest version of Distribution Requirements for Fire Protection. He has served on numerous professional committees and chaired several, including the ASCE Water Resources Systems Committee, ASCE Environmental Engineering Publications Committee, ASCE Environmental Engineering Awards Committee, and the ASCE Water Supply Rehabilitation Task Committee. Dr. Walski has written over 50 peer-reviewed papers and made roughly 100 conference presentations. He is a three-time winner of the best paper award in Distribution and Plant Operation for the Journal of the American Water Works Association and is a past editor of the Journal of Environmental Engineering. He received his MS and PhD in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering from Vanderbilt University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in two states and a certified water and wastewater plant operator.

Donald V. Chase, PhD, PE Donald V. Chase, PhD, PE, is Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Dayton and a recognized authority in numerical modeling and computer simulation. Prior to receiving his PhD from the University of Kentucky, he was employed as a civil engineer by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station (WES) in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Dr. Chase is a registered Professional Engineer and a member of ASCE and AWWA. He has held several positions in these organizations, including chair of the ASCE Environmental Engineering Division Water Supply Committee.

Dragan A. Savic, PhD, CEng Dragan A. Savic, PhD, CEng, is a chartered (professional) engineer with over fifteen years of research, teaching, and consulting experience in various water engineering disciplines. His interests include developing and applying computer modeling and optimization techniques to civil engineering systems, and particularly to the operation and design of water distribution networks, hydraulic structures, hydropower generation, and environmental protection and management. Dr. Savic jointly heads the Center for Water Systems at the University of Exeter in England and is a founding member of Optimal Solutions, a consulting service that specializes in using optimization technologies to plan, design, and operate water systems. He has published over 100 research/professional papers and reports and is internationally recognized as a research leader in the modeling and optimization of pipe networks.

Walter Grayman, PhD, PE For the past 18 years, Walter Grayman, PhD, PE, has been the owner of the independent consulting engineering firm W. M. Grayman Consulting Engineer. He has over 30 years of engineering experience in the areas of research, planning, and application. Dr. Grayman has an extensive project background in the fields of water supply, water quality management, hydrology, geographic information systems, systems analysis, and water resources, with particular emphasis on computer applications in these areas. Over the past decade, Dr. Grayman has specialized in the areas of sampling, analyzing, and modeling water distribution systems. He is widely recognized as an expert in these areas and has performed studies, authored or co-authored more than three dozen papers, conducted several workshops, and lectured internationally. Dr. Grayman is co-author with Dr. Robert Clark of the recently-published Modeling Water Quality in Drinking Water Distribution Systems.

Stephen Beckwith, PhD Dr. Stephen Beckwith is a senior SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) engineer with A. L. Haime and Associates Pty. Ltd., in Perth, Western Australia. He has over 12 years of experience in the design and provision of SCADA systems to

the water industry. His interests include short-term water supply demand prediction algorithms and the development of software applications for the optimization of water supply system operations, in particular the use of evolutionary computing techniques such as genetic algorithms to solve pump scheduling and reservoir storage usage problems. Prior to receiving his PhD from the University of Western Australia, he was employed as an electrical engineer with the Water Corporation of Western Australia and later as an Associate Lecturer in electrical engineering with the University of Western Australia. Dr. Beckwith currently has a long-term contract with the Water Corporation of Western Australia to provide SCADA engineering services, including project planning, definition, specification, and technical design. Prior to this contract, he worked as a SCADA and control system engineer on projects in the satellite, gas, and mining industries in Australia and the United Kingdom. Dr. Beckwith has authored several technical papers on topics ranging from demand prediction and water supply system optimization, to the application of SCADA in the water industry.

Edmundo Koelle, PhD Dr. Edmundo Koelle was professor of hydraulic machines and fluid mechanics at Sao Paulo University (USP), and he is presently a professor at Campinas University (UNICAMP), in Brazil. Dr. Koelle has over 30 years of of teaching, consulting, research, and design experience in the area of liquid transport phenomena related to cavitation, transients, and flow-induced vibrations in hydraulic networks, pumping systems, hydroelectric power plants, and oil pipelines. He is co-author of the book Fluid Transients in Pipe Networks (Elsevier Applied Science and Computational Mechanics Publications, 1992), and is the author of numerous papers published in congress proceedings and journals.

Scott Cattran, MS Scott Cattran is an Associate and the GIS Group Manager for Woolpert LLP in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Cattran has a Masters degree in GIS from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. At Woolpert, Mr. Cattran manages water, sanitary, and stormwater geographic information system (GIS) projects. He specializes in creating automated data conversion procedures, and integrating GIS with modeling software, computer maintenance management systems, and relational database management systems. Mr. Cattran has done several presentations on the topic of integrating GIS with modeling and has published articles in Public Works magazine and ESRI's ArcNews.

Rick Hammond, MS Rick Hammond is a Project Director for Woolpert LLP in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mr. Hammond holds a BS in Regional Analysis from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay and an MS in Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Mr. Hammond has more than 14 years of experience in using GIS to address environmen-

tal and engineering problems. He specializes in integrating GIS computer maintenance management systems and hydraulic and hydrologic models. Mr. Hammond has given several presentations on integrating GIS with maintenance activities and has published articles in Public Works magazine.

Kevin Laptos, PE Kevin Laptos, PE has 12 years of professional engineering experience at Gannett Fleming, Inc. (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA). Currently, Mr. Laptos is a project manager and manager of the hydraulics and modeling group, Environmental Resources Division. His responsibilities include hydraulic and water quality modeling of water distribution systems; hydraulic modeling of wastewater systems; water system planning, design, and operational studies; hydraulic transient studies of water and wastewater systems; system mapping and GIS investigations; and hydraulic field testing of water systems and system facilities. Mr. Laptos is a member of AWWA and ASCE, and participates in the AWWARF Project Advisory Committee and the AWWA Engineering Computer Applications Committee.

Steven G. Lowry, PE Steven G. Lowry, PE, has 23 years of experience in hydraulic, water quality, and transient analysis of water distribution systems. He also has extensive experience in developing and designing SCADA systems and conducting security system assessments. Mr. Lowry has over 10 years of experience providing training related to water distribution, including teaching continuing education courses offered by Haestad Methods and providing specialized on-site training for personnel at utility providers such as American Water Works Company, Pennsylvania-American Water Company, Connecticut Water Company, and the New Jersey Municipal Utilities Authority.

Robert F. Mankowski, PE Robert F. Mankowski, PE, has more than 10 years of experience in the design, analysis, and computer simulation of hydraulic and hydrologic systems. Mr. Mankowski is the Director of Operations for Research and Development at Haestad Methods, and as such is responsible for managing all of the company’s software development. He was the lead engineer for WaterCAD v1.0 and has overseen the development of the WaterCAD model to the present day. In 1997, he implemented WaterCAD’s first connections to GIS and has been a technical contributor to the WaterGEMS project since its initial prototype in spring 2000. Prior to joining Haestad Methods, Mr. Mankowski served as an engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power where he was involved in the design and analysis of the water distribution system, which serves about 3.6 million people within a 465 square mile service area.

Stan Plante, PE Stan Plante, PE, is a principal engineer with CDM and directs various information technology projects in Ohio and surrounding states. Throughout his career, Mr. Plante has focused on development and application of hydraulic models to support water distribution and wastewater collection master plans. He has managed many water and sewer master plan projects for both slow- and rapid-growth situations, and has also provided technical direction and troubleshooting on modeling efforts around the country, particularly for water distribution projects. In the last few years, Mr. Plante has worked on GIS implementation projects in a variety of project environments (large city, small city, airports, etc.), several of which have included modeling integration components.

John Przybyla, PE John Przybyla, PE, is a Project Director for Woolpert LLP in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Przybyla holds a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Sanitary Engineering, both from Michigan State University. He is registered as a Professional Engineer in three states. Mr. Przybyla has more than 20 years of experience in using GIS and information technology to solve engineering and business problems, for both the private and public sectors. He has published or presented over 20 papers on the subjects of business process re-engineering, GIS development, database management, network design and management, and systems integration.

Barbara A. Schmitz Barbara A. Schmitz is a senior GIS consultant and project manager with more than 18 years of experience in developing and applying geospatial technologies. She is the firm-wide technology leader at CH2M Hill for GIS applications related to water, wastewater, and water resources management projects. Ms. Schmitz has expertise in the integration of GIS technologies with water and wastewater utility maintenance management systems to facilitate utility system inventories and digital mapping, condition assessments, combined sewer overflow and sewer infiltration/inflow management, and general utility maintenance and management planning. She integrates GIS databases with modeling applications, such as hydraulic models, to support system design, analysis, and optimization. Ms. Schmitz also provides training in GIS and related technologies for CH2M Hill clients and in-house staff. Ms. Schmitz has authored several peer-reviewed papers and conference presentations on a variety of GIS topics. She has also contributed chapters on GIS applications to several books about sewer and water system modeling and to a manual of practice for implementing geographical information systems in utilities.

Foreword A good modeler must be a good communicator and lifelong student. The modeler is responsible for building a tool that will be used, in one form or another, by people from myriad disciplines, from managers and budget directors to engineers and operators. The model will be used not only for meeting today’s needs, but also for forecasting the needs for future capital improvements. To create an effective model, the engineer must study the goals of regional planning authorities, local economic development councils, local city councils, county boards, and the various budget groups associated with them. In addition to these goals, consideration must be given to demographic and transportation studies, which provide information on future right-of-way locations, land use, and future population densities. These and other items should be evaluated and incorporated into the calibrated model as future scenarios. The involvement of various departments in the design process will result in many more officials and other personnel being in tune with the requirements of the water system. This wide familiarity with the project can benefit management when it goes before the budget committee that will influence decisions on future capital improvements. The model will be used by operations and maintenance departments to make adjustments to their pump schedules, filter runs, and chemical feeds, and to plan shutdowns for scheduled maintenance. Failures that can occur at critical areas of the water system can be investigated with the model so that courses of action can be planned prior to an actual event. Changes in the system as recorded by SCADA systems or field studies can be investigated with the model to determine the need for such things as leakage surveys, water quality surveys, and fire flow improvements. Model studies can also aid in pinpointing locations of large water loss, water contamination, and those elusive, uncharted closed valves. The modeler is responsible for maintaining the health of the model. If the model does not receive regular “check-ups” and a regular diet of updated information, it will soon be of little value. It is imperative that the model be well-documented and that each change be properly and systematically logged. When a new construction or maintenance task is complete, applicable changes should be immediately applied to the model and the calibration checked. If the modeler waits until the “as-built” drawings are finished, the model will soon be out-of-date, and confidence in the model across departments will decline exponentially. If creating and maintaining a model sounds like a lot of responsibility, it is, but the rewards of a well-maintained model are immeasurable. William M. Richards, PE WMR Engineering

OTHER BOOKS FROM HAESTAD PRESS Computer Applications in Hydraulic Engineering, fifth edition Haestad, Walski, Barnard, Durrans, and Meadows Floodplain Modeling Using HEC-RAS, first edition Haestad, Dyhouse, Hatchett, and Benn Proceedings of the First Annual Water Security Summit, first edition Haestad Stormwater Conveyance Modeling and Design, first edition Haestad and Durrans Wastewater Collection System Modeling and Design, first edition Haestad, Walski, Barnard, Merritt, Harold, Walker, and Whitman Water Distribution Modeling, first edition Haestad, Walski, Chase, and Savic

To order or to receive additional information on these or any other Haestad Press titles, please call 800-727-6555 (US and Canada) or +1-203-755-1666 (worldwide) or visit www.haestadpress.com.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Preface

xv

Continuing Education Units

xix

About the Software

xxi

Introduction to Water Distribution Modeling

1

1.1

Anatomy of a Water Distribution System 1 Sources of Potable Water ...........................................2 Customers of Potable Water.......................................2 Transport Facilities.....................................................2

1.2

What Is a Water Distribution System Simulation?

1.3

Applications of Water Distribution Models 6 Long-Range Master Planning.....................................6 Rehabilitation .............................................................6 Fire Protection Studies ...............................................7 Water Quality Investigations......................................7 Energy Management ..................................................7 Daily Operations ........................................................7

1.4

The Modeling Process

1.5

A Brief History of Water Distribution Technology

10

1.6

What Next?

18

4

8

ii

Table of Contents

Chapter 2

Modeling Theory

19

2.1

Fluid Properties 19 Density and Specific Weight ................................... 19 Viscosity .................................................................. 20 Fluid Compressibility .............................................. 22 Vapor Pressure......................................................... 23

2.2

Fluid Statics and Dynamics 23 Static Pressure.......................................................... 23 Velocity and Flow Regime ...................................... 26

2.3

Energy Concepts 29 Energy Losses.......................................................... 30

2.4

Friction Losses 30 Darcy-Weisbach Formula........................................ 32 Hazen-Williams ....................................................... 34 Manning Equation ................................................... 37 Comparison of Friction Loss Methods .................... 38

2.5

Minor Losses 39 Valve Coefficient..................................................... 40 Equivalent Pipe Length ........................................... 42

2.6

Resistance Coefficients 42 Darcy-Weisbach ...................................................... 42 Hazen-Williams ....................................................... 43 Manning................................................................... 43 Minor Losses ........................................................... 43

2.7

Energy Gains – Pumps 44 Pump Head-Discharge Relationship........................ 44 System Head Curves................................................ 45 Pump Operating Point ............................................. 48 Other Uses of Pump Curves .................................... 48

2.8

Network Hydraulics 49 Conservation of Mass .............................................. 49 Conservation of Energy ........................................... 50 Solving Network Problems...................................... 51

2.9

Water Quality Modeling 52 Transport in Pipes .................................................... 52 Mixing at Nodes ...................................................... 53 Mixing in Tanks....................................................... 53 Chemical Reaction Terms ....................................... 55 Other Types of Water Quality Simulations ............. 61 Solution Methods..................................................... 63

iii

Chapter 3

Assembling a Model

75

3.1

Maps and Records 75 System Maps ............................................................75 Topographic Maps....................................................76 As-Built Drawings....................................................76 Electronic Maps and Records...................................77

3.2

Model Representation 79 Network Elements ....................................................80 Network Topology ...................................................82

3.3

Reservoirs

84

3.4

Tanks

84

3.5

Junctions 88 Junction Elevation ....................................................89

3.6

Pipes 90 Length.......................................................................91 Diameter ...................................................................91 Minor Losses ............................................................94

3.7

Pumps 95 Pump Characteristic Curves .....................................95 Model Representation ..............................................98

3.8

Valves 100 Isolation Valves......................................................101 Directional Valves..................................................102 Altitude Valves.......................................................103 Air Release Valves and Vacuum Breaking Valves ...................................................104 Control Valves........................................................104 Valve Books ...........................................................107

3.9

Controls (Switches) 107 Pipe Controls ..........................................................107 Pump Controls........................................................107 Regulating Valve Controls .....................................108 Indicators of Control Settings ................................108

3.10

Types of Simulations 109 Steady-State Simulation .........................................109 Extended-Period Simulation ..................................109 Other Types of Simulations....................................112

iv

Table of Contents

3.11

Skeletonization 112 Skeletonization Example ....................................... 112 Skeletonization Guidelines .................................... 115 Elements of High Importance................................ 116 Elements of Unknown Importance ........................ 116 Automated Skeletonization.................................... 116 Skeletonization Conclusions.................................. 124

3.12

Model Maintenance

Chapter 4

Water Consumption

125

133

4.1

Baseline Demands 134 Data Sources .......................................................... 134 Spatial Allocation of Demands.............................. 136 Using GIS for Demand Allocation ........................ 140 Categorizing Demands .......................................... 144 Mass Balance Technique ....................................... 145 Using Unit Demands ............................................. 147 Unaccounted-For Water ........................................ 151

4.2

Demand Multipliers 152 Peaking Factors...................................................... 153

4.3

Time-Varying Demands 155 Diurnal Curves....................................................... 155 Developing System-Wide Diurnal Curves ............ 156 Developing Customer Diurnal Curves .................. 157 Defining Usage Patterns within a Model............... 159

4.4

Projecting Future Demands 162 Historical Trends ................................................... 163 Spatial Allocation of Future Demands .................. 163 Disaggregated Projections ..................................... 164

4.5

Fire Protection Demands

165

v

Chapter 5

Testing Water Distribution Systems

181

5.1

Testing Fundamentals 181 Pressure Measurement............................................181 Flow Measurement.................................................182 Potential Pitfalls in System Measurements ............184

5.2

Fire Hydrant Flow Tests 184 Pitot Gages and Diffusers.......................................185 Potential Problems with Fire Flow Tests ...............188 Using Fire Flow Tests for Calibration....................190

5.3

Head Loss Tests 191 Two-Gage Test.......................................................193 Parallel-Pipe Test ...................................................194 Potential Problems with Head Loss Tests ..............195 Using Head Loss Test Results for Calibration .......196

5.4

Pump Performance Tests 197 Head Characteristic Curve .....................................197 Pump Efficiency Testing........................................199 Potential Problems with Pump Performance Tests ..................................................200 Using Pump Performance Test Data for Calibration................................................201

5.5

Extended-Period Simulation Data 201 Distribution System Time-Series Data...................201 Conducting a Tracer Test .......................................202

5.6

Water Quality Sampling 203 Laboratory Testing .................................................204 Field Studies...........................................................208

5.7

Sampling Distribution System Tanks and Reservoirs 215 Water Quality Studies ............................................215 Tracer Studies.........................................................216 Temperature Monitoring ........................................217

5.8

Quality of Calibration Data

218

vi

Table of Contents

Chapter 6

Using SCADA Data for Hydraulic Modeling

235

6.1

Types of SCADA Data

236

6.2

Polling Intervals and Unsolicited Data

236

6.3

SCADA Data Format

238

6.4

Managing SCADA Data

239

6.5

SCADA Data Errors 239 Data Compression Problems ................................. 240 Timing Problems ................................................... 240 Missing Data.......................................................... 242 Instrumentation ...................................................... 244 Unknown Elevations.............................................. 246 Other Error Sources ............................................... 246

6.6

Responding to Data Problems

247

6.7

Verifying Data Validity

248

Chapter 7

Calibrating Hydraulic Network Models

251

7.1

Model-Predicted versus Field-Measured Performance 252 Comparisons Based on Head ................................. 252 Location of Data Collection .................................. 253

7.2

Sources of Error in Modeling 253 Types of Errors ...................................................... 254 Nominal versus Actual Pipe Diameters................. 255 Internal Pipe Roughness Values ............................ 256 Distribution of System Demands........................... 258 System Maps.......................................................... 260 Temporal Boundary Condition Changes ............... 261 Model Skeletonization ........................................... 262 Geometric Anomalies ............................................ 262 Pump Characteristic Curves .................................. 263

7.3

Calibration Approaches 263 Manual Calibration Approaches ............................ 264 Automated Calibration Approaches ...................... 268 Model Validation ................................................... 278

vii

7.4

EPS Model Calibration 279 Parameters for Adjustment.....................................279 Calibration Problems..............................................280 Calibration Using Tracers ......................................280 Energy Studies........................................................281

7.5

Calibration of Water Quality Models 281 Source Concentrations............................................282 Initial Conditions....................................................282 Wall Reaction Coefficients ....................................283

7.6

Acceptable Levels of Calibration

Chapter 8

Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

287

297

8.1

Applying Models to Design Applications 298 Extent of Calibration and Skeletonization .............298 Design Flow ...........................................................299 Reliability Considerations ......................................300 Key Roles in Design Using a Model......................302 Types of Modeling Applications............................302 Pipe Sizing Decisions.............................................303

8.2

Identifying and Solving Common Distribution System Problems 305 Undersized Piping ..................................................306 Inadequate Pumping...............................................306 Consistent Low Pressure ........................................307 High Pressures During Low Demand Conditions ............................................................308 Oversized Piping ....................................................308

8.3

Pumped Systems 310 Pumping into a Closed System with No Pressure Control Valve...................................312 Pumping into a Closed System with Pressure Control ...................................................313 Variable-Speed Pumps ...........................................313 Pumping into a System with a Storage Tank .........316 Pumping into Closed System with Pumped Storage....................................................316 Pumping into Hydropneumatic Tanks....................318 Well Pumping.........................................................319 Pumps in Parallel....................................................322 Head Loss on Suction Side of Pump......................324

viii

Table of Contents

8.4

Extending a System to New Customers 326 Extent of Analysis ................................................. 326 Elevation of Customers ......................................... 326 Assessing an Existing System ............................... 328

8.5

Establishing Pressure Zones and Setting Tank Overflows 333 Establishing a New Pressure Zone ........................ 333 Laying Out New Pressure Zones ........................... 334 Tank Overflow Elevation ...................................... 337

8.6

Developing System Head Curves for Pump Selection/Evaluation

342

8.7

Serving Lower Pressure Zones 345 PRV Feeding into a Dead-End Pressure Zone....... 345 Lower Zone with a Tank ....................................... 346 Lower Zone Fed with Control Valves ................... 347 Conditions Upstream of the PRV or Control Valve ......................................... 348

8.8

Rehabilitation of Existing Systems 348 Data Collection ...................................................... 349 Modeling Existing Conditions............................... 350 Overview of Alternatives....................................... 350 Evaluation .............................................................. 354

8.9

Tradeoffs Between Energy and Capital Costs

354

8.10

Use of Models in the Design and Operation of Tanks 355 Systems Models ..................................................... 356 Computational Fluid Dynamics Models................ 358

8.11

Optimized Design and Rehabilitation Planning 360 Optimal Design Formulation ................................. 361 Optimal Design Methods....................................... 363 Optimization Issues ............................................... 366 Multiple Objectives and the Treatment of the Design Optimization Problem ................... 369 Multiobjective Decision-Making........................... 370 Using Optimization................................................ 372

ix

Chapter 9

Modeling Customer Systems

393

9.1

Modeling Water Meters

394

9.2

Backflow Preventers

397

9.3

Representing the Utility’s Portion of the Distribution System

398

9.4

Customer Demands 399 Commercial Demands for Proposed Systems ........399

9.5

Sprinkler Design 401 Starting Point for Model.........................................401 Sprinkler Hydraulics ..............................................402 Approximating Sprinkler Hydraulics .....................403 Piping Design .........................................................404 Fire Sprinklers ........................................................406 Sprinkler Pipe Sizing..............................................408 Irrigation Sprinklers ...............................................408

Chapter 10

Operations

417

10.1

The Role of Models in Operations

417

10.2

Low Pressure Problems 419 Identifying the Problem..........................................419 Modeling Low Pressures........................................420 Finding Closed Valves ...........................................420 Solving Low Pressure Problems ............................422

10.3

Low Fire Flow Problems 424 Identifying the Problem..........................................424 Solutions to Low Fire Flow....................................425

10.4

Adjusting Pressure Zone Boundaries

10.5

Taking a Tank Off-Line 430 Fire Flows...............................................................431 Low Demand Problems..........................................431

427

x

Table of Contents

10.6

Shutting Down a Section of the System 433 Representing a Shutdown ...................................... 433 Simulating the Shutdown....................................... 434

10.7

Power Outages 435 Modeling Power Outages ...................................... 435 Duration of an Outage ........................................... 436

10.8

Power Consumption 436 Determining Pump Operating Points..................... 438 Calculating Energy Costs ...................................... 439 Multiple Distinct Operating Points........................ 440 Continuously Varying Pump Flow ........................ 441 Developing a Curve Relating Flow to Efficiency ............................................... 442 Variable-Speed Pumps .......................................... 443 Using Pump Energy Data ...................................... 444 Understanding Rate Structures .............................. 445 Optimal Pump Scheduling..................................... 446

10.9

Water Distribution System Flushing 449 Modeling Flushing................................................. 449 Representing a Flowed Hydrant ............................ 449 Estimating Hydrant Discharge Using Flow Emitters ...................................................... 451 Hydrant Location Relative to Nodes ..................... 453 Steady-State versus EPS Runs............................... 454 Indicators of Successful Flushing.......................... 455

10.10

Sizing Distribution System Meters 457 Subsystem Metering .............................................. 457 Using Models for Meter Sizing ............................. 457 Implications for Meter Selection ........................... 458

10.11

Models for Investigation of System Contamination

459

10.12

Leakage Control

460

10.13

Maintaining an Adequate Disinfectant Residual 462 Disinfectant Residual Assessment......................... 463 Booster Chlorination.............................................. 465 DBP Formation...................................................... 467 Optimization Techniques....................................... 467

xi

Chapter 11

Water System Security

499

11.1

Water System Vulnerability

11.2

Potential Water Security Events 500 Physical Disruption ................................................500 Contamination ........................................................501

11.3

Assessment of Vulnerability 508 Inspections and Checklists .....................................510 Formal Assessment Tools and Methods.................510

11.4

Application of Simulation Models 512 Water Distribution System Models ........................514 Tank and Reservoir Mixing Models.......................519 Surface Water Hydraulic and Water Quality Models.....................................................519

11.5

Security Measures

Chapter 12

Integrating GIS and Hydraulic Modeling

499

519

527

12.1

GIS Fundamentals 528 Data Management ..................................................530 Geographic Data Models........................................532

12.2

Developing and Maintaining an Enterprise GIS 533 Keys to Successful Implementation .......................533 Needs Assessment ..................................................534 Design.....................................................................535 Pilot Study ..............................................................541 Production ..............................................................542 Rollout....................................................................542

12.3

Model Construction 542 Model Sustainability and Maintenance ..................544 Communication Between GIS and Modeling Staff......................................................544 Using an Existing GIS for Modeling......................546 Network Components.............................................546 Retrieval of Water Use Data ..................................549 Retrieval of Elevation Data ....................................555 Modeling GIS Versus Enterprise GIS....................557

xii

Table of Contents

12.4

GIS Analysis and Visualization 561 Using Attributes to Create Thematic Maps ........... 561 Using the Spatial Coincidence of Features to Assign New Data .............................. 563 Using Spatial Relationships Between Features to Select Certain Elements and Assign New Data ................................................. 563 Using Relationships to Trace Networks ................ 564 Using Combinations of GIS Capabilities to Perform Complex Analyses................................. 565

12.5

The Future of GIS and Hydraulic Modeling

567

Chapter 13

Transients in Hydraulic Systems

573

13.1

Introduction to Transient Flow 573 Impacts of Transients............................................. 574 Overview of Transient Evaluation......................... 576

13.2

Physics of Transient Flow 577 The Rigid Model.................................................... 578 The Elastic Model.................................................. 579 History of Transient Analysis Methods................. 583

13.3

Magnitude and Speed of Transients 585 Characteristic Time................................................ 585 Joukowsky’s Equation ........................................... 586 Celerity and Pipe Elasticity ................................... 586 Comparing the Elastic and Rigid Models.............. 588 Wave Reflection and Transmission ....................... 589 Attenuation and Packing........................................ 597

13.4

Numerical Model Calibration

600

13.5

Gathering Field Measurements

602

13.6

Transient Control 602 Piping System Design and Layout......................... 603 Protection Devices ................................................. 607

13.7

Operational Considerations 615 Flow Control Stations ............................................ 616 Air Release Valves ................................................ 619

xiii

Appendix A

Units and Symbols

625

Appendix B

Conversion Factors

633

Appendix C

Tables

637

Appendix D

Model Optimization Techniques

643

Appendix E

SCADA Basics

685

Bibliography

703

Index

729

Preface

When we set out to write Water Distribution Modeling, the forerunner to this book, our aim was to fill what we saw as a sizeable gap in the available water distribution modeling literature. A number of excellent books on modeling theory and scores of innovative research papers on the latest modeling techniques existed; however, nowhere did we find the essential information consolidated in an accessible manner that spoke directly to the modeler. We embarked on our project with the ambitious goal of creating the go-to resource for water distribution modelers. One year and over 10,000 copies later, we feel that we went a long way toward accomplishing this goal. The water distribution industry confirmed what we believed was true—that there was a need for a new type of technical resource that bridged the gap between fundamental hydraulic theory and cutting-edge research, and hands-on modeling. Hundreds of readers from private consulting firms, municipal governments, and academia wrote to us to let us know that Water Distribution Modeling had replaced all of the other water modeling books on their shelves. They also provided invaluable feedback on additional topics to cover should we publish a second edition. All involved in the development of Water Distribution Modeling were amazed by this response and were inspired to immediately begin work on a new volume. Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management is the culmination of this second effort. This text includes all of the material from Water Distribution Modeling, plus more than 350 pages of new material addressing the latest modeling techniques and delving into more detail on topics that our readers asked for. With the same accessible style that made Water Distribution Modeling so successful, Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management takes on complex subjects in plain language, yet remains sufficiently comprehensive for student use. Some of the key new subjects include • Model skeletonization • Demand allocation using GIS • Water quality sampling and calibration • Integrating modeling and SCADA systems • Genetic-algorithm-based calibration and design • Modeling variable-speed pumps • Water system security

xvi

Preface

• Hydraulic transients • Using flow emitters • Integrating GIS with hydraulic modeling

Chapter Overview Chapter 1 of this book provides an overview of water distribution systems, water modeling applications, and the modeling process. It also presents a history of water distribution from the first pipes used in Crete around 1500 B.C. to today’s latest innovations. Chapter 2 contains a review of basic hydraulic theory and its application to water distribution modeling. This chapter has been expanded to include a discussion on the different water quality solution methodologies. Chapter 3 relates this theory to the basic physical elements found in typical water distribution systems and computer models. It concludes with a new, in-depth look at the necessary steps to take when skeletonizing a water distribution model. Chapter 4 discusses computing customer demands and fire protection requirements and the variation of water demands over time. The chapter has been expanded with several tables of sample demand data and a discussion on the use of GIS for demand allocation. Chapter 5 covers system testing and has been significantly expanded to include discussions on topics such as water quality field tests and tank and reservoir sampling techniques. Chapter 6 covers the use of SCADA data for water distribution modeling. The chapter provides guidance for addressing the challenges encountered when working with SCADA data and includes discussions on types of SCADA data, different collection techniques, correction of errors, and procedures for validating the data. The discussions are supported by a number of examples on interpreting SCADA data for hydraulic modeling purposes. Chapter 7 covers model calibration and has been significantly enhanced with in-depth discussions on calibrating with genetic algorithms and calibrating water quality models. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 help the engineer apply the model to real-world problem solving in the areas of system design and operation. New topics in these chapters include using models for designing and operating tanks, using optimization for design and rehabilitation planning, simulating variable-speed pumps, optimizing pump scheduling, and maintaining an adequate disinfectant residual. Chapter 11 addresses water system security and includes information on conducting vulnerability analyses, applying water distribution models as pro-active and reactive responses to water system contamination, and implementing security measures to protect water systems. Many of the insights in Chapter 11 came from discussions held at the International Water Security Summit sponsored by Haestad Methods on December 3–4, 2001.

xvii

Chapters 12 and 13 are also new to Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management. Chapter 12 covers geographic information systems and how they can be integrated with water distribution modeling to support the development of a maintainable water model, and Chapter 13 introduces hydraulic transients including basic theory and discussions of their causes. Several appendices support the extensive material provided in this book. In addition to the appendices on Units and Symbols, Conversion Factors, and Data Tables, two new appendices have been added—one on the components of a SCADA system, and the other on the different types of optimization techniques. Both of these new additions, while beyond the scope of the type of knowledge required by most modelers, provide extensive background information for those interested in a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Continuing Education and Problem Sets Also included in this text are more than 100 hydraulics and modeling problems to give students and professionals the opportunity to apply the material covered in each chapter. Some of these problems have short answers, and others require more thought and may have more than one solution. The accompanying CD-ROM in the back of the book contains an academic version of Haestad Methods’ WaterCAD software (see “About the Software” on page xxi), which can be used to solve many of the problems, as well as data files with much of the given information in the problems pre-entered. However, we have endeavored to make this book a valuable resource to all modelers, including those who may be using other software packages, so these data files are merely a convenience, not a necessity. If you would like to work the problems and receive continuing education credit in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEUs), you may do so by filling out the examination booklet available on the CD-ROM and submitting your work to Haestad Methods for grading. For more information, see “Continuing Education Units” on page xxix, “About the Software” on page xxi, and “CD-ROM Contents” in the back of the book. Haestad Methods also publishes a solutions guide that is available for a nominal fee to instructors and professionals who are not submitting work for continuing education credit.

Feedback The authors and staff of Haestad Methods have strived to make the content of Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management as useful, complete, and accurate as possible. However, we recognize that there is always room for improvement, and we invite you to help us make subsequent editions even better.

xviii

Preface

If you have comments or suggestions regarding improvements to this textbook, or are interested in being one of our peer reviewers for future publications, we want to hear from you. We have established a forum for providing feedback at the following URL: www.haestad.com/peer-review/ We hope that you find this culmination of our efforts and experience to be a core resource in your engineering library, and wish you the best with your modeling endeavors.

Thomas M. Walski, PhD, PE Vice President of Engineering and Product Development Haestad Methods

Continuing Education Units With the rapid technological advances taking place in the engineering profession today, continuing education is more important than ever for civil engineers. In fact, continuing education is now mandatory for many, as an increasing number of engineering licensing boards are requiring Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for annual license renewal. Most of the chapters in this book contain exercises designed to reinforce the hydraulic principles and modeling techniques previously discussed in the text. Many of these problems provide an excellent opportunity to become further acquainted with software used in distribution system modeling. Further, these exercises can be completed and submitted to Haestad Methods for grading and award of CEUs. For the purpose of awarding CEUs, the chapters in this book have been grouped into several units. Complete the following steps to be eligible to receive credits as shown in the table. Note that you do not need to complete the units in order; you may skip units or complete only a single unit. CEUs Available (1 CEU = 10 PDHs)

Grading Fee* (US $)

Chapters 1&2

1.5

$75

System Components and Demands

Chapters 3&4

1.5

$75

3

Testing and Calibration

Chapters 5, 6, & 7

1.5

$75

4

Design of Utility & Customer Systems

Chapters 8&9

1.5

$75

5

System Operations

Chapter 10

3.0

$150

6

Water System Security & GIS

Chapters 11 & 12

1.0

$50

7

Transient Analysis

Chapter 13

1.0

$50

All Units

All

All

11.0

$550

Unit

Topics Covered

Chapters Covered

1

Introduction and Modeling Theory

2

*Prices subject to change without notice.

xxx

Continuing Education Units

1. Print the exam booklet from the file exam_booklet.pdf located on the CD-ROM in the back of this book, - or contact Haestad Methods by phone, fax, mail, or e-mail to have an exam booklet sent to you. Haestad Methods Phone: +1 203 755 1666 37 Brookside Road Fax: +1 203 597 1488 Waterbury, CT 06708 e-mail: [emailprotected] USA ATTN: Continuing Education 2. Read and study the material contained in the chapters covered by the Unit(s) you select. 3. Work the related questions at the end of the relevant chapters and complete the exam booklet. 4. Return your exam booklet and payment to Haestad Methods for grading. 5. A Haestad Methods engineer will review your work and return your graded exam booklet to you. If you pass (70 percent is passing), you will receive a certificate documenting the CEUs (PDHs) earned for successfully completed units. 6. If you do not pass, you will be allowed to correct your work and resubmit it for credit within 30 days at no additional charge.

Notes on Completing the Exercises • Some of the problems have both an English units version and an SI version. You need only complete one of these versions. • Show your work where applicable to be eligible for partial credit. • Many of the problems can be done manually with a calculator, while others are of a more realistic size and will be much easier if analyzed with a water distribution model. • To aid in completing the exercises, a CD-ROM is included inside the back cover of this book. It contains an academic version of Haestad Methods’ WaterCAD software, software documentation, and computer files with much of the given information from the problem statements already entered. For detailed information on the CD-ROM contents and the software license agreement, see the information pages in the back of the book. • You are not required to use WaterCAD to work the problems.

About the Software The CD-ROM in the back of this book contains academic versions of Haestad Methods’ WaterCAD Stand-Alone software. The following provides a brief summary of the software. For detailed information on the software and how to apply it to solve water distribution problems, see the help system and tutorial files included on the CDROM. The software included with this textbook is fully functional but is not intended for professional use (see license agreement in the back of this book).

WATERCAD STAND-ALONE WaterCAD Stand-Alone is a powerful, easy-to-use program that helps civil engineers design and analyze water distribution systems. WaterCAD Stand-Alone has a CADlike interface but does not require the use of third-party software in order to run. WaterCAD provides intuitive access to the tools needed to model complex hydraulic situations. Some of the key features allow you to • Perform steady-state and extended-period simulations • Analyze multiple time-variable demands at any junction node • Model flow control valves, pressure reducing valves, pressure sustaining valves, pressure breaking valves, and throttle control valves • Model cylindrical and noncylindrical tanks and constant hydraulic grade source nodes • Track conservative and nonconservative chemical constituents • Determine water source and age at any element in the system • Quickly identify operating inefficiencies in the system • Evaluate energy cost savings • Perform hydraulically equivalent network skeletonization including data scrubbing, branch trimming, and series and parallel pipe removal • Analyze the trade-offs of different capital improvement plans and system reinforcement strategies to find the most cost-effective solution • Determine fire-fighting capabilities of the system and establish the appropriate sequence of valves and hydrants to manipulate in order to flush all or portions of the system with clean water • Model fire sprinklers, irrigation systems, leakage, or any other situation in which the node demand varies in proportion to the pressure at the emitter node

xxii

About the Software

• Calibrate the model quickly and easily using a genetic-algorithm-based tool to automatically adjust pipe roughness, junction demands, and pipe and valve statuses • Automatically generate system head curves • Efficiently manage large data sets and different “what if” situations with database query and edit tools • Build, manage, and merge submodels, and keep track of the expanding physical layout of the system in different scenarios • Generate fully customizable graphs, charts, and reports

C H A P T E R

1 Introduction to Water Distribution Modeling

Water distribution modeling is the latest technology in a process of advancement that began two millennia ago when the Minoans constructed the first piped water conveyance system. Today, water distribution modeling is a critical part of designing and operating water distribution systems that are capable of serving communities reliably, efficiently, and safely, both now and in the future. The availability of increasingly sophisticated and accessible models allows these goals to be realized more fully than ever before. This book is structured to take the engineer through the entire modeling process, from gathering system data and understanding how a computer model works, through constructing and calibrating the model, to implementing the model in system design and operations. The text is designed to be a first course for the novice modeler or engineering student, as well as a reference for those more experienced with distribution system simulations. This chapter introduces the reader to water distribution modeling by giving an overview of the basic distribution system components, defining the nature and purposes of distribution system simulations, and outlining the basic steps in the modeling process. The last section of the chapter presents a chronology of advancements in water distribution.

1.1

ANATOMY OF A WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Although the size and complexity of water distribution systems vary dramatically, they all have the same basic purpose—to deliver water from the source (or treatment facility) to the customer.

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Sources of Potable Water Untreated water (also called raw water) may come from groundwater sources or surface waters such as lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. The raw water is usually transported to a water treatment plant, where it is processed to produce treated water (also known as potable or finished water). The degree to which the raw water is processed to achieve potability depends on the characteristics of the raw water, relevant drinking water standards, treatment processes used, and the characteristics of the distribution system. Before leaving the plant and entering the water distribution system, treated surface water usually enters a unit called a clearwell. The clearwell serves three main purposes in water treatment. First, it provides contact time for disinfectants such as chlorine that are added near the end of the treatment process. Adequate contact time is required to achieve acceptable levels of disinfection. Second, the clearwell provides storage that acts as a buffer between the treatment plant and the distribution system. Distribution systems naturally fluctuate between periods of high and low water usage, thus the clearwell stores excess treated water during periods of low demand and delivers it during periods of peak demand. Not only does this storage make it possible for the treatment plant to operate at a more stable rate, but it also means that the plant does not need to be designed to handle peak demands. Rather, it can be built to handle more moderate treatment rates, which means lower construction and operational costs. Third, the clearwell can serve as a source for backwash water for cleaning plant filters that, when needed, is used at a high rate for a short period of time. In the case of groundwater, many sources offer up consistently high quality water that could be consumed without disinfection. However, the practice of maintaining a disinfectant residual is almost always adhered to for protection against accidental contamination and microbial regrowth in the distribution system. Disinfection at groundwater sources differs from sources influenced by surface water in that it is usually applied at the well itself.

Customers of Potable Water Customers of a water supply system are easily identified — they are the reason that the system exists in the first place. Homeowners, factories, hospitals, restaurants, golf courses, and thousands of other types of customers depend on water systems to provide everything from safe drinking water to irrigation. As demonstrated throughout the book, customers and the nature in which they use water are the driving mechanism behind how a water distribution system behaves. Water use can vary over time both in the long-term (seasonally) and the short-term (daily), and over space. Good knowledge of how water use is distributed across the system is critical to accurate modeling.

Transport Facilities Moving water from the source to the customer requires a network of pipes, pumps, valves, and other appurtenances. Storing water to accommodate fluctuations in demand due to varying rates of usage or fire protection needs requires storage facili-

Section 1.1

Anatomy of a Water Distribution System

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ties such as tanks and reservoirs. Piping, storage, and the supporting infrastructure are together referred to as the water distribution system (WDS). Transmission and Distribution Mains. This system of piping is often categorized into transmission/trunk mains and distribution mains. Transmission mains consist of components that are designed to convey large amounts of water over great distances, typically between major facilities within the system. For example, a transmission main may be used to transport water from a treatment facility to storage tanks throughout several cities and towns. Individual customers are usually not served from transmission mains. Distribution mains are an intermediate step toward delivering water to the end customers. Distribution mains are smaller in diameter than transmission mains, and typically follow the general topology and alignment of the city streets. Elbows, tees, wyes, crosses, and numerous other fittings are used to connect and redirect sections of pipe. Fire hydrants, isolation valves, control valves, blow-offs, and other maintenance and operational appurtenances are frequently connected directly to the distribution mains. Services, also called service lines, transmit the water from the distribution mains to the end customers. Homes, businesses, and industries have their own internal plumbing systems to transport water to sinks, washing machines, hose bibbs, and so forth. Typically, the internal plumbing of a customer is not included in a WDS model; however, in some cases, such as sprinkler systems, internal plumbing may be modeled. System Configurations. Transmission and distribution systems can be either looped or branched, as shown in Figure 1.1. As the name suggests, in looped systems there may be several different paths that the water can follow to get from the source to a particular customer. In a branched system, also called a tree or dendritic system, the water has only one possible path from the source to a customer. Figure 1.1 Looped and branched networks

Looped

Branched

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Looped systems are generally more desirable than branched systems because, coupled with sufficient valving, they can provide an additional level of reliability. For example, consider a main break occurring near the reservoir in each system depicted in Figure 1.2. In the looped system, that break can be isolated and repaired with little impact on customers outside of that immediate area. In the branched system, however, all the customers downstream from the break will have their water service interrupted until the repairs are finished. Another advantage of a looped configuration is that, because there is more than one path for water to reach the user, the velocities will be lower, and system capacity greater. Figure 1.2 Looped and branched networks after network failure

Customers Without Service

Pipe Break

Customers Without Service

Looped

Branched

Most water supply systems are a complex combination of loops and branches, with a trade-off between loops for reliability (redundancy) and branches for infrastructure cost savings. In systems such as rural distribution networks, the low density of customers may make interconnecting the branches of the system prohibitive from both monetary and logistical standpoints.

1.2

WHAT IS A WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SIMULATION?

The term simulation generally refers to the process of imitating the behavior of one system through the functions of another. In this book, the term simulation refers to the process of using a mathematical representation of the real system, called a model. Network simulations, which replicate the dynamics of an existing or proposed system, are commonly performed when it is not practical for the real system to be directly subjected to experimentation, or for the purpose of evaluating a system before it is actually built. In addition, for situations in which water quality is an issue, directly testing a system may be costly and a potentially hazardous risk to public health.

Section 1.2

What Is a Water Distribution System Simulation?

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Simulations can be used to predict system responses to events under a wide range of conditions without disrupting the actual system. Using simulations, problems can be anticipated in proposed or existing systems, and solutions can be evaluated before time, money, and materials are invested in a real-world project. For example, a water utility might want to verify that a new subdivision can be provided with enough water to fight a fire without compromising the level of service to existing customers. The system could be built and tested directly, but if any problems were to be discovered, the cost of correction would be enormous. Regardless of project size, model-based simulation can provide valuable information to assist an engineer in making well-informed decisions. Simulations can either be steady-state or extended-period. Steady-state simulations represent a snapshot in time and are used to determine the operating behavior of a system under static conditions. This type of analysis can be useful in determining the short-term effect of fire flows or average demand conditions on the system. Extendedperiod simulations (EPS) are used to evaluate system performance over time. This type of analysis allows the user to model tanks filling and draining, regulating valves opening and closing, and pressures and flow rates changing throughout the system in response to varying demand conditions and automatic control strategies formulated by the modeler. Modern simulation software packages use a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes it easier to create models and visualize the results of simulations. Oldergeneration software relied exclusively on tabular input and output. A typical modern software interface with an annotated model drawing is shown in Figure 1.3. Figure 1.3 Software interface and annotated model drawing

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1.3

Chapter 1

APPLICATIONS OF WATER DISTRIBUTION MODELS

Most water distribution models (WDMs) can be used to analyze a variety of other pressure piping systems, such as industrial cooling systems, oil pipelines, or any network carrying an incompressible, single-phase, Newtonian fluid in full pipes. Municipal water utilities, however, are by far the most common application of these models. Models are especially important for WDSs due to their complex topology, frequent growth and change, and sheer size. It is not uncommon for a system to supply hundreds of thousands of people (large networks supply millions); thus, the potential impact of a utility decision can be tremendous. Water distribution network simulations are used for a variety of purposes, such as • Long-range master planning, including both new development and rehabilitation • Fire protection studies • Water quality investigations • Energy management • System design • Daily operational uses including operator training, emergency response, and troubleshooting

Long-Range Master Planning Planners carefully research all aspects of a water distribution system and try to determine which major capital improvement projects are necessary to ensure the quality of service for the future. This process, called master planning (also referred to as capital improvement planning or comprehensive planning), may be used to project system growth and water usage for the next 5, 10, or 20 years. System growth may occur because of population growth, annexation, acquisition, or wholesale agreements between water supply utilities. The capability of the hydraulic network to adequately serve its customers must be evaluated whenever system growth is anticipated. Not only can a model be used to identify potential problem areas (such as future low pressure areas or areas with water quality problems), but it can also be used to size and locate new transmission mains, pumping stations, and storage facilities to ensure that the predicted problems never occur. Maintaining a system at an acceptable level of service is preferable to having to rehabilitate a system that has become problematic.

Rehabilitation As with all engineered systems, the wear and tear on a water distribution system may lead to the eventual need to rehabilitate portions of the system such as pipes, pumps, valves, and reservoirs. Pipes, especially older, unlined, metal pipes, may experience an internal buildup of deposits due to mineral deposits and chemical reactions within the water. This buildup can result in loss of carrying capacity, reduced pressures, and

Section 1.3

Applications of Water Distribution Models

poorer water quality. To counter these effects of aging, a utility may choose to clean and reline a pipe. Alternatively, the pipe may be replaced with a new (possibly larger) pipe, or another pipe may be installed in parallel. Hydraulic simulations can be used to assess the impacts of such rehabilitation efforts, and to determine the most economical improvements.

Fire Protection Studies Water distribution systems are often required to provide water for fire fighting purposes. Designing the system to meet the fire protection requirements is essential and normally has a large impact on the design of the entire network. The engineer determines the fire protection requirements and then uses a model to test whether the system can meet those requirements. If the system cannot provide certain flows and maintain adequate pressures, the model may also be used for sizing hydraulic elements (pipes, pumps, etc.) to correct the problem.

Water Quality Investigations Some models provide water quality modeling in addition to hydraulic simulation capabilities. Using a water quality model, the user can model water age, source tracing, and constituent concentration analyses throughout a network. For example, chlorine residual maintenance can be studied and planned more effectively, disinfection by-product formation (DBP) in a network can be analyzed, or the impact of storage tanks on water quality can be evaluated. Water quality models are also used to study the modification of hydraulic operations to improve water quality.

Energy Management Next to infrastructure maintenance and repair costs, energy usage for pumping is the largest operating expense of many water utilities (Figure 1.4). Hydraulic simulations can be used to study the operating characteristics and energy usage of pumps, along with the behavior of the system. By developing and testing different pumping strategies, the effects on energy consumption can be evaluated, and the utility can make an educated effort to save on energy costs.

Daily Operations Individuals who operate water distribution systems are generally responsible for making sure that system-wide pressures, flows, and tank water levels remain within acceptable limits. The operator must monitor these indicators and take action when a value falls outside the acceptable range. By turning on a pump or adjusting a valve, for example, the operator can adjust the system so that it functions at an appropriate level of service. A hydraulic simulation can be used in daily operations to determine the impact of various possible actions, providing the operator with better information for decision-making.

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Figure 1.4 Pumping is one of the largest operating expenses of many utilities

Operator Training. Most water distribution system operators do their jobs very well. As testimony to this fact, the majority of systems experience very few water outages, and those that do occur are rarely caused by operator error. Many operators, however, gain experience and confidence in their ability to operate the system only over a long period of time, and sometimes the most critical experience is gained under conditions of extreme duress. Hydraulic simulations offer an excellent opportunity to train system operators in how their system will behave under different loading conditions, with various control strategies, and in emergency situations. Emergency Response. Emergencies are a very real part of operating a water distribution system, and operators need to be prepared to handle everything from main breaks to power failures. Planning ahead for these emergencies by using a model may prevent service from being compromised, or may at least minimize the extent to which customers are affected. Modeling is an excellent tool for emergency response planning and contingency. System Troubleshooting. When hydraulic or water quality characteristics in an existing system are not up to standard, a model simulation can be used to identify probable causes. A series of simulations for a neighborhood that suffers from chronic low pressure, for example, may point toward the likelihood of a closed valve in the area. A field crew can then be dispatched to this area to check nearby valves.

1.4

THE MODELING PROCESS

Assembling, calibrating, and using a water distribution system model can seem like a foreboding task to someone confronted with a new program and stacks of data and maps of the actual system. As with any large task, the way to complete it is to break it down into its components and work through each step. Some tasks can be done in parallel while others must be done in series. The tasks that make up the modeling process are illustrated in Figure 1.5. Note that modeling is an iterative process.

Section 1.4

The Modeling Process

Figure 1.5 Flowchart of the modeling process

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The first step in undertaking any modeling project is to develop a consensus within the water utility regarding the need for the model and the purposes for which the model will be used in both the short- and long-term. It is important to have utility personnel, from upper management and engineering to operations and maintenance, commit to the model in terms of human resources, time, and funding. Modeling should not be viewed as an isolated endeavor by a single modeler, but rather a utilitywide effort with the modeler as the key worker. After the vision of the model has been accepted by the utility, decisions on such issues as extent of model skeletonization and accuracy of calibration will naturally follow. Figure 1.5 shows that most of the work in modeling must be done before the model can be used to solve real problems. Therefore, it is important to budget sufficient time to use the model once it has been developed and calibrated. Too many modeling projects fall short of their goals for usage because the model-building process takes up all of the allotted time and resources. There is not enough time left to use the model to understand the full range of alternative solutions to the problems. Modeling involves a series of abstractions. First, the real pipes and pumps in the system are represented in maps and drawings of those facilities. Then, the maps are converted to a model that represents the facilities as links and nodes. Another layer of abstraction is introduced as the behaviors of the links and nodes are described mathematically. The model equations are then solved, and the solutions are typically displayed on maps of the system or as tabular output. A model’s value stems from the usefulness of these abstractions in facilitating efficient design of system improvements or better operation of an existing system.

1.5

A BRIEF HISTORY OF WATER DISTRIBUTION TECHNOLOGY

The practice of transporting water for human consumption has been around for several millennia. From the first pipes in Crete some 3,500 years ago, to today’s complex hydraulic models, the history of water distribution technology is quite a story. The following highlights some of the key historical events that have shaped the field since its beginnings. 1500 B.C. — First water distribution pipes used in Crete. The Minoan civilization flourishes on the island of Crete. The City of Knossos develops an aqueduct system that uses tubular conduits to convey water. Other ancient civilizations have had surface water canals, but these are probably the first pipes. 250 B.C. — Archimedes principle developed. Archimedes, best known for his discovery of π and for devising exponents, develops one of the earliest laws of fluids when he notices that any object in water displaces its own volume. Using this principle, he proves that a crown belonging to King Hiero of Syracuse is not made of gold. A legend will develop that he discovered this principle while bathing and became so excited that he ran naked through the streets shouting “Eureka” (I’ve found it). 100 A.D. — Roman aqueducts. The Romans bring water from great distances to their cities through aqueducts (Figure 1.6). While many of the aqueducts are above-

Section 1.5

A Brief History of Water Distribution Technology

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ground, there are also enclosed conduits to supply public fountains and baths. Sextus Julius Frontinus, water commissioner of Rome, writes two books on the Roman water supply. Figure 1.6 Roman aqueduct

1455 — First cast iron pipe. Casting of iron for pipe becomes practical, and the first installation of cast iron pipe, manufactured in Siegerland, Germany, occurs at Dillenburg Castle. 1652 — Piped water in Boston. The first water pipes in the U.S. are laid in Boston to bring water from springs to what is now the Quincy Market area. 1664 — Palace of Versailles. King Louis XIV of France orders the construction of a 15-mile cast iron water main from Marly-on-Seine to the Palace of Versailles. This is the longest pipeline of its kind at this time, and portions of it remain in service into the 21st century. A section of the line, after being taken out of service, was shipped in the 1960s from France to the United States (Figure 1.7) where it is still on display. Figure 1.7 King Louis XIV of France and a section of the Palace of Versailles pipeline

Courtesy of the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association

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1732 — Pitot invents a velocity-measuring device. Henri Pitot is tasked with measuring the velocity of water in the Seine River. He finds that by placing an L-shaped tube into the flow, water rises in the tube proportionally to the velocity squared, and the Pitot tube is born. 1738 — Bernoulli publishes Hydrodynamica. The Swiss Bernoulli family extends the early mathematics and physics discoveries of Newton and Leibniz to fluid systems. Daniel Bernoulli publishes Hydrodynamica while in St. Petersburg and Strasbourg, but there is a rivalry with his father Johann regarding who actually developed some of the principles presented in the book. These principles will become the key to energy principles used in hydraulic models and the basis for numerous devices such as the Venturi meter and, most notably, the airplane wing. In 1752, however, it will actually be their colleague, Leonard Euler, who develops the forms of the energy equations that will live on in years to come. 1754 — First U.S. water systems built. The earliest water distribution systems in the United States are constructed in Pennsylvania. The Moravian community in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania claims to have the first water system, and it is followed quickly by systems in Schaefferstown and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Horses drive the pumps in the Philadelphia system, and the pipes are made of bored logs. They will later be replaced with wood stave pipes made with iron hoops to withstand higher pressures. The first steam driven pumps will be used in Bethlehem ten years later. 1770 — Chezy develops head loss relationship. While previous investigators realized that energy was lost in moving water, it is Antoine Chezy who realizes that V2/ RS is reasonably constant for certain situations. This relationship will serve as the basis for head loss equations to be used for centuries. 1785 — Bell and spigot joint developed. The Chelsea Water Company in London begins using the first bell and spigot joints. The joint is first packed with yarn or hemp and is then sealed with lead. Sir Thomas Simpson is credited with inventing this joint, which replaced the crude flanged joints used previously. 1839 — Hagen-Poiseuille equation developed. Gotthilf Hagen and Jean Louis Poiseuille independently develop the head loss equations for laminar flow in small tubes. Their work is experimental, and it is not until 1856 that Franz Neuman and Eduard Hagenbach will theoretically derive the Hagen-Poiseuille equation. 1843 — St. Venant develops equations of motion. Several researchers, including Louis Navier, George Stokes, Augustin de Cauchy, and Simeon Poisson, work toward the development of the fundamental differential equations describing the motion of fluids. They become known as the “Navier-Stokes equations.” Jean-Claude Barre de Saint Venant develops the most general form of these equations, but the term St. Venant equations will be used to refer to the vertically and laterally averaged (that is, one-dimensional flow) form of equations. 1845 — Darcy-Weisbach head loss equation developed. Julius Weisbach publishes a three-volume set on engineering mechanics that includes the results of his experiments. The Darcy-Weisbach equation comes from this work, which is essentially an extension of Chezy’s work, as Chezy’s C is related to Darcy-Weisbach’s f by C2=8g/f.

Section 1.5

A Brief History of Water Distribution Technology

Darcy’s name is also associated with Darcy’s law for flow through porous media, widely used in groundwater analysis. 1878 — First automatic sprinklers used. The first Parmelee sprinklers are installed. These are the first automatic sprinklers for fire protection. 1879 — Lamb’s Hydrodynamics published. Sir Horace Lamb publishes his Treatise on the Mathematical Theory of the Motion of Fluids. Subsequent editions will be published under the title Hydrodynamics, with the last edition published in 1932. 1881 — AWWA formed. The 22 original members create the American Water Works Association. The first president is Jacob Foster from Illinois. 1883 — Laminar/turbulent flow distinction explained. While earlier engineers such as Hagen observed the differences between laminar and turbulent flow, Osborne Reynolds is the first to conduct the experiments that clearly define the two flow regimes. He identifies the dimensionless number, later referred to as the Reynolds number, for quantifying the conditions under which each type of flow exists. He publishes “An Experimental Investigation of the Circumstances which Determine whether the Motion of Water shall be Direct or Sinuous and the Law of Resistance in Parallel Channels.” 1896 — Cole invents Pitot tube for pressure pipe. Although numerous attempts were made to extend Henri Pitot’s velocity measuring device to pressure pipes, Edward Cole develops the first practical apparatus using a Pitot tube with two tips connected to a manometer. The Cole Pitometer will be widely used for years to come, and Cole’s company, Pitometer Associates, will perform flow measurement studies (among many other services) into the 21st century. 1906 — Hazen-Williams equation developed. A. Hazen and G.S. Williams develop an empirical formula for head loss in water pipes. Although not as general or precise in rough, turbulent flow as the Darcy-Weisbach equation, the Hazen-Williams equation proves easy to use and will be widely applied in North America. 1900 – 1930 — Boundary Layer Theory developed. The interactions between fluids and solids are studied extensively by a series of German scientists lead by Ludwig Prandtl and his students Theodor von Karman, Johan Nikuradse, Heinrich Blasius, and Thomas Stanton. As a result of their research, they are able to theoretically explain and experimentally verify the nature of drag between pipe walls and a fluid. In particular, the experiments of Nikuradse, who glues uniform sand grains inside pipes and measures head loss, lead to a better understanding of the calculation of the f coefficient in the Darcy-Weisbach equation. Stanton develops the first graphical representation of the relationship between f, pipe roughness, and the Reynolds number, which later leads to the Moody diagram. This work is summarized in H. Schichting’s book, Boundary Layer Theory. 1914 — First U.S. drinking water standards established. The U.S. Public Health Service publishes the first drinking water standards, which will continually evolve. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) will eventually assume the role of setting the water quality standards in the United States.

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1920s — Cement-mortar lining of water mains. Cement mortar lining of water mains is used to minimize corrosion and tuberculation. Procedures for cleaning and lining existing pipes in place will be developed by the 1930s. 1921 — First Hydraulic Institute Standards published. The first edition of Trade Standards in the Pump Industry is published as a 19-page pamphlet. These standards become the primary reference for pump nomenclature, testing, and rating. 1936 — Hardy Cross method developed. Hardy Cross, a structural engineering professor at the University of Illinois, publishes the Hardy Cross method for solving head loss equations in complex networks. This method is widely used for manual calculations and will serve as the basis for early digital computer programs for pipe network analysis. 1938 — Colebrook-White equation developed. Cyril Colebrook and Cedric White of Imperial College in London build upon the work of Prandtl and his students to develop the Colebrook-White equation for determining the Darcy-Weisbach f in commercial pipes. 1940 — Hunter curves published. During the 1920s and ’30s, Roy Hunter of the National Bureau of Standards conducts research on water use in a variety of buildings. His “fixture unit method” will become the basis for estimating building water use, even though plumbing fixtures will change over the years. His probabilistic analysis captured the mathematics of the concept that the more fixtures in a building, the less likely they are to be used simultaneously. 1944 — Moody diagram published. Lewis Moody of Princeton University publishes the Moody diagram, which is essentially a graphical representation of the ColebrookWhite equation in the turbulent flow range and the Hagen-Poisseuille equation in the laminar range. This diagram is especially useful because, at the time, no explicit solution exists for the Colebrook-White equation. Stanton had developed a similar chart 30 years earlier. 1950 — McIlroy network analyzer developed. The McIlroy network analyzer, an electrical analog computer, is developed to simulate the behavior of water distribution systems using electricity instead of water. The analyzer uses special elements called “fluistors” to reproduce head loss in pipes, because in the Hazen-Williams equation, head loss varies with flow raised to the 1.85 power, while normal resistors comply with Ohm’s law, in which voltage drop varies linearly with current. 1950s — Earliest digital computers developed. The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) is assembled at the University of Pennsylvania. It contains approximately 18,000 vacuum tubes and fills a 30 x 50 ft (9 x 15 m) room. Digital computers such as the ENIAC and Univac show that computers can carry out numerical calculations quickly, opening the door for programs to solve complex hydraulic problems. 1956 — Push-on joint developed. The push-on pipe joint using a rubber gasket is developed. This type of assembly helps speed the construction of piping. 1960s and ’70s — Earliest pipe network digital models created. With the coming of age of digital computers and the establishment of the FORTRAN programming

Section 1.5

A Brief History of Water Distribution Technology

language, researchers at universities begin to develop pipe network models and make them available to practicing engineers. Don Wood at the University of Kentucky, Al Fowler at the University of British Columbia, Roland Jeppson of Utah State University, Chuck Howard and Uri Shamir at MIT, and Simsek Sarikelle at the University of Akron all write pipe network models. Figure 1.8 A computer punch card

1963 — First U.S. PVC pipe standards. The National Bureau of Standards accepts CS256-63 “Commercial Standard for PVC Plastic Pipes (SDR-PR and Class T),” which is the first U.S. standard for polyvinyl chloride water pipe. 1963 — URISA is founded. The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association is founded by Dr. Edgar Horwood. URISA becomes the premier organization for the use and integration of spatial information technology to improve the quality of life in urban and regional environments. 1960s and ’70s — Water system contamination. Chemicals that can result in health problems when ingested or inhaled are dumped on the ground or stored in leaky ponds because of lack of awareness of their environmental impacts. Over the years, these chemicals will make their way into water distribution systems and lead to alleged contamination of water systems in places like Woburn, Massachusetts; Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona; and Dover Township, New Jersey. Water quality models of distribution systems will be used to attempt to recreate the dosages of chemicals received by customers. These situations lead to popular movies like A Civil Action and Erin Brockovich. 1970s — Early attempts to optimize water distribution design. Dennis Lai and John Schaake at MIT develop the first approach to optimize water system design. Numerous papers will follow by researchers such as Arun Deb, Ian Goulter, Uri Shamir, Downey Brill, Larry Mays, and Kevin Lansey. 1970s — Models become more powerful. Although the earliest pipe network models could only solve steady-state equations for simple systems, the ’70s bring modeling features such as pressure regulating valves and extended-period simulations.

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1975 — Data files replace input cards. Modelers are able to remotely create data files on time-share terminals instead of using punched cards. 1975 — AWWA C-900 approved. The AWWA approves its first standard for PVC water distribution piping. C900 pipe is made to match old cast iron pipe outer diameters. 1976 — Swamee-Jain equation published. Dozens of approximations to the Colebrook-White equations have been published in an attempt to arrive at an explicit equation that would give the same results without the need for an iterative solution. Indian engineers P. K. Swamee and Akalnank Jain publish the most popular form of these approximations. The use of an explicit equation results in faster numerical solutions of pipe network problems. 1976 — Jeppson publishes Analysis of Flow in Pipe Networks. Roland Jeppson authors the book Analysis of Flow in Pipe Networks, which presents a summary of the numerical techniques used to solve network problems. 1980 — Personal computers introduced. Early personal computers make it possible to move hydraulic analysis to desktop systems. Initially, these desktop models are slow, but their power will grow exponentially over the next two decades. Figure 1.9 Time-share terminal

Early 1980s — Water Quality Modeling First Developed. The concept of modeling water quality in distribution systems is first developed, and steady state formulations are proposed by Don Wood at the University of Kentucky and USEPA researchers in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Section 1.5

A Brief History of Water Distribution Technology

1985 — “Battle of the Network Models.” A series of sessions is held at the ASCE Water Resources Planning and Management Division Conference in Buffalo, New York, where researchers are given a realistic system called “Anytown” and are asked to optimize the design of that network. Comparison of results shows the strengths and weaknesses of the various models. 1986 — Introduction of Dynamic Water Quality Models. At the AWWA Distribution System Symposium, three groups independently introduce dynamic water quality models of distribution systems. 1988 — Gradient Algorithm. Ezio Todini and S. Pilati publish “A Gradient Algorithm for the Analysis of Pipe Networks,” and R. Salgado, Todini, and P. O'Connell publish “Comparison of the Gradient Method with some Traditional Methods of the Analysis of Water Supply Distribution Networks.” The gradient algorithm serves as the basis for the WaterCAD model. 1989 — AWWA holds specialty conference. AWWA holds the Computers and Automation in the Water Industry conference. This conference will later grow into the popular IMTech event (Information Management and Technology). 1990s — Privatization of water utilities. The privatization of water utilities increases significantly as other utilities experience a greater push toward deregulation. 1991 — Water Quality Modeling in Distribution Systems Conference. The USEPA and the AWWA Research Foundation bring together researchers from around

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the world for a two-day meeting in Cincinnati. This meeting is a milestone in the establishment of water quality modeling as a recognized tool for investigators. 1991 — GPS technology becomes affordable. The cost of global positioning systems (GPS) drops to the point where a GPS can be an economical tool for determining coordinates of points in hydraulic models. 1993 — Introduction of water quality modeling tool. Water quality modeling comes of age with the development of EPANET by Lewis Rossman of the USEPA. Intended as a research tool, EPANET provides the basis for several commercial-grade models. 1990 through present. Several commercial software developers release water distribution modeling packages. Each release brings new enhancements for data management and new abilities to interoperate with other existing computer systems. 2001 — Automated calibration. Automated calibration of distribution models moves from being a research tool to a standard modeling feature with the use of Genetic Algorithms. 2001 — Security awareness. Water system security increases in importance and utilities realize the value of water quality modeling as a tool for protecting a water system. 2002 — Integration with GIS. Water modeling and GIS software become highly integrated with the release of WaterGEMS, software that combines the functionality of both tools. What Next? Predicting the future is difficult, especially with rapidly changing fields such as the software industry. However, there are definite trends as data sharing continues to gain popularity, modeling spreads into operations, and automated design tools add to the modeler’s arsenal. The next logical question is, “When will network models eliminate the need for engineers?” The answer is, never. Though a word processor can reduce the number of spelling and grammar mistakes, it cannot write a best-selling novel. Even as technology advances, an essential need still exists for living, breathing, thinking human beings. A network model is just another tool (albeit a very powerful, multi-purpose tool) for an experienced engineer or technician. It is still the responsibility of the user to understand the real system, understand the model, and make decisions based on sound engineering judgement.

REFERENCES Mays, L. W. (2000). “Introduction.” Water Distribution System Handbook, Mays, L. W., ed., McGraw Hill, New York, New York.

C H A P T E R

2 Modeling Theory

Model-based simulation is a method for mathematically approximating the behavior of real water distribution systems. To effectively utilize the capabilities of distribution system simulation software and interpret the results produced, the engineer or modeler must understand the mathematical principles involved. This chapter reviews the principles of hydraulics and water quality analysis that are frequently employed in water distribution network modeling software.

2.1

FLUID PROPERTIES

Fluids can be categorized as gases or liquids. The most notable differences between the two states are that liquids are far denser than gases, and gases are highly compressible compared to liquids (liquids are relatively incompressible). The most important fluid properties taken into consideration in a water distribution simulation are specific weight, fluid viscosity, and (to a lesser degree) compressibility.

Density and Specific Weight The density of a fluid is the mass of the fluid per unit volume. The density of water is 1.94 slugs/ft3 (1000 kg/m3) at standard pressure of 1 atm (1.013 bar) and standard temperature of 32.0oF (0.0oC). A change in temperature or pressure will affect the density, although the effects of minor changes are generally insignificant for water modeling purposes. The property that describes the weight of a fluid per unit volume is called specific weight and is related to density by gravitational acceleration:

20

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

γ = ρg

where

(2.1)

γ = fluid specific weight (M/L2/T2) ρ = fluid density (M/L3)

g = gravitational acceleration constant (L/T2) The specific weight of water, γ , at standard pressure and temperature is 62.4 lb/ft3 (9,806 N/m3).

Viscosity Fluid viscosity is the property that describes the ability of a fluid to resist deformation due to shear stress. For many fluids, most notably water, viscosity is a proportionality factor relating the velocity gradient to the shear stress, as described by Newton’s law of viscosity: dV τ = µ -----dy

where

(2.2)

τ = shear stress (M/L/T2) µ = absolute (dynamic) viscosity (M/L/T) dV ------- = time rate of strain (1/T) dy

The physical meaning of this equation can be illustrated by considering the two parallel plates shown in Figure 2.1. The space between the plates is filled with a fluid, and the area of the plates is large enough that edge effects can be neglected. The plates are separated by a distance y, and the top plate is moving at a constant velocity V relative to the bottom plate. Liquids exhibit an attribute known as the no-slip condition, meaning that they adhere to surfaces they contact. Therefore, if the magnitude of V and y are not too large, then the velocity distribution between the two plates is linear. From Newton’s second law of motion, for an object to move at a constant velocity, the net external force acting on the object must equal zero. Thus, the fluid must be exerting a force equal and opposite to the force F on the top plate. This force within the fluid is a result of the shear stress between the fluid and the plate. The velocity at which these forces balance is a function of the velocity gradient normal to the plate and the fluid viscosity, as described by Newton’s law of viscosity. Thick fluids, such as syrup and molasses, have high viscosities. Thin fluids, such as water and gasoline, have low viscosities. For most fluids, the viscosity remains constant regardless of the magnitude of the shear stress that is applied to it. Returning to Figure 2.1, as the velocity of the top plate increases, the shear stresses in the fluid increase at the same rate. Fluids that exhibit this property conform to Newton’s law of viscosity and are called Newtonian fluids. Water and air are examples of Newtonian fluids. Some types of fluids, such as inks and sludge, undergo changes in viscosity when the shear stress changes. Fluids exhibiting this type of behavior are called pseudo-plastic fluids.

Section 2.1

Fluid Properties

21

Figure 2.1 F

Physical interpretation of Newton’s law of viscosity

V dy y

dV

Relationships between the shear stress and the velocity gradient for typical Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids are shown in Figure 2.2. Since most distribution system models are intended to simulate water, many of the equations used consider Newtonian fluids only. Figure 2.2 Stress versus strain for plastics and fluids

Elastic Solid

tic

as

l lP

a

t = Shear Stress

e Id

-p

udo

Pse

id

Flu

tic las

ian

on ewt

d

Flui

N

Ideal Fluid dV/dy

Viscosity is a function of temperature, but this relationship is different for liquids and gases. In general, viscosity decreases as temperature increases for liquids, and viscosity increases as temperature increases for gases. The temperature variation within

22

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

water distribution systems, however, is usually quite small, and thus changes in water viscosity are considered negligible for this application. Generally, water distribution system modeling software treats viscosity as a constant [assuming a temperature of 68oF (20oC)]. The viscosity derived in Equation 2.2 is referred to as the absolute viscosity (or dynamic viscosity). For hydraulic formulas related to fluid motion, the relationship between fluid viscosity and fluid density is often expressed as a single variable. This relationship, called the kinematic viscosity, is expressed as follows: ν = µ --ρ

where

(2.3)

ν = kinematic viscosity (L2/T)

Just as there are shear stresses between the plate and the fluid in Figure 2.1, there are shear stresses between the wall of a pipe and the fluid moving through the pipe. The higher the fluid viscosity, the greater the shear stresses that will develop within the fluid, and, consequently, the greater the friction losses along the pipe. Distribution system modeling software packages use fluid viscosity as a factor in estimating the friction losses along a pipe’s length. Packages that can handle any fluid require the viscosity and density to be input by the modeler, while models that are developed only for water usually account for the appropriate value automatically.

Fluid Compressibility Compressibility is a physical property of fluids that relates the volume occupied by a fixed mass of fluid to its pressure. In general, gases are much more compressible than liquids. An air compressor is a simple device that utilizes the compressibility of air to store energy. The compressor is essentially a pump that intermittently forces air molecules into the fixed volume tank attached to it. Each time the compressor turns on, the mass of air, and therefore the pressure within the tank, increases. Thus a relationship exists between fluid mass, volume, and pressure. This relationship can be simplified by considering a fixed mass of a fluid. Compressibility is then described by defining the fluid’s bulk modulus of elasticity: dP E v = – V ------dV

where

(2.4)

Ev = bulk modulus of elasticity (M/L/T2) P = pressure (M/L/T2) V = volume of fluid (L3)

All fluids are compressible to some extent. The effects of compression in a water distribution system are very small, and thus the equations used in hydraulic simulations are based on the assumption that the liquids involved are incompressible. With a bulk modulus of elasticity of 410,000 psi (2.83 × 106 kPa) at 68oF (20oC), water can safely be treated as incompressible. For instance, a pressure change of over 2,000 psi (1.379 × 104 kPa) results in only a 0.5 percent change in volume.

Section 2.2

Fluid Statics and Dynamics

Although the assumption of incompressibility is justifiable under most conditions, certain hydraulic phenomena are capable of generating pressures high enough that the compressibility of water becomes important. During field operations, a phenomenon known as water hammer can develop due to extremely rapid changes in flow (when, for instance, a valve suddenly closes, or a power failure occurs and pumps stop operating). The momentum of the moving fluid can generate pressures large enough that fluid compression and pipe wall expansion can occur, which in turn causes destructive transient pressure fluctuations to propagate throughout the network. Specialized network simulation software is necessary to analyze these transient pressure effects. For complete coverage of transient flow, see Chapter 13.

Vapor Pressure Consider a closed container that is partly filled with water. The pressure in the container is measured when the water is first added, and again after some time has elapsed. These readings show that the pressure in the container increases during this period. The increase in pressure is due to the evaporation of the water, and the resulting increase in vapor pressure above the liquid. Assuming that temperature remains constant, the pressure will eventually reach a constant value that corresponds to the equilibrium or saturation vapor pressure of water at that temperature. At this point, the rates of evaporation and condensation are equal. The saturation vapor pressure increases with increasing temperature. This relationship demonstrates, for example, why the air in humid climates typically feels moister in summer than in winter, and why the boiling temperature of water is lower at higher elevations. If a sample of water at a pressure of 1 atm and room temperature is heated to 212oF (100oC), the water will begin to boil since the vapor pressure of water at that temperature is equal to 1 atm. In a similar vein, if water is held at a temperature of 68oF (20oC), and the pressure is decreased to 0.023 atm, the water will also boil. This concept can be applied to water distribution in cases in which the ambient pressure drops very low. Pump cavitation occurs when the fluid being pumped flashes into a vapor pocket and then quickly collapses. For this to happen, the pressure in the pipeline must be equal to or less than the vapor pressure of the fluid. When cavitation occurs, it sounds as if gravel is being pumped, and severe damage to pipe walls and pump components can result. For complete coverage of cavitation, see Chapter 13.

2.2

FLUID STATICS AND DYNAMICS

Static Pressure Pressure can be thought of as a force applied normal, or perpendicular, to a body that is in contact with a fluid. In the English system of units, pressure is expressed in pounds per square foot (lb/ft2), but the water industry generally uses lb/in2, typically abbreviated as psi. In the SI system, pressure has units of N/m2, also called a Pascal.

23

24

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

However, because of the magnitude of pressures occurring in distribution systems, pressure is typically reported in kilo-Pascals (kPa), or 1,000 Pascals. Pressure varies with depth, as illustrated in Figure 2.3. For fluids at rest, the variation of pressure over depth is linear and is called the hydrostatic pressure distribution. P = hγ

where

(2.5)

P = pressure (M/L/T2) h = depth of fluid above datum (L) γ = fluid specific weight (M/L2/T2)

Figure 2.3

Depth

Static pressure in a standing water column

P

Pressure = g(Depth)

This equation can be rewritten to find the height of a column of water that can be supported by a given pressure: h = P --γ

(2.6)

The quantity P/ γ is called the pressure head, which is the energy resulting from water pressure. Recognizing that the specific weight of water in English units is 62.4 lb/ft3, a convenient conversion factor can be established for water as 1 psi = 2.31 ft (1 kPa = 0.102 m) of pressure head.

Section 2.2

Fluid Statics and Dynamics

„ Example — Pressure Calculation. Consider the storage tank in Figure 2.4 in which the water surface elevation is 120 ft above a pressure gage. The pressure at the base of the tank is due to the weight of the column of water directly above it, and can be calculated as follows:

lb 62.4 -----3- ( 120ft ) ft P = γh = ---------------------------------2 in -----144 2 ft P = 52 psi Figure 2.4 Storage tank

120 ft

Pbase = 52 psi

Absolute Pressure and Gage Pressure. Pressure at a given point is due to the weight of the fluid above that point. The weight of the earth’s atmosphere produces a pressure, referred to as atmospheric pressure. Although the actual atmospheric pressure depends on elevation and weather, standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1 atm (14.7 psi or 101 kPa). Two types of pressure are commonly used in hydraulics: absolute pressure and gage pressure. Absolute pressure is the pressure measured with absolute zero (a perfect vacuum) as its datum, and gage pressure is the pressure measured with atmospheric pressure as its datum. The two are related to one another as shown in Equation 2.7 and as illustrated in Figure 2.5. Note that when a pressure gage located at the earth’s surface is open to the atmosphere, it registers zero on its dial. If the gage pressure is negative (that is, the pressure is below atmospheric), then the negative pressure is called a vacuum.

25

26

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

P abs = P gage + P atm

where

(2.7)

Pabs = absolute pressure (M/L/T2) Pgage = gage pressure (M/L/T2) Patm = atmospheric pressure (M/L/T2)

In most hydraulic applications, including water distribution systems analysis, gage pressure is used. Using absolute pressure has little value, since doing so would simply result in all the gage pressures being incremented by atmospheric pressure. Additionally, gage pressure is often more intuitive because people do not typically consider atmospheric effects when thinking about pressure. Figure 2.5 Gage versus absolute pressure

Pgage = 0 psi Pabs = 14.6 psi

H = 20 ft Water

Pgage = 8.7 psi Pabs = 23.3 psi

Velocity and Flow Regime The velocity profile of a fluid as it flows through a pipe is not constant across the diameter. Rather, the velocity of a fluid particle depends on where the fluid particle is located with respect to the pipe wall. In most cases, hydraulic models deal with the average velocity in a cross-section of pipeline, which can be found by using the following formula: Q V = ---A

where

(2.8)

V = average fluid velocity (L/T) Q = pipeline flow rate (L3/T) A = cross-sectional area of pipeline (L2)

The cross-sectional area of a circular pipe can be directly computed from the diameter D, so the velocity equation can be rewritten as: 4Q V = ---------2 πD

where

D = diameter (L)

(2.9)

Section 2.2

Fluid Statics and Dynamics

27

For water distribution systems in which diameter is measured in inches and flow is measured in gallons per minute, the equation simplifies to: Q V = 0.41 ------2 D

where

(2.10)

V = average fluid velocity (ft/s) Q = pipeline flow rate (gpm) D = diameter (in.)

Reynolds Number. In the late 1800s, an English scientist named Osborne Reynolds conducted experiments on fluid passing through a glass tube. His experimental setup looked much like the one in Figure 2.6 (Streeter, Wylie, and Bedford, 1998). The experimental apparatus was designed to establish the flow rate through a long glass tube (meant to simulate a pipeline) and to allow dye (from a smaller tank) to flow into the liquid. He noticed that at very low flow rates, the dye stream remained intact with a distinct interface between the dye stream and the fluid surrounding it. Reynolds referred to this condition as laminar flow. At slightly higher flow rates, the dye stream began to waver a bit, and there was some blurring between the dye stream and the surrounding fluid. He called this condition transitional flow. At even higher flows, the dye stream was completely broken up, and the dye mixed completely with the surrounding fluid. Reynolds referred to this regime as turbulent flow. When Reynolds conducted the same experiment using different fluids, he noticed that the condition under which the dye stream remained intact not only varied with the flow rate through the tube, but also with the fluid density, fluid viscosity, and the diameter of the tube. Figure 2.6 Experimental apparatus used to determine Reynolds number

28

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

Based on experimental evidence gathered by Reynolds and dimensional analysis, a dimensionless number can be computed and used to characterize flow regime. Conceptually, the Reynolds number can be thought of as the ratio between inertial and viscous forces in a fluid. The Reynolds number for full flowing circular pipes can be found using the following equation: VDρ- = VD Re = -----------------µ ν

where

(2.11)

Re = Reynolds number D = pipeline diameter (L) ρ = fluid density (M/L3) µ = absolute viscosity (M/L/T) ν = kinematic viscosity (L2/T)

The ranges of the Reynolds number that define the three flow regimes are shown in Table 2.1. The flow of water through municipal water systems is almost always turbulent, except in the periphery where water demand is low and intermittent, and may result in laminar and stagnant flow conditions. Table 2.1 Reynolds number for various flow regimes Flow Regime

Reynolds Number

Laminar

< 2000

Transitional

2000–4000

Turbulent

> 4000

Velocity Profiles. Due to the shear stresses along the walls of a pipe, the velocity in a pipeline is not uniform over the pipe diameter. Rather, the fluid velocity is zero at the pipe wall. Fluid velocity increases with distance from the pipe wall, with the maximum occurring along the centerline of the pipe. Figure 2.7 illustrates the variation of fluid velocity within a pipe, also called the velocity profile. The shape of the velocity profile will vary depending on whether the flow regime is laminar or turbulent. In laminar flow, the fluid particles travel in parallel layers or lamina, producing very strong shear stresses between adjacent layers, and causing the dye streak in Reynolds’ experiment to remain intact. Mathematically, the velocity profile in laminar flow is shaped like a parabola as shown in Figure 2.7. In laminar flow, the head loss through a pipe segment is primarily a function of the fluid viscosity, not the internal pipe roughness. Turbulent flow is characterized by eddies that produce random variations in the velocity profiles. Although the velocity profile of turbulent flow is more erratic than that of laminar flow, the mean velocity profile actually exhibits less variation across the pipe. The velocity profiles for both turbulent and laminar flows are shown in Figure 2.7.

Section 2.3

Energy Concepts

29

Figure 2.7

v

Velocity profiles for different flow regimes

v

Laminar Profile

Uniform Velocity Profile

v

Turbulent Profile

2.3

ENERGY CONCEPTS

Fluids possess energy in three forms. The amount of energy depends on the fluid’s movement (kinetic energy), elevation (potential energy), and pressure (pressure energy). In a hydraulic system, a fluid can have all three types of energy associated with it simultaneously. The total energy associated with a fluid per unit weight of the fluid is called head. The kinetic energy is called velocity head (V2/2g), the potential energy is called elevation head (Z), and the internal pressure energy is called pressure head (P/ γ ). While typical units for energy are foot-pounds (Joules), the units of total head are feet (meters). 2

VH = Z+P --- + ----γ 2g

where

(2.12)

H = total head (L) Z = elevation above datum (L) P = pressure (M/L/T2) γ = fluid specific weight (M/L2/T2) V = velocity (L/T) g = gravitational acceleration constant (L/T2)

Each point in the system has a unique head associated with it. A line plotted of total head versus distance through a system is called the energy grade line (EGL). The sum of the elevation head and pressure head yields the hydraulic grade line (HGL), which corresponds to the height that water will rise vertically in a tube attached to the pipe and open to the atmosphere. Figure 2.8 shows the EGL and HGL for a simple pipeline. In most water distribution applications, the elevation and pressure head terms are much greater than the velocity head term. For this reason, velocity head is often ignored, and modelers work in terms of hydraulic grades rather than energy grades. Therefore, given a datum elevation and a hydraulic grade line, the pressure can be determined as P = γ ( HGL – Z )

(2.13)

30

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

Figure 2.8 Energy and hydraulic grade lines

Head Loss, hL 2 V Velocity Head, 2g

EGL HGL

P Pressure Head, g

Flow Datum

Elevation Head, Z

Energy Losses Energy losses, also called head losses, are generally the result of two mechanisms: • Friction along the pipe walls • Turbulence due to changes in streamlines through fittings and appurtenances Head losses along the pipe wall are called friction losses or head losses due to friction, while losses due to turbulence within the bulk fluid are called minor losses.

2.4

FRICTION LOSSES

When a liquid flows through a pipeline, shear stresses develop between the liquid and the pipe wall. This shear stress is a result of friction, and its magnitude is dependent on the properties of the fluid that is passing through the pipe, the speed at which it is moving, the internal roughness of the pipe, and the length and diameter of the pipe. Consider, for example, the pipe segment shown in Figure 2.9. A force balance on the fluid element contained within a pipe section can be used to form a general expression describing the head loss due to friction. Note the forces in action: • Pressure difference between sections 1 and 2 • The weight of the fluid volume contained between sections 1 and 2 • The shear at the pipe walls between sections 1 and 2 Assuming the flow in the pipeline has a constant velocity (that is, acceleration is equal to zero), the system can be balanced based on the pressure difference, gravitational forces, and shear forces.

Section 2.4

Friction Losses

P 1 A 1 – P 2 A 2 – ALγ sin ( α ) – τ o NL = 0

where

P1 A1 P2 A2

= = = =

31

(2.14)

pressure at section 1(M/L/T2) cross-sectional area of section 1(L2) pressure at section 2 (M/L/T2) cross-sectional area of section 2 (L2)

A = average area between section 1 and section 2 (L2)

L = distance between section 1 and section 2 (L) γ = fluid specific weight (M/L2/T2) α = angle of the pipe to horizontal τ o = shear stress along pipe wall (M/L/T2)

N = perimeter of pipeline cross-section (L) Figure 2.9 Free body diagram of water flowing in an inclined pipe

The last term on the left side of Equation 2.14 represents the friction losses along the pipe wall between the two sections. By recognizing that sin( α ) = (Z2-Z1)/L, the equation for head loss due to friction can be rewritten to obtain the following equation. (Note that the velocity head is not considered in this case because the pipe diameters, and therefore the velocity heads, are the same.) P P NL h L = τ o ------- =  -----1- + Z 1 –  -----2- + Z 2 γA γ γ

(2.15)

32

Modeling Theory

where

Chapter 2

hL = head loss due to friction (L) Z1 = elevation of centroid of section 1 (L) Z2 = elevation of centroid of section 2 (L)

Recall that the shear stresses in a fluid can be found analytically for laminar flow using Newton’s law of viscosity. Shear stress is a function of the viscosity and velocity gradient of the fluid, the fluid specific weight (or density), and the diameter of the pipeline. The roughness of the pipe wall is also a factor (that is, the rougher the pipe wall, the larger the shear stress). Combining all these factors, it can be seen that τ o = F ( ρ, µ, V, D, ε )

where

(2.16)

ρ = fluid density (M/L3) µ = absolute viscosity (M/L/T)

V = average fluid velocity (L/T) D = diameter (L) ε = index of internal pipe roughness (L)

Darcy-Weisbach Formula Using dimensional analysis, the Darcy-Weisbach formula was developed. The formula is an equation for head loss expressed in terms of the variables listed in Equation 2.16, as follows (note that head loss is expressed with units of length): 2

2

LV 8fLQ h L = f ----------- = ---------------5 2 D2g gD π

where

(2.17)

f = Darcy-Weisbach friction factor g = gravitational acceleration constant (L/T2) Q = pipeline flow rate (L3/T)

The Darcy-Weisbach friction factor, f, is a function of the same variables as wall shear stress (Equation 2.16). Again using dimensional analysis, a functional relationship for the friction factor can be developed: VDρ ε ε f = F  ------------, ---- = F  Re, ----  µ D  D

where

(2.18)

Re = Reynolds number

The Darcy-Weisbach friction factor is dependent on the velocity, density, and viscosity of the fluid; the size of the pipe in which the fluid is flowing; and the internal roughness of the pipe. The fluid velocity, density, viscosity, and pipe size are expressed in terms of the Reynolds number. The internal roughness is expressed in terms of a variable called the relative roughness, which is the internal pipe roughness ( ε ) divided by the pipe diameter (D).

Section 2.4

Friction Losses

In the early 1930s, the German researcher Nikuradse performed an experiment that would become fundamental in head loss determination (Nikuradse, 1932). He glued uniformly sized sand grains to the insides of three pipes of different sizes. His experiments showed that the curve of f versus Re is smooth for the same values of ε /D. Partly because of Nikuradse’s sand grain experiments, the quantity ε is called the equivalent sand grain roughness of the pipe. Table 2.2 provides values of ε for various materials. Other researchers conducted experiments on artificially roughened pipes to generate data describing pipe friction factors for a wide range of relative roughness values. Table 2.2 Equivalent sand grain roughness for various pipe materials Equivalent Sand Roughness, ε Material

(ft)

(mm)

Copper, brass

1x10-4 – 3x10-3

3.05x10-2 – 0.9

Wrought iron, steel

1.5x10-4 – 8x10-3

4.6x10-2 – 2.4

Asphalted cast iron

4x10-4 – 7x10-3

Galvanized iron

3.3x10 – 1.5x10

Cast iron

8x10 – 1.8x10

Concrete

10-3 – 10-2

Uncoated cast iron

0.1 – 2.1

-4

-4

-2

-2

0.102 – 4.6 0.2 – 5.5 0.3 – 3.0

-4

0.226

-4

7.4x10

Coated cast iron

3.3x10

0.102

Coated spun iron

1.8x10-4

5.6x10-2

Cement

1.3x10-3 – 4x10-3

0.4 – 1.2

Wrought iron

-4

5x10-2

Uncoated steel

-5

9.2x10

2.8x10-2

Coated steel

1.8x10-4

5.8x10-2

Wood stave

6x10-4 – 3x10-3

0.2 – 0.9

PVC

1.7x10

-6

5x10

1.5x10-3

Compiled from Lamont (1981), Moody (1944), and Mays (1999)

Colebrook-White Equation and the Moody Diagram. Numerous formulas exist that relate the friction factor to the Reynolds number and relative roughness. One of the earliest and most popular of these formulas is the ColebrookWhite equation: 1 = – 0.86 ln  ----------ε - +-----------2.51  ---- 3.7D f Re f 

(2.19)

The difficulty with using the Colebrook-White equation is that it is an implicit function of the friction factor (f is found on both sides of the equation). Typically, the equation is solved by iterating through assumed values of f until both sides are equal.

33

34

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

The Moody diagram, shown in Figure 2.10, was developed from the Colebrook-White equation as a graphical solution for the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor. It is interesting to note that for laminar flow (low Re) the friction factor is a linear function of the Reynolds number, while in the fully turbulent range (high ε /D and high Re) the friction factor is only a function of the relative roughness. This difference occurs because the effect of roughness is negligible for laminar flow, while for very turbulent flow the viscous forces become negligible. Swamee-Jain Formula. Much easier to solve than the iterative ColebrookWhite formula, the formula developed by Swamee and Jain (1976) also approximates the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor. This equation is an explicit function of the Reynolds number and the relative roughness, and is accurate to within about one percent of the Colebrook-White equation over a range of 3

4 × 10 ≤ Re ≤ 1 × 10 1 × 10

–6

8

≤ ε ⁄ D ≤ 1 × 10

and –2

1.325 f = -------------------------------------------------ε 5.74- 2 ln  ------------ + ----------3.7D Re 0.9

(2.20)

Because of its relative simplicity and reasonable accuracy, most water distribution system modeling software packages use the Swamee-Jain formula to compute the friction factor.

Hazen-Williams Another frequently used head loss expression, particularly in North America, is the Hazen-Williams formula (Williams and Hazen, 1920; ASCE, 1992): Cf L 1.852 h L = --------------------------Q 1.852 4.87 C D

where

hL L C D Q Cf

= = = = = =

(2.21)

head loss due to friction (ft, m) distance between sections 1 and 2 (ft, m) Hazen-Williams C-factor diameter (ft, m) pipeline flow rate (cfs, m3/s) unit conversion factor (4.73 English, 10.7 SI)

The Hazen-Williams formula uses many of the same variables as Darcy-Weisbach, but instead of using a friction factor, the Hazen-Williams formula uses a pipe carrying capacity factor, C. Higher C-factors represent smoother pipes (with higher carrying capacities) and lower C-factors describe rougher pipes. Table 2.3 shows typical Cfactors for various pipe materials, based on Lamont (1981).

hL Friction factor, f = 2 L V D 2g

0.10

0.008

0.009

0.010

0.015

0.020

0.025

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.08

0.09

10 3

2(103) 4

2 6 10 20 40 60 200

VD

6 8 106

100

Reynolds number, Re = v

2(105) 4

Smooth pipes

6 8 105

e, mm 0.9 - 9 0.3 - 3 0.18 - 0.9 0.25 0.15 0.12 0.045 0.0015

4

2(104) 4

e, ft. 0.003 - 0.03 0.001- 0.01 0.0006 - 0.003 0.00085 0.0005 0.0004 0.00015 0.000005

6 8 104

Riveted steel Concrete Wood stave Cast iron Galvanized iron Asphalted cast iron Steel or wrought iron Drawn Tubing

64 Re

1

2(106) 4

6 8 107

400 600 1000 2000

Values of ( VD ) for water at 60 F (diameter in inches, velocity in ft./sec.) 0.4 0.6

Laminar flow, f =

0.2

From L. F. Moody, “Friction Factors for Pipe Flow,” Trans. A.S.M.E., Vol. 66, 1944, used with permission.

0.1

2(107) 4

4000

8

0.00005

0.0002

0.0004

0.0006

0.001

0.002

0.004

0.006

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.05

6 8 10

10,000

Section 2.4 Friction Losses

Figure 2.10

Moody diagram

35

Relative roughness, e / D

36

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

Lamont found that it was not possible to develop a single correlation between pipe age and C-factor and that, instead, the decrease in C-factor also depended heavily on the corrosiveness of the water being carried. He developed four separate “trends” in carrying capacity loss depending on the “attack” of the water on the pipe. Trend 1, slight attack, corresponded to water that was only mildly corrosive. Trend 4, severe attack, corresponded to water that would rapidly attack cast iron pipe. As can be seen from Table 2.3, the extent of attack can significantly affect the C-factor. Testing pipes to determine the loss of carrying capacity is discussed further on page 196. Table 2.3 C-factors for various pipe materials C-factor Values for Discrete Pipe Diameters 3.0 in. (7.6 cm)

6.0 in. (15.2 cm)

12 in. (30 cm)

24 in. (61 cm)

48 in. (122 cm)

Uncoated cast iron - smooth and new

121

125

130

132

134

Coated cast iron - smooth and new

129

133

138

140

141

Trend 1 - slight attack

100

106

112

117

120

Trend 2 - moderate attack

83

90

97

102

107

Trend 3 - appreciable attack

59

70

78

83

89

Trend 4 - severe attack

41

50

58

66

73

Trend 1 - slight attack

90

97

102

107

112

Trend 2 - moderate attack

69

79

85

92

96

Trend 3 - appreciable attack

49

58

66

72

78

Trend 4 - severe attack

30

39

48

56

62

Trend 1 - slight attack

81

89

95

100

104

Trend 2 - moderate attack

61

70

78

83

89

Trend 3 - appreciable attack

40

49

57

64

71

Trend 4 - severe attack

21

30

39

46

54

Newly scraped mains

109

116

121

125

127

Newly brushed mains

97

104

108

112

115

137

142

145

148

148

Type of Pipe

1.0 in. (2.5 cm)

30 years old

60 years old

100 years old

Miscellaneous

Coated spun iron - smooth and new Old - take as coated cast iron of same age Galvanized iron - smooth and new

120

129

133

Wrought iron - smooth and new

129

137

142

Coated steel - smooth and new

129

137

142

145

148

148

Uncoated steel - smooth and new

134

142

145

147

150

150

Section 2.4

Friction Losses

Table 2.3 (cont.) C-factors for various pipe materials C-factor Values for Discrete Pipe Diameters 1.0 in. (2.5 cm)

3.0 in. (7.6 cm)

6.0 in. (15.2 cm)

12 in. (30 cm)

24 in. (61 cm)

Coated asbestos cement - clean

147

149

150

152

Uncoated asbestos cement clean

142

145

147

150

Spun cement-lined and spun bitumen- lined - clean

147

149

150

152

153

Type of Pipe

48 in. (122 cm)

Smooth pipe (including lead, brass, copper, polyethylene, and PVC) - clean

140

147

149

150

152

153

PVC wavy - clean

134

142

145

147

150

150

Class 1 - Cs = 0.27; clean

69

79

84

90

95

Class 2 - Cs = 0.31; clean

95

102

106

110

113

Class 3 - Cs = 0.345; clean

109

116

121

125

127

Class 4 - Cs = 0.37; clean

121

125

130

132

134

Best - Cs = 0.40; clean

129

133

138

140

141

109

116

121

125

127

147

150

150

Concrete - Scobey

Tate relined pipes - clean Prestressed concrete pipes clean

Lamont (1981)

From a purely theoretical standpoint, the C-factor of a pipe should vary with the flow velocity under turbulent conditions. Equation 2.22 can be used to adjust the C-factor for different velocities, but the effects of this correction are usually minimal. A twofold increase in the flow velocity correlates to an apparent five percent decrease in the roughness factor. This difference is usually within the error range for the roughness estimate in the first place, so most engineers assume the C-factor remains constant regardless of flow (Walski, 1984). However, if C-factor tests are done at very high velocities (i.e., >10 ft/s), then a significant error can result when the resulting Cfactors are used to predict head loss at low velocities. V o 0.081 C = C o  ------  V

where

(2.22)

C = velocity adjusted C-factor Co = reference C-factor Vo = reference value of velocity at which C0 was determined (L/T)

Manning Equation Another head loss expression more typically associated with open channel flow is the Manning equation:

37

38

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

2

C f L ( nQ ) h L = ----------------------5.33 D

where

(2.23)

n = Manning roughness coefficient Cf = unit conversion factor (4.66 English, 10.29 SI)

As with the previous head loss expressions, the head loss computed using Manning equation is dependent on the pipe length and diameter, the discharge or flow through the pipe, and a roughness coefficient. In this case, a higher value of n represents a higher internal pipe roughness. Table 2.4 provides typical Manning’s roughness coefficients for commonly used pipe materials. Table 2.4 Manning’s roughness values Material

Manning Coefficient

Material

Manning Coefficient

Asbestos cement

.011

Corrugated metal

.022

Brass

.011

Galvanized iron

.016

Brick

.015

Lead

.011

Cast iron, new

.012

Plastic

.009

Concrete

Steel

Steel forms

.011

Coal-tar enamel

.010

Wooden forms

.015

New unlined

.011

Centrifugally spun

.013

Riveted

.019

.011

Wood stave

.012

Copper

Comparison of Friction Loss Methods Most hydraulic models have features that allow the user to select from the DarcyWeisbach, Hazen-Williams, or Manning head loss formulas, depending on the nature of the problem and the user’s preferences. The Darcy-Weisbach formula is a more physically-based equation, derived from the basic governing equations of Newton’s Second Law. With appropriate fluid viscosities and densities, Darcy-Weisbach can be used to find the head loss in a pipe for any Newtonian fluid in any flow regime. The Hazen-Williams and Manning formulas, on the other hand, are empirically-based expressions (meaning that they were developed from experimental data), and generally only apply to water under turbulent flow conditions. The Hazen-Williams formula is the predominant equation used in the United States, and Darcy-Weisbach is predominant in Europe. The Manning formula is not typically used for water distribution modeling; however, it is sometimes used in Australia. Table 2.5 presents these three equations in several common unit configurations. These equations solve for the friction slope (Sf), which is the head loss per unit length of pipe.

Section 2.5

Minor Losses

Table 2.5 Friction loss equations in typical units Equation

Q (m3/s); D (m)

Darcy-Weisbach

Q S f = 0.083f ---------------------5 D

Q S f = 0.025f ---------------------5 D

Q S f = 0.031f ---------------------5 D

Hazen-Williams

1.852 10.7-  Q ---- S f = ----------4.87  C D

1.852 4.73-  Q ---- S f = ----------4.87  C D

1.852 10.5-  Q ---- S f = ----------4.87  C D

Manning

( nQ ) S f = 10.3 ------------------------5.33 D

Q (cfs); D (ft) 2

Q (gpm); D (in.) 2

2

2

2

( nQ ) S f = 4.66 ------------------------5.33 D

2

( nQ ) S f = 13.2 ------------------------5.33 D

Compiled from ASCE (1975) and ASCE/WEF (1982)

2.5

MINOR LOSSES

Head losses also occur at valves, tees, bends (see Figure 2.11), reducers, and other appurtenances within the piping system. These losses, called minor losses, are due to turbulence within the bulk flow as it moves through fittings and bends. Figure 2.12 illustrates the turbulent eddies that develop within the bulk flow as it travels through a valve and a 90-degree bend. Figure 2.11 48-in. elbow fitting

Head loss due to minor losses can be computed by multiplying a minor loss coefficient by the velocity head, as shown in Equation 2.24.

39

40

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

Figure 2.12 Valve and bend crosssections generating minor losses

2

2

V Q h m = K L ------ = K L ------------2 2g 2gA

where

hm KL V g A Q

= = = = = =

(2.24)

head loss due to minor losses (L) minor loss coefficient velocity (L/T) gravitational acceleration constant (L/T2) cross-sectional area (L2) flow rate (L3/T)

Minor loss coefficients are found experimentally, and data are available for many different types of fittings and appurtenances. Table 2.6 provides a list of minor loss coefficients associated with several of the most commonly used fittings. More thorough treatments of minor loss coefficients can be found in Crane (1972), Miller (1978), and Idelchik (1999). For water distribution systems, minor losses are generally much smaller than the head losses due to friction (hence the term "minor" loss). For this reason, many modelers frequently choose to neglect minor losses. In some cases, however, such as at pump stations or valve manifolds where there may be more fittings and higher velocities, minor losses can play a significant role in the piping system under consideration. Like pipe roughness coefficients, minor head loss coefficients will vary somewhat with velocity. For most practical network problems, however, the minor loss coefficient is treated as constant.

Valve Coefficient Most valve manufacturers can provide a chart of percent opening versus valve coefficent (Cv), which can be related to the minor loss (KL) by using Equation 2.25.

Section 2.5

Minor Losses

Table 2.6 Minor loss coefficients KL

Fitting

Fitting

Pipe entrance

KL

o

90 smooth bend

Bellmouth

0.03-0.05

Bend radius/D = 4

0.16-0.18

Rounded

0.12-0.25

Bend radius/D = 2

0.19-0.25

Sharp-edged

0.50

Bend radius/D = 1

0.35-0.40

Projecting

0.78

Mitered bend

Contraction – sudden

θ = 15o

0.05

D2/D1=0.80

0.18

θ = 30o

0.10

D2/D1=0.50

0.37

θ = 45o

0.20

D2/D1=0.20

0.49

θ = 60o

0.35

θ = 90o

0.80

Contraction – conical D2/D1=0.80

0.05

Tee

D2/D1=0.50

0.07

Line flow

0.30-0.40

D2/D1=0.20

0.08

Branch flow

0.75-1.80

Expansion – sudden

Tapping T Branch

D2/D1=0.80

0.16

D2/D1=0.50

0.57

D2/D1=0.20

0.92

d = tapping hole diameter D = main line diameter

1.97/(d/D)4

Cross

Expansion – conical

Line flow

0.50

Branch flow

0.75

D2/D1=0.80

0.03

D2/D1=0.50

0.08

Line flow

0.30

D2/D1=0.20

0.13

Branch flow

0.50

Gate valve – open

o

45 Wye

0.39

Check valve – conventional

4.0

3/4 open

1.10

Check valve – clearway

1.5

1/2 open

4.8

Check valve – ball

4.5

1/4 open

27

Cock – straight through

0.5

Globe valve – open

10

Foot valve – hinged

2.2

Angle valve – open

4.3

Foot valve – poppet

12.5

Butterfly valve – open

1.2 Walski (1984)

4

2

KL = Cf D ⁄ Cv

where

D = diameter (in., m) Cv = valve coefficient [gpm/(psi)0.5, (m3/s)/(kPa)0.5] Cf = unit conversion factor (880 English, 1.22 SI)

(2.25)

41

42

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

Equivalent Pipe Length Rather than including minor loss coefficients directly, a modeler may choose to adjust the modeled pipe length to account for minor losses by adding an equivalent length of pipe for each minor loss. Given the minor loss coefficient for a valve or fitting, the equivalent length of pipe to give the same head loss can be calculated as: KL D L e = ---------f

where

(2.26)

Le = equivalent length of pipe (L) D = diameter of equivalent pipe (L) f = Darcy-Weisbach friction factor

The practice of assigning equivalent pipe lengths was typically used when hand calculations were more common because it could save time in the overall analysis of a pipeline. With modern computer modeling techniques, this is no longer a widespread practice. Because it is now so easy to use minor loss coefficients directly within a hydraulic model, the process of determining equivalent lengths is actually less efficient. In addition, use of equivalent pipe lengths can unfavorably affect the travel time predictions that are important in many water quality calculations.

2.6

RESISTANCE COEFFICIENTS

Many related expressions for head loss have been developed. They can be mathematically generalized with the introduction of a variable referred to as a resistance coefficient. This format allows the equation to remain essentially the same regardless of which friction method is used, making it ideal for hydraulic modeling. hL = KP Q

where

hL KP Q z

= = = =

z

(2.27)

head loss due to friction (L) pipe resistance coefficient (Tz/L3z - 1) pipeline flow rate (L3/T) exponent on flow term

Equations for computing KP with the various head loss methods are given next.

Darcy-Weisbach L K P = f ---------------z 2gA D

where

f L D A z

= = = = =

Darcy-Weisbach friction factor length of pipe (L) pipe diameter (L) cross-sectional area of pipeline (L2) 2

(2.28)

Section 2.6

Resistance Coefficients

Hazen-Williams Cf L K P = -----------------z 4.87 CD

where

KP L C z D Cf

= = = = = =

(2.29)

pipe resistance coefficient (sz/ft3z-1, sz/m3z-1) length of pipe (ft, m) C-factor with velocity adjustment 1.852 pipe diameter (ft, m) unit conversion factor (4.73 English, 10.7 SI)

Manning z

C f Ln K P = ------------5.33 D

where

(2.30)

n = Manning’s roughness coefficient z =2 Cf = unit conversion factor [4.64 English, 10.3 SI (ASCE/WEF, 1982)]

Minor Losses A resistance coefficient can also be defined for minor losses, as shown in the equation below. Like the pipe resistance coefficient, the resistance coefficient for minor losses is a function of the physical characteristics of the fitting or appurtenance and the discharge. hm = KM Q

where

2

(2.31)

hm = head loss due to minor losses (L) KM = minor loss resistance coefficient (T2/L5) Q = pipeline flow rate (L3/T)

Solving for the minor loss resistance coefficient by substituting Equation 2.24 results in:

∑ KL K M = -------------2 2gA where

∑ KL

= sum of individual minor loss coefficients

(2.32)

43

44

Modeling Theory

2.7

Chapter 2

ENERGY GAINS – PUMPS

On many occasions, energy needs to be added to a hydraulic system to overcome elevation differences, friction losses, and minor losses. A pump is a device to which mechanical energy is applied and transferred to the water as total head. The head added is called pump head and is a function of the flow rate through the pump. The following discussion is oriented toward centrifugal pumps because they are the most frequently used pumps in water distribution systems. Additional information about pumps can be found in Bosserman (2000), Hydraulic Institute Standards (2000), Karassik (1976), and Sanks (1998).

Pump Head-Discharge Relationship The relationship between pump head and pump discharge is given in the form of a head versus discharge curve (also called a head characteristic curve) similar to the one shown in Figure 2.13. This curve defines the relationship between the head that the pump adds and the amount of flow that the pump passes. The pump head versus discharge relationship is nonlinear, and as one would expect, the more water the pump passes, the less head it can add. The head that is plotted in the head characteristic curve is the head difference across the pump, called the total dynamic head (TDH). This curve must be described as a mathematical function to be used in a hydraulic simulation. Some models fit a polynomial curve to selected data points, but a more common approach is to describe the curve by using a power function in the following form: m

hP = ho – c QP

where

hP ho QP c, m

= = = =

(2.33)

pump head (L) cutoff (shutoff) head (pump head at zero flow) (L) pump discharge (L3/T) coefficients describing pump curve shape

More information on pump performance testing is available in Chapter 5 (see page 197). Affinity Laws for Variable-Speed Pumps. A centrifugal pump’s characteristic curve is fixed for a given motor speed and impeller diameter, but it can be determined for any speed and any diameter by applying relationships called the affinity laws. For variable-speed pumps, these affinity laws are presented as follows: Q P1 ⁄ Q P2 = n 1 ⁄ n 2 h P1 ⁄ h P2 = ( n 1 ⁄ n 2 )

where

QP1 = pump flow at speed 1 (L3/T) n1 = pump speed 1 (1/T) hP1 = pump head at speed 1 (L)

(2.34) 2

(2.35)

Section 2.7

Energy Gains – Pumps

45

Figure 2.13 Pump head characteristic curve

200.0 Shutoff Head

150.0

Head ,ft

Design Point

100.0 Maximum Flow

50.0

0.0 0.0

250

500

750

1000

1250

1500

1750

Flow, gpm

Thus, pump discharge rate is directly proportional to pump speed, and pump discharge head is proportional to the square of the speed. Using this relationship, once the pump curve at any one speed is known, then the curve at another speed can be predicted. Figure 2.14 illustrates the affinity laws for variable-speed pumps where the line through the pump head characteristic curves represents the locus of best efficiency points. Inserting Equations 2.34 and 2.35 into Equation 2.33 and solving for h gives a general equation for adjusting pump head curves for speed: 2

h P2 = n h o – cn

where

2–m

m

Q P2

(2.36)

n = n2/n1

System Head Curves The purpose of a pump is to overcome elevation differences and head losses due to pipe friction and fittings. The amount of head the pump must add to overcome elevation differences is dependent on system characteristics and topology (and independent of the pump discharge rate), and is referred to as static head or static lift. Friction and minor losses, however, are highly dependent on the rate of discharge through the pump. When these losses are added to the static head for a series of discharge rates, the resulting plot is called a system head curve (see Figure 2.15).

46

Modeling Theory

Figure 2.14 Relative speed factors for variable-speed pumps

Figure 2.15 A family of system head curves

Chapter 2

Section 2.7

Energy Gains – Pumps

47

The pump characteristic curve is a function of the pump and independent of the system, while the system head curve is dependent on the system and is independent of the pump. Unlike the pump curve, which is fixed for a given pump at a given speed, the system head curve is continually sliding up and down as tank water levels change and demands change. Rather than there being a unique system head curve, a family of system head curves forms a band on the graph. For the case of a single pipeline between two points, the system head curve can be described in equation form as follows:

z

H = hl + ∑ KP Q + ∑ KM Q

where

2

(2.37)

H = total head (L) hl = static lift (L) KP = pipe resistance coefficient (Tz/L3z - 1) Q = pipe discharge (L3/T) z = coefficient KM = minor loss resistance coefficient (T2/L5)

Thus, the head losses and minor losses associated with each segment of pipe are summed along the total length of the pipeline. When the system is more complex, the interdependencies of the hydraulic network make it impossible to write a single equation to describe a point on the system curve. In these cases, hydraulic analysis using a hydraulic model may be needed. It is helpful to visualize the hydraulic grade line as increasing abruptly at a pump and sloping downward as the water flows through pipes and valves (see Figure 2.16). Figure 2.16 Schematic of hydraulic grade line for a pumped system

48

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

Pump Operating Point When the pump head discharge curve and the system head curve are plotted on the same axes (as shown in Figure 2.17), only one point lies on both the pump characteristic curve and the system head curve. This intersection defines the pump operating point, which represents the discharge that will pass through the pump and the head that the pump will add. This head is equal to the head needed to overcome the static head and other losses in the system. Figure 2.17 System operating point

Pump Head Curve

Head, ft

Pump Operating Point

m Syste

Head Losses

Curve Head

Static Lift

Flow, gpm

Other Uses of Pump Curves In addition to the pump head-discharge curve, other curves representing pump behavior describe power, water horsepower, and efficiency (see Figure 2.18), and are discussed further in Chapter 3 (see page 95) and Chapter 5 (see page 197). Since utilities want to minimize the amount of energy necessary for system operation, the engineer should select pumps that run as efficiently as possible. Pump operating costs are discussed further in Chapter 10 (see page 436). Another issue when designing a pump is the net positive suction head (NPSH) required (see page 324). NPSH is the head that is present at the suction side of the pump. Each pump requires that the available NPSH exceed the required NPSH to ensure that local pressures within the pump do not drop below the vapor pressure of the fluid, causing cavitation. As discussed on page 23, cavitation is essentially a boiling of the liquid within the pump, and it can cause tremendous damage. The NPSH required is unique for each pump model, and is a function of flow rate. The use of a calibrated hydraulic model in determining available net positive suction head is discussed further on page 324.

Section 2.8

Network Hydraulics

49

Figure 2.18 Pump efficiency curve

2.8

NETWORK HYDRAULICS

In networks of interconnected hydraulic elements, every element is influenced by each of its neighbors; the entire system is interrelated in such a way that the condition of one element must be consistent with the condition of all other elements. Two concepts define these interconnections: • Conservation of mass • Conservation of energy

Conservation of Mass The principle of conservation of mass (shown in Figure 2.19) dictates that the fluid mass entering any pipe will be equal to the mass leaving the pipe (since fluid is typically neither created nor destroyed in hydraulic systems). In network modeling, all outflows are lumped at the nodes or junctions.

Qi – U = 0

pipes

where

Qi = inflow to node in i-th pipe (L3/T) U = water used at node (L3/T)

(2.38)

50

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

Figure 2.19 Conservation of mass principle

U

Q1

Q3

Q2

Note that for pipe outflows from the node, the value of Q is negative. When extended-period simulations are considered, water can be stored and withdrawn from tanks, thus a term is needed to describe the accumulation of water at certain nodes:

pipes

where

Q i – U – dS ------ = 0 dt

(2.39)

dS ------ = change in storage (L3/T) dt

The conservation of mass equation is applied to all junction nodes and tanks in a network, and one equation is written for each of them.

Conservation of Energy The principle of conservation of energy dictates that the difference in energy between two points must be the same regardless of the path that is taken (Bernoulli, 1738). For convenience within a hydraulic analysis, the equation is written in terms of head as follows: 2

2

P1 V1 P2 V2 1 + ------ + ------ + ∑ h P = Z 2 + ------ + ------ + ∑ h L + ∑ h m γ 2g γ 2g

where

Z = elevation (L) P = pressure (M/L/T2) γ = fluid specific weight (M/L2/T2) V = velocity (L/T)

(2.40)

Section 2.8

Network Hydraulics

g hP hL hm

= = = =

51

gravitational acceleration constant (L/T2) head added at pumps (L) head loss in pipes (L) head loss due to minor losses (L)

Thus the difference in energy at any two points connected in a network is equal to the energy gains from pumps and energy losses in pipes and fittings that occur in the path between them. This equation can be written for any open path between any two points. Of particular interest are paths between reservoirs or tanks (where the difference in head is known), or paths around loops because the changes in energy must sum to zero, as illustrated in Figure 2.20. Figure 2.20 2’ Loss A

B

ss

Lo

1’ Lo ss

3’ C A to B to C to A = 0 + 2’ + 1’ - 3’ = 0

Solving Network Problems Real water distribution systems do not consist of a single pipe and cannot be described by a single set of continuity and energy equations. Instead, one continuity equation must be developed for each node in the system, and one energy equation must be developed for each pipe (or loop), depending on the method used. For real systems, these equations can number in the thousands. The first systematic approach for solving these equations was developed by Hardy Cross (1936). The invention of digital computers, however, allowed more powerful numerical techniques to be developed. These techniques set up and solve the system of equations describing the hydraulics of the network in matrix form. Because the energy equations are nonlinear in terms of flow and head, they cannot be solved directly. Instead, these techniques estimate a solution and then iteratively improve it until the difference between solutions falls within a specified tolerance. At this point, the hydraulic equations are considered solved. Some of the methods used in network analysis are described in Bhave (1991); Lansey and Mays (2000); Larock, Jeppson, and Watters (1999); and Todini and Pilati (1987).

The sum of head losses around a pipe loop is equal to zero

52

Modeling Theory

2.9

Chapter 2

WATER QUALITY MODELING

Water quality modeling is a direct extension of hydraulic network modeling and can be used to perform many useful analyses. Developers of hydraulic network simulation models recognized the potential for water quality analysis and began adding water quality calculation features to their models in the mid 1980s. Transport, mixing, and decay are the fundamental physical and chemical processes typically represented in water quality models. Water quality simulations also use the network hydraulic solution as part of their computations. Flow rates in pipes and the flow paths that define how water travels through the network are used to determine mixing, residence times, and other hydraulic characteristics affecting disinfectant transport and decay. The results of an extended period hydraulic simulation can be used as a starting point in performing a water quality analysis. The equations describing transport through pipes, mixing at nodes, chemical formation and decay reactions, and storage and mixing in tanks are adapted from Grayman, Rossman, and Geldreich (2000). Additional information on water quality models can be found in Clark and Grayman (1998).

Transport in Pipes Most water quality models make use of one-dimensional advective-reactive transport to predict the changes in constituent concentrations due to transport through a pipe, and to account for formation and decay reactions. Equation 2.41 shows concentration within a pipe i as a function of distance along its length (x) and time (t). Q i ∂C i ∂C --------i = ----- -------- + θ ( C i ), i = 1...P A i ∂x ∂t

where

(2.41)

Ci = concentration in pipe i (M/L3) Qi = flow rate in pipe i (L3/T) Ai = cross-sectional area of pipe i (L2) θ ( C i ) = reaction term (M/L3/T)

Equation 2.41 must be combined with two boundary condition equations (concentration at x = 0 and t = 0) to obtain a solution. Solution methods are described later in this section. The equation for advective transport is a function of the flow rate in the pipe divided by the cross-sectional area, which is equal to the mean velocity of the fluid. Thus, the bulk fluid is transported down the length of the pipe with a velocity that is directly proportional to the average flow rate. The equation is based on the assumption that longitudinal dispersion in pipes is negligible and that the bulk fluid is completely mixed (a valid assumption under turbulent conditions). Furthermore, the equation can also account for the formation or decay of a substance during transport with the substitution of a suitable equation into the reaction term. Such an equation will be developed later. First, however, the nodal mixing equation is presented.

Section 2.9

Water Quality Modeling

Mixing at Nodes Water quality simulation uses a nodal mixing equation to combine concentrations from individual pipes described by the advective transport equation, and to define the boundary conditions for each pipe as mentioned previously. The equation is written by performing a mass balance on concentrations entering a junction node.   Q i C i, n + U j  ∑ i   i ∈ IN j -  C OUT j = -----------------------------------------  ∑ Qi     i ∈ OUT j

(2.42)

where COUTj = concentration leaving the junction node j (M/L3) OUTj = set of pipes leaving node j INj = set of pipes entering node j Qi = flow rate entering the junction node from pipe i (L3/T) C i, n = concentration entering junction node from pipe i (M/L3) i Uj = concentration source at junction node j (M/T) The nodal mixing equation describes the concentration leaving a network node (either by advective transport into an adjoining pipe or by removal from the network as a demand) as a function of the concentrations that enter it. The equation describes the flow-weighted average of the incoming concentrations. If a source is located at a junction, constituent mass can also be added and combined in the mixing equation with the incoming concentrations. Figure 2.21 illustrates how the nodal mixing equation is used at a pipe junction. Concentrations enter the node with pipe flows. The incoming concentrations are mixed according to Equation 2.42, and the resulting concentration is transported through the outgoing pipes modeled as demand leaving the system. The nodal mixing equation assumes that incoming flows are completely and instantaneously mixed. The basis for the assumption is that turbulence occurs at the junction node, which is usually sufficient for good mixing.

Mixing in Tanks Pipes are sometimes connected to reservoirs and tanks as opposed to junction nodes. Again, a mass balance of concentrations entering or leaving the tank or reservoir can be performed. Qi dC --------k- = ----- ( C i, np ( t ) – C k ) + θ ( C k ) Vk dt

where

Ck Qi Vk θ (Ck)

= = = =

concentration within tank or reservoir k (M/L3) flow entering the tank or reservoir from pipe i (L3/T) volume in tank or reservoir k (L3) reaction term (M/L3/T)

(2.43)

53

54

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

Figure 2.21 Nodal mixing

Demand

Equation 2.43 applies when a tank is filling. During a hydraulic time step in which the tank is filling, the water entering from upstream pipes mixes with water that is already in storage. If the concentrations are different, blending occurs. The tank mixing equation accounts for blending and any reactions that occur within the tank volume during the hydraulic step. During a hydraulic step in which draining occurs, terms can be dropped and the equation simplified. dC --------k- = θ ( C k ) dt

(2.44)

Specifically, the dilution term can be dropped because it does not occur. Thus, the concentration within the volume is subject only to chemical reactions. Furthermore, the concentration draining from the tank becomes a boundary condition for the advective transport equation written for the pipe connected to it. Equations 2.43 and 2.44 assume that concentrations within the tank or reservoir are completely and instantaneously mixed. This assumption is frequently applied in water quality models. There are, however, other useful mixing models for simulating flow processes in tanks and reservoirs (Grayman et al., 1996). For example, contact basins or clearwells designed to provide sufficient contact time for disinfectants are frequently represented as simple plug-flow reactors using a “first in first out” (FIFO) model. In a FIFO model, the first volume of water to enter the tank as inflow is the first to leave as outflow. If severe short-circuiting is occurring within the tank, a “last in first out” (LIFO) model may be applied, in which the first volume entering the tank during filling is the

Section 2.9

Water Quality Modeling

last to leave while draining. More complex tank mixing behavior can be captured using more generalized “compartment” models. Compartment models have the ability to represent mixing processes and time delays within tanks more accurately. Many water distribution models offer a simple two-compartment model, as shown in Figure 2.22 (Rossman, 2000). In this type of model, water enters or exits the tank through a completely mixed inlet-outlet compartment, and if the first compartment is completely full, the overflow is exchanged with a completely mixed second main compartment. The inlet-outlet compartment can represent short-circuiting with the last flow in becoming the first out (LIFO). The main compartment can represent a stagnant or dead zone that will contain older water than the first compartment. The only parameter for this model is the fraction of the total tank volume in the first compartment. Selection of an appropriate value for this fraction is generally done by comparing model results to field measurements of a tracer or chlorine residual. Figure 2.22 Two-compartment mixing model

Main Zone

Inlet Outlet

Figure 2.23 illustrates a more complex, three-compartment model for a tank with a single pipe for filling and draining. This example illustrates a tank that is stratified. New (good quality) water entering the tank occupies the first compartment and is then transferred to a mixing compartment containing older water, and finally, to a third dead-zone compartment that contains much older, poorer quality water. The model simulates the exchange of water between different compartments, and in doing so, mimics complex tank mixing dynamics. CompTank, a model that can be used to simulate the three-compartment model, as well as the other models described, is available as part of an AWWA Research Foundation report (Grayman et al., 2000). All the models mentioned in this section can be used to simulate a non-reactive (conservative) constituent, as well as decay or formation reactions for substances that react over time. The models can also be used to represent tanks that either operate in fill and draw mode or operate with simultaneous inflow and outflow.

Chemical Reaction Terms Equations 2.42, 2.43, and 2.44 compose the linked system of first-order differential equations solved by typical water quality simulation algorithms. This set of equations and the algorithms for solving them can be used to model different chemical reactions

55

56

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

known to impact water quality in distribution systems. Chemical reaction terms are present in Equations 2.43 and 2.44. Concentrations within pipes, storage tanks, and reservoirs are a function of these reaction terms. After water leaves the treatment plant and enters the distribution system, it is subject to many complex physical and chemical processes, some of which are poorly understood, and most of which are not modeled. Three chemical processes that are frequently modeled, however, are bulk fluid reactions, reactions that occur on a surface (typically the pipe wall), and formation reactions involving a limiting reactant. First, an expression for bulk fluid reactions is presented, and then a reaction expression that incorporates both bulk and pipe wall reactions is developed. Figure 2.23 Three-compartment tank mixing model

Air Poor Quality Poor Quality

Mixing Zone Mixed

Good Quality Good

Quality

Drain

Fill

Bulk Reactions. Bulk fluid reactions occur within the fluid volume and are a function of constituent concentrations, reaction rate and order, and concentrations of the formation products. A generalized expression for nth order bulk fluid reactions is developed in Equation 2.45 (Rossman, 2000). θ ( C ) = ± kC

where

n

(2.45)

θ ( C ) = reaction term (M/L3/T) k = reaction rate coefficient [(L3/M)n-1/T] C = concentration (M/L3) n = reaction rate order constant

Equation 2.45 is the generalized bulk reaction term most frequently used in water quality simulation models. The rate expression accounts for only a single reactant

Section 2.9

Water Quality Modeling

concentration, tacitly assuming that any other reactants (if they participate in the reaction) are available in excess of the concentration necessary to sustain the reaction. The sign of the reaction rate coefficient, k, signifies that a formation reaction (positive) or a decay reaction (negative) is occurring. The units of the reaction rate coefficient depend on the order of the reaction. The order of the reaction depends on the composition of the reactants and products that are involved in the reaction. The reaction rate order is frequently determined experimentally. Zero-, first-, and second-order decay reactions are commonly used to model chemical processes that occur in distribution systems. Figure 2.24 is a conceptual illustration showing the change in concentration versus time for these three most common reaction rate orders. Using the generalized expression in Equation 2.45, these reactions can be modeled by allowing n to equal 0, 1, or 2 and then performing a regression analysis to experimentally determine the rate coefficient. The most commonly used reaction model is the first order decay model. This has been applied to chlorine decay, radon decay, and other decay processes. A first order decay is equivalent to an exponential decay, represented by Equation 2.46. Ct = Co e

where

– kt

Ct = concentration at time t (M/L3) Co = initial concentration (at time zero) k = reaction rate (1/T)

(2.46)

57

58

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

For first order reactions, the units of k are (1/T) with values generally expressed in 1/ days or 1/hours. Another way of expressing the speed of the reaction is the concept of half-life that is frequently used when describing the decay rate for radioactive materials. The half-life is the time it takes for the concentration of a substance to decrease to 50 percent of its original concentration. For example, the half-life of radon is approximately 3.8 days, and the half-life of chlorine can vary from hours to many days. The relationship between the decay rate, k, and half-life is easily calculated by solving Equation 2.45 for the time t when Ct/Co is equal to a value of 0.5. This results in Equation 2.47. 0.693 T = – ------------k

(2.47)

For example, if the decay rate k is –1.0, the half-life is 0.693 days. Figure 2.24 Conceptual illustration of concentration versus time for zero, first-, and second-order decay reactions

Concentration

Conservative

0 Order

1st Order

2nd Order

Time

Bulk and Wall Reactions. Disinfectants are the most frequently modeled constituents in water distribution systems. Upon leaving the plant and entering the distribution system, disinfectants are subject to a poorly characterized set of potential chemical reactions. Figure 2.25 illustrates the flow of water through a pipe and the types of chemical reactions with disinfectants that can occur along its length. Chlorine (the most common disinfectant) is shown reacting in the bulk fluid with natural organic matter (NOM), and at the pipe wall, where oxidation reactions with biofilms and the pipe material (a cause of corrosion) can occur. Many disinfectant decay models have been developed to account for these reactions. The first-order decay model has been shown to be sufficiently accurate for most distribution system modeling applications and is well established. Rossman, Clark, and Grayman (1994) proposed a mathematical framework for combining the complex reactions occurring within distribution system pipes. This framework accounts for the physical transport of the disinfectant from the bulk fluid to the pipe wall (mass transfer effects) and the chemical reactions occurring there.

Section 2.9

Water Quality Modeling

59

Figure 2.25

Cl

Qi

Biofilm

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

N.O.M.

N.O.M.

N.O.M. Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

θ ( C ) = ± KC

where

Corrosion

(2.48)

K = overall reaction rate constant (1/T)

Equation 2.48 is a simple first-order reaction (n = 1). The reaction rate coefficient K, however, is now a function of the bulk reaction coefficient and the wall reaction coefficient, as indicated in the following equation. kw kf K = kb + ---------------------------RH ( kw + kf )

where

kb kw kf RH

= = = =

(2.49)

bulk reaction coefficient (1/T) wall reaction coefficient (L/T) mass transfer coefficient, bulk fluid to pipe wall (L/T) hydraulic radius of pipeline (L)

The rate that disinfectant decays at the pipe wall depends on how quickly disinfectant is transported to the pipe wall and the speed of the reaction once it is there. The mass transfer coefficient is used to determine the rate at which disinfectant is transported using the dimensionless Sherwood number, along with the molecular diffusivity coefficient (of the constituent in water) and the pipeline diameter. SH d k f = --------D

where

(2.50)

SH = Sherwood number d = molecular diffusivity of constituent in bulk fluid (L2/T) D = pipeline diameter (L)

For stagnant flow conditions (Re < 1), the Sherwood number, SH, is equal to 2.0. For turbulent flow (Re > 2,300), the Sherwood number is computed using Equation 2.51. S H = 0.023Re

where

0.83  ν 0.333

-- d

Re = Reynolds number ν = kinematic viscosity of fluid (L2/T)

(2.51)

Disinfectant reactions occurring within a typical distribution system pipe

60

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

For laminar flow conditions (1 < Re < 2,300), the average Sherwood number along the length of the pipe can be used. To have laminar flow in a 6-in. (150-mm) pipe, the flow would need to be less than 5 gpm (0.3 l/s) with a velocity of 0.056 ft/s (0.017 m/ s). At such flows, head loss would be negligible.

SH

where

ν D 0.0668  ---- ( Re )  ---  d  L = 3.65 + -----------------------------------------------------------D ν 2⁄3 1 + 0.04  ---- Re  --- L d

(2.52)

L = pipe length (L)

Using the first-order reaction framework developed immediately above, both bulk fluid and pipe wall disinfectant decay reactions can be accounted for. Bulk decay coefficients can be determined experimentally. Wall decay coefficients, however, are more difficult to measure and are frequently estimated using disinfectant concentration field measurements and water quality simulation results. Formation Reactions. One shortcoming of the first-order reaction model is that it accounts for the concentration of only one reactant. This model is sufficient if only one reactant is being considered. For example, when chlorine residual concentrations are modeled, chlorine is assumed to be the limiting reactant and the other reactants— material at the pipe walls and natural organic matter (NOM)—are assumed to be present in excess. The behavior of some disinfection by-product (DBP) formation reactions, however, differs from this assumption. NOM, not chlorine, is frequently the limiting reactant. DBP formation is just one example of a generalized class of reactions that can be modeled using a limiting reactant. The reaction term for this class of formation and decay reactions as proposed by Rossman (2000) is shown in Equation 2.53. θ ( C ) = ± k ( C lim – C )C

where

n–1

(2.53)

Clim = limiting concentration of the reaction (M/L3)

A first-order growth rate to a limiting value has been used to represent the formation of trihalomethanes, a common form of DBP, in distribution systems (Vasconcelos et al., 1996). Mathematically this is represented by Equation 2.54 and is shown graphically in Figure 2.26. THM ( t ) = C o + [ FP – C o ] [ 1 – e

where THM(t) Co FP k

= = = =

THM concentration at time t initial THM concentration formation potential (concentration) reaction rate (a positive value)

– kt

]

(2.54)

Section 2.9

Water Quality Modeling

61

Figure 2.26 First-order growth rate to a limiting value

Other Types of Water Quality Simulations Although the water quality features of individual software packages vary, the most common types of water quality simulations, in addition to the constituent analysis already described, are source trace and water age analyses. The solution methods used in both of these simulations are actually specific applications of the method used in constituent analysis. Source Trace Analysis. For the sake of reliability, or to simply provide sufficient quantities of water to customers, a utility often uses more than one water supply source. Suppose, for instance, that two treatment plants serve the same distribution system. One plant draws water from a surface source, and the other pulls from an underground aquifer. The raw water qualities from these sources are likely to differ significantly, resulting in quality differences in the finished water as well. Using a source trace analysis, the areas within the distribution system influenced by a particular source can be determined, and, more important, areas where mixing of water from different sources has occurred can be identified. The significance of source mixing depends on the quality characteristics of the waters. Sometimes, mixing can reduce the aesthetic qualities of the water (for example, creating cloudiness as solids precipitate, or causing taste and odor problems to develop), and can contribute to disinfectant residual maintenance problems. Source trace analyses are also useful in tracking water quality problems related to storage tanks by tracing water from storage as it is transported through the network. A source trace analysis is a useful tool for better management of these situations. Specifically, it can be used to determine the percentage of water originating from a particular source for each junction node, tank, and reservoir in the distribution system model. The procedure the software uses for this calculation is a special case of constituent analysis in which the trace originates from the source as a conservative constituent with an output concentration of 100 units. The constituent transport and mixing equations introduced in the beginning of this section are then used to simulate the transport pathways through the network and the influence of transport delays and dilution on the trace constituent concentration. The values computed by the simulation are then read directly as the percentage of water arriving from the source location.

62

Modeling Theory

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Water Age Analysis. The chemical processes that can affect distribution system water quality are a function of water chemistry and the physical characteristics of the distribution system itself (for example, pipe material and age). More generally, however, these processes occur over time, making residence time in the distribution system a critical factor influencing water quality. The cumulative residence time of water in the system, or water age, has come to be regarded as a reliable surrogate for water quality. Water age is of particular concern when quantifying the effect of storage tank turnover on water quality. It is also beneficial for evaluating the loss of disinfectant residual and the formation of disinfection by-products in distribution systems. The chief advantage of a water age analysis when compared to a constituent analysis is that once the hydraulic model has been calibrated, no additional water quality calibration procedures are required. The water age analysis, however, will not be as precise as a constituent analysis in determining water quality; nevertheless, it is an easy way to leverage the information embedded in the calibrated hydraulic model. Consider a project in which a utility is analyzing mixing in a tank and its effect on water quality in an area of a network experiencing water quality problems. If a hydraulic model has been developed and adequately calibrated, it can immediately be used to

Section 2.9

Water Quality Modeling

evaluate water age. The water age analysis may indicate that excessively long residence times within the tank are contributing to water quality degradation. Using this information, a more precise analysis can be planned (such as an evaluation of tank hydraulic dynamics and mixing characteristics, or a constituent analysis to determine the impact on disinfectant residuals), and preliminary changes in design or operation can be evaluated. The water age analysis reports the cumulative residence time for each parcel of water moving through the network. Again, the algorithm the software uses to perform the analysis is a specialized case of constituent analysis. Water entering a network from a source is considered to have an age of zero. The constituent analysis is performed assuming a zero-order reaction with a k value equal to +1 [(mg/l)/s]. Thus, constituent concentration growth is directly proportional to time, and the cumulative residence time along the transport pathways in the network is numerically summed. Using the descriptions of water quality transport and reaction dynamics provided here, and the different types of water quality-related simulations available in modern software packages, water quality in the distribution system can be accurately predicted. Water quality modeling can be used to help improve the performance of distribution system modifications meant to reduce hydraulic residence times, and as a tool for improving the management of disinfectant residuals and other water qualityrelated operations. Continuing advancements in technology combined with more stringent regulations on quality at the customer’s tap are motivating an increasing number of utilities to begin using the powerful water quality modeling capabilities already available to them.

Solution Methods The earliest water quality models of distribution systems were steady-state models (Wood, 1980 and Males, Clark, Wehrman, and Gates, 1985). These models used simultaneous equation or “marching out” solution methods to determine the steadystate water quality concentrations throughout the distribution systems. However, it quickly became apparent that steady-state water quality models were of limited use in representing actual systems due to the temporal variability in distribution system operation, the impacts of tanks on water quality, and temporal changes in source concentrations. This led to the development of several dynamic water quality models during the mid to late 1980s (Clark, Grayman, Males, and Coyle, 1986; Hart, Meader, and Chiang, 1986; Liou and Kroon, 1987; and Grayman, Clark, and Males, 1988). Two methods are available to solve the dynamic water quality equations used in water quality models. One method is based on an Eulerian approach that divides each separate pipe into a series of equal length sub-links. The other method is a Lagrangian approach that tracks parcels of water of homogeneous water quality concentrations as they move through the pipe system. These solution methods are shown graphically in Figures 2.27 and 2.28 and explained in detail in the paragraphs that follow. In both solution methods, a hydraulic model must first be applied in extended-period simulation (EPS) mode to determine the flow, flow direction, and velocity in each pipe at all times during the simulation.

63

64

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

The Eulerian Approach. With an Eulerian approach (illustrated in Figure 2.27), an observer located at a fixed location watches water as it flows by. Grayman, Clark, and Males (1988) developed an Eulerian solution method for water quality modeling in distribution systems, and Rossman, Boulos, and Altman (1993) formalized this method and named it the Discrete Volume Method (DVM). In DVM, for each time period, a pipe is divided into a series of sub-links with the sublink length selected so that the time of travel through each sub-link is equal to a userselected water quality time step that remains constant throughout the simulation. As a result, water moves from one sub-link to the next adjacent downstream sub-link in one water quality time step. In order to meet this constraint, the sub-link length varies from pipe to pipe and within a pipe as flow changes. If the constituent being simulated is reactive, then the water quality concentration is adjusted according to the appropriate reaction method during each water quality time step. At a junction at the downstream end of one or more pipes, the water quality concentration in the junction is calculated by taking a flow-weighted average of incoming inflows, as described previously by Equation 2.42. Water moves instantaneously through pumps and valves without a change in water quality. At the end of a hydraulic time step, if there is a change in flow or direction, then the sub-link gridding is changed, and the water quality concentrations at the end of the previous time step are used to define the initial water quality in each of the new sub-links. There are special numerical assumptions made to accommodate “problem” situations such as very short pipes (with travel time less than the water quality time step) and very long pipes (with a very large number of sub-links). Figure 2.27 Eulerian solution method

The Lagrangian Approach. In the Lagrangian approach (illustrated in Figure 2.28), rather than observing the flow from the “sidelines,” the observer moves with the flow. Additionally, rather than having a fixed grid, parcels of water with homogeneous concentrations are tracked through the pipe. New parcels are added when water quality changes occur due to changes in source quality or when parcels are combined at junctions. In order to reduce the number of parcels, algorithms have been developed for combining adjacent parcels when the difference in concentrations are less than a user-defined tolerance. Liou and Kroon (1987) and Hart, Meader, and Chiang (1986) developed Lagrangian solution methods for water distribution system water quality models. Lagrangian solutions can be either time-driven or event-driven. In a time-driven method, conditions are updated at a fixed time step. In an event-driven model, conditions are updated when the source water quality changes or when the front of a parcel

References

65

reaches a junction. In comparing the methods, Rossman and Boulos (1996) found that the Lagrangian time-driven method is the most efficient and versatile of the solution methods for water distribution system quality models. Figure 2.28 Lagrangian solution method

REFERENCES ASCE. (1975). Pressure Pipeline Design for Water and Wastewater. ASCE, New York, New York. ASCE/WEF. (1982). Gravity Sanitary Sewer Design and Construction. ASCE, Reston, Virginia. ASCE Committee on Pipeline Planning. (1992). Pressure Pipeline Design for Water and Wastewater. ASCE, Reston, Virginia. Bernoulli, D. (1738). Hydrodynamica. Argentorati. Bhave, P. R. (1991). Analysis of Flow in Water Distribution Networks. Technomics, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Bosserman, B. E., (2000). “Pump System Hydraulic Design.” Water Distribution System Handbook, Mays, L. W., ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Clark, R. M., and Grayman, W. M. (1998). Modeling Water Quality in Distribution Systems. AWWA, Denver, Colorado. Clark, R. M., Grayman, W. M., Males, R. M., and Coyle, J. A. (1986). “Predicting Water Quality in Distribution Systems.” Proceedings of the AWWA Distribution System Symposium, American Water Works Association, Denver, Colorado. Crane Company (1972). Flow of Fluids through Valves and Fittings. Crane Co., New York, New York. Cross, H. (1936). “Analysis of Flow in Networks of Conduits or Conductors.” University of Illinois Experiment Station Bulletin No. 286, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana, Illinois. Grayman, W. M., Clark, R. M., and Males, R. M. (1988). “Modeling Distribution System Water Quality: Dynamic Approach.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 114(3). Grayman, W. M., Deininger, R. A., Green, A., Boulos, P. F., Bowcock, R. W., and Godwin, C. C. (1996). “Water Quality and Mixing Models for Tanks and Reservoirs.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 88(7). Grayman, W. M., Rossman, L. A., and Geldreich, E. E. (2000). “Water Quality.” Water Distribution Systems Handbook, Mays, L. W., ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Grayman, W. M., Rossman, L. A., Arnold, C., Deininger, R. A., Smith, C., Smith, J. F., and Schnipke, R. (2000). Water Quality Modeling of Distribution System Storage Facilities. AWWA.

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Hart, F. F., Meader, J. L., and Chiang, S. N. (1986). “CLNET—A Simulation Model for Tracing Chlorine Residuals in a Potable Water Distribution Network.” Proceedings of the AWWA Distribution System Symposium, American Water Works Association, Denver, Colorado. Hydraulic Institute (2000). Pump Standards. Parsippany, New Jersey. Idelchik, I. E. (1999). Handbook of Hydraulic Resistance. 3rd edition, Begell House, New York, New York. Lamont, P. A. (1981). “Common Pipe Flow Formulas Compared with the Theory of Roughness.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 73(5), 274. Lansey, K., and Mays, L. W. (2000). “Hydraulics of Water Distribution Systems.” Water Distribution Systems Handbook, Mays, L. W., ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Larock, B. E., Jeppson, R. W., and Watters, G. Z. (1999). Handbook of Pipeline Systems. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. Liou, C. P. and Kroon, J. R. (1987). “Modeling the Propagation of Waterborne Substances in Distribution Networks.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 79(11), 54. Karassik, I. J., ed. (1976). Pump Handbook. McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Males, R. M., Clark, R. M., Wehrman, P. J., and Gates, W. E. (1985). “An Algorithm for Mixing Problems in Water Systems.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 111(2). Mays, L. W., ed. (1999). Hydraulic Design Handbook. McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Miller, D. S. (1978). Internal Flow Systems. BHRA Fluid Engineering, Bedford, United Kingdom. Moody, L. F. (1944). “Friction Factors for Pipe Flow.” Transactions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Vol. 66. Nikuradse (1932). “Gestezmassigkeiten der Turbulenten Stromung in Glatten Rohren.” VDI-Forschungsh, No. 356 (in German). Rossman, L.A. (2000). EPANET Users Manual. Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio. Rossman, L. A., and Boulos, P. F. (1996). “Numerical Methods for Modeling Water Quality in Distribution Systems: A Comparison.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 122(2), 137. Rossman, L. A., Boulos, P. F., and Altman, T. (1993). “Discrete Volume-Element Method for Network Water-Quality Models.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 119(5), 505. Rossman, L. A., Clark, R. M., and Grayman, W. M. (1994). “Modeling Chlorine Residuals in Drinking Water Distribution Systems.” Journal of Environmental Engineering, ASCE, 1210(4), 803. Sanks, R. L., ed. (1998). Pumping Station Design. 2nd edition, Butterworth, London, UK. Streeter, V. L., Wylie, B. E., and Bedford, K. W. (1998). Fluid Mechanics. 9th edition, WCB/McGraw-Hill, Boston, Massachusetts. Swamee, P. K., and Jain, A. K. (1976). “Explicit Equations for Pipe Flow Problems.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 102(5), 657. Todini, E., and Pilati, S. (1987). “A Gradient Method for the Analysis of Pipe Networks.” Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Applications for Water Supply and Distribution, Leicester Polytechnic, UK. Vasconcelos, J. J., Boulos, P. F., Grayman, W. M., Kiene, L., Wable, O., Biswas, P., Bhari, A., Rossman, L., Clark, R., and Goodrich, J. (1996). Characterization and Modeling of Chlorine Decay in Distribution Systems. AWWA, Denver, Colorado. Walski, T. M. (1984). Analysis of Water Distribution Systems. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, New York. Williams, G. S., and Hazen, A. (1920). Hydraulic Tables. John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York. Wood, D. J. (1980). “Slurry Flow in Pipe Networks.” Journal of Hydraulics, ASCE, 106(1), 57.

Discussion Topics and Problems

DISCUSSION TOPICS AND PROBLEMS Read the chapter and complete the problems. Submit your work to Haestad Methods and earn up to 11.0 CEUs. See Continuing Education Units on page xxix for more information, or visit www.haestad.com/awdm-ceus/.

2.1 Find the viscosity of the fluid contained between the two square plates shown in the figure. The top plate is moving at a velocity of 3 ft/s.

F = 50 lb

t = 0.5 in.

6 ft

2.2 Find the force P required to pull the 150 mm circular shaft shown in the figure through the sleeve at a velocity of 1.5 m/s. The fluid between the shaft and the sleeve is water at a temperature of 15oC.

75 mm

P

150 mm

2 mm

2.3 Find the pressure at the base of a container of water having a depth of 15 m. 2.4 How high is the water level from the base of an elevated storage tank if the pressure at the base of the tank is 45 psi?

2.5 Water having a temperature of 65 F is flowing through a 6-in. ductile iron main at a rate of 300 gpm. o

Is the flow laminar, turbulent, or transitional?

2.6 What type of flow do you think normally exists in water distribution systems: laminar, turbulent, or transitional? Justify your selection with sound reasoning.

67

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Chapter 2

2.7 What is the total head at point A in the system shown in the figure if the flow through the pipeline is 1,000 gpm? What is the head loss in feet between point A and point B?

A PA= 62 psi

B PB= 48 psi

8 in.

Q 550 ft

550 ft Datum

2.8 For the piping system shown in Problem 2.7, what would the elevation at point B have to be in order for the reading on the two pressure gages to be the same?

2.9 Assuming that there are no head losses through the Venturi meter shown in the figure, what is the pressure reading in the throat section of the Venturi? Assume that the discharge through the meter is 158 l/s.

P = 497 kPa

P = ? kPa

400 mm

150 mm

2.10 What is the head loss through a 10-in. diameter concrete water main 2,500 ft in length if water at 60oF is flowing through the line at a rate of 1,250 gpm? Solve using the Darcy-Weisbach formula.

2.11 For Problem 2.10, what is the flow through the line if the head loss is 32 ft? Solve using the DarcyWeisbach formula.

2.12 Find the length of a pipeline that has the following characteristics: Q=41 l/s, D=150 mm, HazenWilliams C=110, HL=7.6 m.

2.13 For the pipeline shown in Problem 2.7, what is the Hazen-Williams C-factor if the distance between the two pressure gages is 725 ft and the flow is 1,000 gpm?

Discussion Topics and Problems

2.14 English Units: Compute the pipe resistance coefficient, K , for the following pipelines. P

Length (ft)

Diameter (in.)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

1,200

12

120

500

4

90

75

3

75

3,500

10

110

1,750

8

105

Pipe Resistance Coefficient (Kp)

SI Units: Compute the pipe resistance coefficient, KP , for the following pipelines. Length (m)

Diameter (mm)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

366

305

120

152

102

90

23

76

75

1067

254

110

533

203

105

Pipe Resistance Coefficient (Kp)

2.15 English Units: Compute the minor loss term, K , for the fittings shown in the table below. M

Type of Fitting/Flow Condition

Minor Loss Coefficient

Pipe Size (in.)

Gate Valve - 50% Open

4.8

8

Tee - Line Flow

0.4

12

90o Mitered Bend

0.8

10

Fire Hydrant

4.5

6

Minor Loss Term (KM)

SI Units: Compute the minor loss term, KM, for the fittings shown in the table below. Type of Fitting/Flow Condition

Minor Loss Coefficient

Pipe Size (mm)

Gate Valve - 50% Open

4.8

200

Tee - Line Flow

0.4

300

90o Mitered Bend

0.8

250

Fire Hydrant

4.5

150

Minor Loss Term (KM)

2.16 English Units: Determine the pressures at the following locations in a water distribution system, assuming that the HGL and ground elevations at the locations are known. Node Label

HGL (ft)

Elevation (ft)

J-1

550.6

423.5

J-6

485.3

300.5

J-23

532.6

500.0

J-5

521.5

423.3

J-12

515.0

284.0

Pressure (psi)

69

70

Modeling Theory

Chapter 2

SI Units: Determine the pressures at the following locations in a water distribution system, assuming that the HGL and ground elevations at the locations are known. Node Label

HGL (m)

Elevation (m)

J-1

167.8

129.1

J-6

147.9

91.6

J-23

162.3

152.4

J-5

159.0

129.0

J-12

157.0

86.6

Pressure (kPa)

2.17 Using the concept of conservation of mass, is continuity maintained at the junction node shown in the following figure?

QP-10 = 38 gpm

P -8

P -10

J -10

QP-8 = 55 gpm

P -9

QP-9 = 72 gpm

DJ-10 = 45 gpm QP-12 = 120 gpm

P -12

2.18 Find the magnitude and direction of the flow through pipe P-9 so that continuity is maintained at node J-10 in the following figure.

QP-10= 3.0 L/s

P -10

J -10

P -8

P -9 Q P-9 = ? L/s

QP-8 = 1.4 L/s

DJ-10 = 0.9 L/s QP-12= 1.9 L/s

P -12

Discussion Topics and Problems

2.19 Does conservation of energy around a loop apply to the loop shown in the following figure? Why or why not? The total head loss (sum of friction losses and minor losses) in each pipe and the direction of flow are shown in the figure.

P -23

HL,P-23 = 7.73 ft

P -32

HL,P-32 = 3.76 ft

HL,P-25 = 1.87 ft

P -25

HL,P-27 = 2.10 ft P -27

2.20 Does Conservation of Energy apply to the system shown in the figure? Data describing the physical characteristics of each pipe are presented in the table below. Assume that there are no minor losses in this loop.

P -23 QP-23 = 22.7 L/s

P -32

QP-32 = 4.7 L/s

QP-25 = 7.6 L/s

P -25

QP-27 = 27.1 L/s P -27

Pipe Label

Length (m)

Diameter (mm)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

P-23

381.0

305

120

P-25

228.6

203

115

P-27

342.9

254

120

P-32

253.0

152

105

71

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2.21 Find the discharge through the system shown in the figure. Compute friction loss using the HazenWilliams equation.

225 ft

R -2

Pipe 2: L=5,000 ft D=4 in. C=85

125 ft R -1

2.22 Find the pump head needed to deliver water from reservoir R-1 to reservoir R-2 in the following figure at a rate of 70.8 l/s. Compute friction losses using the Hazen-Williams equation.

68.6 m

R -2 Pipe 2: L=1524 m D=102 mm C=85

38.1 m R -1

Pipe 1: L=152 m D=305 mm C=120

2.23 Compute the age of water at the end of a 12-in. pipe that is 1,500 ft in length and has a flow of 900 gpm. The age of the water when it enters the pipeline is 7.2 hours.

2.24 Suppose that a 102-mm pipe is used to serve a small cluster of homes at the end of a long street. If the length of the pipe is 975 m, what is the age of water leaving it if the water had an age of 6.3 hours when entering the line? Assume that the water use is 1.6 l/s.

Discussion Topics and Problems

2.25 Given the data in the tables below, what is the average age of the water leaving junction node J-4 shown in the figure? What is the flow rate through pipe P-4? What is the average age of the water arriving at node J-5 through pipe P-4? Fill in your answers in the tables provided.

J -2

P -2

J -1

P -1

J -4

J -5

P -4

35 gpm P -3

J -3

Pipe Label

Flow (gpm)

Length (ft)

Diameter (in.)

P-1

75

1,650

10

P-2

18

755

8

P-3

23

820

6

2,340

10

P-4

Node Label

Average Age (hours)

J-1

5.2

J-2

24.3

J-3

12.5

J-4 J-5

2.26 What will be the concentration of chlorine in water samples taken from a swimming pool after 7 days if the initial chlorine concentration in the pool was 1.5 mg/l? Bottle tests performed on the pool water indicate that the first-order reaction rate is -0.134 day-1.

2.27 Do you think that the actual reaction rate coefficient for water in the swimming pool described above (i.e., the water being considered remains in the pool, and is not being stored under laboratory conditions) would be equal to -0.134 day-1? Suggest some factors that might cause the actual reaction rate to differ. Would these factors most likely cause the actual reaction rate to be greater than or less than -0.134 day-1?

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2.28 For the system presented in Problem 2.25, what is the concentration of a constituent leaving node J4 (assume it is a conservative constituent)? The constituent concentration is 0.85 mg/L in pipe P-1, 0.50 mg/l in pipe P-2, and 1.2 mg/l in pipe P-3.

2.29 What is the fluoride concentration at the end of a 152-mm diameter pipeline 762 m in length if the fluoride concentration at the start of the line is 1.3 mg/l? Fluoride is a conservative species; that is, it does not decay over time. Ignoring dispersion, if there is initially no fluoride in the pipe and it is introduced at the upstream end at a 2.0 mg/l concentration, when will this concentration be reached at the end of the line if the flow through the pipe is 15.8 l/s? Assume that there are no other junction nodes along the length of this pipe.

2.30 A community has found high radon levels in one of their wells. Because radon decays relatively quickly, they are exploring the use of a baffled clearwell at the well in order to provide some time delay before the water enters the distribution system. Their goal is to reduce the radon levels by 80 percent in the clearwell. The half-life for radon is 3.8 days. What minimum residence time is required in the clearwell to meet this goal? Is the use of the clearwell as a means of meeting their goal reasonable?

2.31 Trihalomethane levels leaving a treatment plant are 20 ug/l. Based on bottle tests, the formation was found to follow a first-order reaction with a growth rate of 2 l/day and an ultimate formation potential of 100 ug/l. What would the THM concentration be after 1 day? How long would it take for the THM concentration to reach 0.99 ug/l?

2.32 A city is building a 6-in. diameter, 5000-ft pipeline to serve a small community with an average consumption of 20 gpm. Based on tests, they estimate that the bulk decay rate for chlorine is –0.5 1/day and the wall decay rate will be –1 feet per day. If the chlorine residual at the start of the pipe is 1 mg/l, what will the chlorine residual be in the water delivered to the community? If you only considered the effects of bulk decay, what would the chlorine residual be? If you only considered wall decay, what would the chlorine residual be? (Hint: Using a distribution system model, build a network model composed of a reservoir, a single pipe, and a junction representing the community.)

C H A P T E R

3 Assembling a Model

As Chapter 1 discusses, a water distribution model is a mathematical description of a real-world system. Before building a model, it is necessary to gather information describing the network. In this chapter, we introduce and discuss sources of data used in constructing models. The latter part of the chapter covers model skeletonization. Skeletonization is the process of simplifying the real system for model representation, and it involves making decisions about the level of detail to be included.

3.1

MAPS AND RECORDS

Many potential sources are available for obtaining the data required to generate a water distribution model, and the availability of these sources varies dramatically from utility to utility. The following sections discuss some of the most commonly used resources, including system maps, as-built drawings, and electronic data files.

System Maps System maps are typically the most useful documents for gaining an overall understanding of a water distribution system because they illustrate a wide variety of valuable system characteristics. System maps may include such information as • Pipe alignment, connectivity, material, diameter, and so on • The locations of other system components, such as tanks and valves • Pressure zone boundaries • Elevations • Miscellaneous notes or references for tank characteristics • Background information, such as the locations of roadways, streams, planning zones, and so on • Other utilities

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Topographic Maps A topographic map uses sets of lines called contours to indicate elevations of the ground surface. Contour lines represent a contiguous set of points that are at the same elevation and can be thought of as the outline of a horizontal “slice” of the ground surface. Figure 3.1 illustrates the cross-sectional and topographic views of a sphere, and Figure 3.2 shows a portion of an actual topographic map. Topographic maps are often referred to by the contour interval that they present, such as a 20-foot topographic map or a 1-meter contour map. By superimposing a topographic map on a map of the network model, it is possible to interpolate the ground elevations at junction nodes and other locations throughout the system. Of course, the smaller the contour interval, the more precisely the elevations can be estimated. If available topographic maps cannot provide the level of precision needed, other sources of elevation data need to be considered. Topographic maps are also available in the form of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), which can be used to electronically interpolate elevations. The results of the DEM are only as accurate as the underlying topographic data on which they are based; thus, it is possible to calculate elevations to a large display precision but with no additional accuracy. Figure 3.1 Topographic representation of a hemisphere

Looking Down Generates Plan View

400 300 200 100

Looking from the Side Generates Profile View

40

Profile 0

20

300

0 10

Plan

As-Built Drawings Site restrictions and on-the-fly changes often result in differences between original design plans and the actual constructed system. As a result, most utilities perform post-construction surveys and generate a set of as-built or record drawings for the purpose of documenting the system exactly as it was built. In some cases, an inspector's notes may even be used as a supplemental form of documentation. As-built drawings can be especially helpful in areas where a fine level of precision is required for pipe lengths, fitting types and locations, elevations, and so forth.

Section 3.1

Maps and Records

77

Figure 3.2 Typical topographic map

As-built drawings can also provide reliable descriptions of other system components such as storage tanks and pumping stations. There may be a complete set of drawings for a single tank, or the tank plans could be included as part of a larger construction project.

Electronic Maps and Records Many water distribution utilities have some form of electronic representation of their systems in formats that may vary from a nongraphical database, to a graphics-only Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) drawing, to a Geographic Information System (GIS) that combines graphics and data. Nongraphical Data. It is common to find at least some electronic data in nongraphical formats, such as a tracking and inventory database, or even a legacy textbased model. These sources of data can be quite helpful in expediting the process of model construction. Even so, care needs to be taken to ensure that the network topology is correct, because a simple typographic error in a nongraphical network can be difficult to detect. Computer-Aided Drafting. The rise of computer technology has led to many improvements in all aspects of managing a water distribution utility, and mapping is no exception. CAD systems make it much easier to plug in survey data, combine data from different sources, and otherwise maintain and update maps faster and more reliably than ever before.

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Even for systems having only paper maps, many utilities digitize those maps to convert them to an electronic drawing format. Traditionally, digitizing has been a process of tracing over paper maps with special computer peripherals, called a digitizing tablet and puck (see Figure 3.3). A paper map is attached to the tablet, and the draftsperson uses crosshairs on the puck to point at locations on the paper. Through magnetic or optical techniques, the tablet creates an equivalent point at the appropriate location in the CAD drawing. As long as the tablet is calibrated correctly, it will automatically account for rotation, skew, and scale. Figure 3.3 A typical digitizing tablet

Another form of digitizing is called heads-up digitizing (see Figure 3.4). This method involves scanning a paper map into a raster electronic format (such as a bitmap), bringing it into the background of a CAD system, and electronically tracing over it on a different layer. The term heads-up is used because the draftsperson remains focused on the computer screen rather than on a digitizing tablet. Geographic Information Systems. A Geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing objects and events that happen on earth. GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps (ESRI, 2001). Because a GIS stores data on thematic layers linked together geographically, disparate data sources can be combined to determine relationships between data and to synthesize new information.

Section 3.2

Model Representation

79

Figure 3.4 Network model overlaid on an aerial photograph

GIS can be used for tasks such as proximity analysis (identifying customers within a certain distance of a particular node), overlay analysis (determining all junctions that are completely within a particular zoning area), network analysis (identifying all households impacted by a water-main break), and visualization (displaying and communicating master plans graphically). With a hydraulic model that links closely to a GIS, the benefits can extend well beyond just the process of building the model and can include skeletonization, demand generalization, and numerous other operations.

3.2

MODEL REPRESENTATION

The concept of a network is fundamental to a water distribution model. The network contains all of the various components of the system, and defines how those elements are interconnected. Networks are comprised of nodes, which represent features at specific locations within the system, and links, which define relationships between nodes.

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Network Elements Water distribution models have many types of nodal elements, including junction nodes where pipes connect, storage tank and reservoir nodes, pump nodes, and control valve nodes. Models use link elements to describe the pipes connecting these nodes. Also, elements such as valves and pumps are sometimes classified as links rather than nodes. Table 3.1 lists each model element, the type of element used to represent it in the model, and the primary modeling purpose. Table 3.1 Common network modeling elements Element

Type

Primary Modeling Purpose

Reservoir

Node

Provides water to the system

Tank

Node

Stores excess water within the system and releases that water at times of high usage

Junction

Node

Removes (demand) or adds (inflow) water from/to the system

Pipe

Link

Conveys water from one node to another

Pump

Node or link

Raises the hydraulic grade to overcome elevation differences and friction losses

Control Valve

Node or link

Controls flow or pressure in the system based on specified criteria

Naming Conventions (Element Labels). Because models may contain tens of thousands of elements, naming conventions are an important consideration in making the relationship between real-world components and model elements as obvious as possible (see Figure 3.5). Some models allow only numeric numbering of elements, but most modern models support at least some level of alphanumeric labeling (for example, “J-1,” “Tank 5,” or “West Side Pump A”). Figure 3.5 Schematic junction with naming convention

“115” = Sequential Number Description

J5 - 115 - Elm Street “5” = Zone 5 “J” = Junction Node

Naming conventions should mirror the way the modeler thinks about the particular network by using a mixture of prefixes, suffixes, numbers, and descriptive text. In general, labels should be as short as possible to avoid cluttering a drawing or report, but they should include enough information to identify the element. For example, a naming convention might include a prefix for the element type, another prefix to indicate the pressure zone or map sheet, a sequential number, and a descriptive suffix.

Section 3.2

Model Representation

Of course, modelers can choose to use some creativity, but it is important to realize that a name that seems obvious today may be baffling to future users. Intelligent use of element labeling can make it much easier for users to query tabular displays of model data with filtering and sorting commands. In some cases, such as automated calibration, it may be very helpful to group pipes with like characteristics to make calibration easier. If pipe labels have been set up such that like pipes have similar labels, this grouping becomes easy. Rather than starting pipe labeling at a random node, it is best to start from the water source and number outward along each pipeline. In addition, just as pipe elements were not laid randomly, a pipe labeling scheme should be developed to reflect that. For example, consider the pipes in Figure 3.6 (Network A), which shows that the pipes were laid in four separate projects in four different years. By labeling the pipes as shown in Figure 3.6 (Network B), the user will be able to more rationally group, filter, and sort pipes. For example, pipes laid during the 1974 construction project were labeled P-21, P-22, and so on so that those pipes could be grouped together. This can have major time-saving benefits in working with a large system. Figure 3.6 Logical element labeling schemes

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Boundary Nodes. A boundary node is a network element used to represent locations with known hydraulic grade elevations. A boundary condition imposes a requirement within the network that simulated flows entering or exiting the system agree with that hydraulic grade. Reservoirs (also called fixed grade nodes) and tanks are common examples of boundary nodes. Every model must have at least one boundary node so that there is a reference point for the hydraulic grade. In addition, every node must maintain at least one path back to a boundary node so that its hydraulic grade can be calculated. When a node becomes disconnected from a boundary (as when pipes and valves are closed), it can result in an error condition that needs to be addressed by the modeler.

Network Topology The most fundamental data requirement is to have an accurate representation of the network topology, which details what the elements are and how they are interconnected. If a model does not faithfully duplicate real-world layout (for example, the model pipe connects two nodes that are not really connected), then the model will never accurately depict real-world performance, regardless of the quality of the remaining data. System maps are generally good sources of topological information, typically including data on pipe diameters, lengths, materials, and connections with other pipes. There are situations in which the modeler must use caution, however, because maps may be imperfect or unclear. False Intersections. Just because mains appear to cross on a map does not necessarily mean that a hydraulic connection exists at that location. As illustrated in Figure 3.7, it is possible for one main to pass over the other (called a crossover). Modeling this location as an intersecting junction node would be incorrect, and could result in serious model inaccuracies. Note that some GISs automatically assign nodes where pipes cross, which may not be hydraulically correct. When pipes are connected in the field via a bypass (as illustrated in Figure 3.7), the junction node should only be included in the model if the bypass line is open. Since the choice to include or omit a junction in the model based on the open or closed status of a bypass in the field is somewhat difficult to control, it is recommended that the bypass itself be included in the model. As a result, the modeler can more easily open or close the bypass in accordance with the real system. Figure 3.7 Pipe crossover and crossover with bypass

Cross

Crossover

Crossover w/ Bypass Line

Section 3.2

Model Representation

Converting CAD Drawings into Models. Although paper maps can sometimes falsely make it appear as though there is a pipe intersection, CAD maps can have the opposite problem. CAD drawings are often not created with a hydraulic model in mind; thus, lines representing pipes may visually appear to be connected on a large-scale plot, but upon closer inspection of the CAD drawing, the lines are not actually touching. Consider Figure 3.8, which demonstrates three distinct conditions that may result in a misinterpretation of the topology: • T-intersections: Are there supposed to be three intersecting pipes or two non-intersecting pipes? The drawing indicates that there is no intersection, but this could easily be a drafting error. • Crossing pipes: Are there supposed to be four intersecting pipes or two nonintersecting pipes? • Nearly connecting line endpoints: Are the two pipes truly non-intersecting? Automated conversion from CAD drawing elements to model elements can save time, but (as with any automated process) the modeler needs to be aware of the potential pitfalls involved and should review the end result. Some models assist in the review process by highlighting areas with potential connectivity errors. The possibility of difficult-to-detect errors still remains, however, persuading some modelers to trace over CAD drawings when creating model elements.

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Figure 3.8 Common CAD conversion errors

3.3

RESERVOIRS

The term reservoir has a specific meaning with regard to water distribution system modeling that may differ slightly from the use of the word in normal water distribution construction and operation. A reservoir represents a boundary node in a model that can supply or accept water with such a large capacity that the hydraulic grade of the reservoir is unaffected and remains constant. It is an infinite source, which means that it can theoretically handle any inflow or outflow rate, for any length of time, without running dry or overflowing. In reality, there is no such thing as a true infinite source. For modeling purposes, however, there are situations where inflows and outflows have little or no effect on the hydraulic grade at a node. Reservoirs are used to model any source of water where the hydraulic grade is controlled by factors other than the water usage rate. Lakes, groundwater wells, and clearwells at water treatment plants are often represented as reservoirs in water distribution models. For modeling purposes, a municipal system that purchases water from a bulk water vendor may model the connection to the vendor’s supply as a reservoir (most current simulation software includes this functionality). For a reservoir, the two pieces of information required are the hydraulic grade line (water surface elevation) and the water quality. By model definition, storage is not a concern for reservoirs, so no volumetric storage data is needed.

3.4

TANKS

A storage tank (see Figure 3.9) is also a boundary node, but unlike a reservoir, the hydraulic grade line of a tank fluctuates according to the inflow and outflow of water. Tanks have a finite storage volume, and it is possible to completely fill or completely exhaust that storage (although most real systems are designed and operated to avoid such occurrences). Storage tanks are present in most real-world distribution systems, and the relationship between an actual tank and its model counterpart is typically straightforward.

Section 3.4

Tanks

Figure 3.9 Storage tanks

For steady-state runs, the tank is viewed as a known hydraulic grade elevation, and the model calculates how fast water is flowing into or out of the tank given that HGL. Given the same HGL setting, the tank is hydraulically identical to a reservoir for a steady-state run. In extended-period simulation (EPS) models, the water level in the tank is allowed to vary over time. To track how a tank’s HGL changes, the relationship between water surface elevation and storage volume must be defined. Figure 3.10 illustrates this relationship for various tank shapes. For cylindrical tanks, developing this relationship is a simple matter of identifying the diameter of the tank, but for noncylindrical tanks it can be more challenging to express the tank’s characteristics. Some models do not support noncylindrical tanks, forcing the modeler to approximate the tank by determining an equivalent diameter based on the tank’s height and capacity. This approximation, of course, has the potential to introduce significant errors in hydraulic grade. Fortunately, most models do support non-cylindrical tanks, although the exact set of data required varies from model to model. Regardless of the shape of the tank, several elevations are important for modeling purposes. The maximum elevation represents the highest fill level of the tank, and is usually determined by the setting of the altitude valve if the tank is equipped with one. The overflow elevation, the elevation at which the tank begins to overflow, is slightly higher. Similarly, the minimum elevation is the lowest the water level in the tank should ever be. A base or reference elevation is a datum from which tank levels are measured. The HGL in a tank can be referred to as an absolute elevation or a relative level, depending on the datum used. For example, a modeler working near the “Mile High” city of Denver, Colorado, could specify a tank’s base elevation as the datum, and then work with HGLs that are relative to that datum. Alternatively, the modeler could work with absolute elevations that are in the thousands of feet. The choice of whether to use absolute elevations or relative tank levels is a matter of personal preference. Figure

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3.11 illustrates these important tank elevation conventions for modeling tanks. Notice that when using relative tank levels, it is possible to have different values for the same level, depending on the datum selected. Figure 3.10 Volume versus level curves for various tank shapes

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

Volume Ratio

0.6

0.5

0.4 Spherical Cylindrical/ Rectangular

0.3

45 Deg. Cone 0.2

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

Depth Ratio

Water storage tanks can be classified by construction material (welded steel, bolted steel, reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete), shape (cylindrical, spherical, torroidal, rectangular), style (elevated, standpipe, ground, buried), and ownership (utility, private) (Walski, 2000). However, for pipe network modeling, the most important classification is whether or not the tank “floats on the system.” A tank is said to float on the system if the hydraulic grade elevation inside the tank is the same as the HGL in the water distribution system immediately outside of the tank. With tanks, there are really three situations that a modeler can encounter: 1. Tank that floats on the system with a free surface 2. Pressure (hydropneumatic) tank that floats on the system 3. Pumped storage in which water must be pumped from a tank

Section 3.4

Tanks

87

Figure 3.11 Important tank elevations

Figure 3.12 shows that elevated tanks, standpipes, and hydropneumatic tanks float on the system because their HGL is the same as that of the system. Ground tanks and buried tanks may or may not float on the system, depending on their elevation. If the HGL in one of these tanks is below the HGL in the system, water must be pumped from the tank, resulting in pumped storage. A tank with a free surface floating on the system is the simplest and most common type of tank. The pumped storage tank needs a pump to deliver water from the tank to the distribution system and a control valve (usually modeled as a pressure sustaining valve) to gradually fill the tank without seriously affecting pressure in the surrounding system. Figure 3.12 Relationship between floating, pressurized, and pumped tanks

//=//=

//=//=

HGL

//=//=

Ground Buried Pumped Storage

HydroElevated Pneumatic

Standpipe Floating on System

Ground

Buried

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Hydropneumatic Tanks. In most tanks, the water surface elevation in the tank equals the HGL in the tank. In the case of a pressure tank, however, the HGL is higher than the tank’s water surface. Pressure tanks, also called hydropneumatic tanks, are partly full of compressed air. Because the water in the tank is pressurized, the HGL is higher than the water surface elevation, as reflected in Equation 3.1. HGL = C f P + Z

where

HGL P Z Cf

= = = =

(3.1)

HGL of water in tank (ft, m) pressure recorded at tank (psi, kPa) elevation of pressure gage (ft, m) unit conversion factor (2.31 English, 0.102 SI)

In steady-state models, a hydropneumatic tank can be represented by a tank or reservoir having this HGL. In EPS models, the tank must be represented by an equivalent free-surface tank floating on the system. Because of the air in the tank, a hydropneumatic tank has an effective volume that is less than 30 to 50 percent of the total volume of the tank. Modeling the tank involves first determining the minimum and maximum pressures occurring in the tank and converting them to HGL values using Equation 3.1. The cross-sectional area (or diameter) of this equivalent tank can be determined by using Equation 3.2. V eff A eq = ----------------------------------------------HGL max – HGL min

where

Aeq Veff HGLmax HGLmin

= = = =

(3.2)

area of equivalent tank (ft2, m2) effective volume of tank (ft3, m3) maximum HGL in tank (ft, m) minimum HGL in tank (ft, m)

The relationship between the actual hydropneumatic tank and the model tank is shown in Figure 3.13. Using this technique, the EPS model of the tank will track HGL at the tank and volume of water in the tank, but not the actual water level.

3.5

JUNCTIONS

As the term implies, one of the primary uses of a junction node is to provide a location for two or more pipes to meet. Junctions, however, do not need to be elemental intersections, as a junction node may exist at the end of a single pipe (typically referred to as a dead-end). The other chief role of a junction node is to provide a location to withdraw water demanded from the system or inject inflows (sometimes referred to as negative demands) into the system. Junction nodes typically do not directly relate to real-world distribution components, since pipes are usually joined with fittings, and flows are extracted from the system at any number of customer connections along a pipe. From a modeling standpoint, the

Section 3.5

Junctions

89

importance of these distinctions varies, as discussed in the section on skeletonization on page 112. Most water users have such a small individual impact that their withdrawals can be assigned to nearby nodes without adversely affecting a model. Figure 3.13 Pump off

Veff

Equivalent Model Tank

Pump on

Pressure Tank HGLmax Veff HGLmin Pump

Junction Elevation Generally, the only physical characteristic defined at a junction node is its elevation. This attribute may seem simple to define, but there are some considerations that need to be taken into account before assigning elevations to junction nodes. Because pressure is determined by the difference between calculated hydraulic grade and elevation, the most important consideration is, at what elevation is the pressure most important? Selecting an Elevation. Figure 3.14 represents a typical junction node, illustrating that at least four possible choices for elevation exist that can be used in the model. The elevation could be taken as point A, the centerline of the pipe. Alternatively, the ground elevation above the pipe (point B), or the elevation of the hydrant (point C), may be selected. As a final option, the ground elevation at the highest service point, point D, could be used. Each of these possibilities has associated benefits, so the determination of which elevation to use needs to be made on a case-by-case basis. Regardless of which elevation is selected, it is good practice to be consistent within a given model to avoid confusion.

Relationship between a hydropneumatic tank and a model tank

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Figure 3.14 Elevation choices for a junction node

High Service - D (650’)

//=//=//=//=

//= //=

//= //=

//=//=

Hydrant Elevation - C (635’) Ground - B (630’)

/= //=/ =//= /= // //=/

Service Line

Pipe - A (622’)

The elevation of the centerline of the pipe may be useful for determining pressure for leakage studies, or it may be appropriate when modeling above-ground piping systems (such as systems used in chemical processing). Ground elevations may be the easiest data to obtain and will also overlay more easily onto mapping systems that use ground elevations. They are frequently used for models of municipal water distribution systems. Both methods, however, have the potential to overlook poor service pressures because the model could incorrectly indicate acceptable pressures for a customer who is notably higher than the ground or pipe centerline. In such cases, it may be more appropriate to select the elevation based on the highest service elevation required. In the process of model calibration (see Chapter 7 for more about calibration), accurate node elevations are crucial. If the elevation chosen for the modeled junction is not the same as the elevation associated with recorded field measurements, then direct pressure comparisons are meaningless. Methods for obtaining good node elevation data are described in Walski (1999).

3.6

PIPES

A pipe conveys flow as it moves from one junction node to another in a network. In the real world, individual pipes are usually manufactured in lengths of around 18 or 20 feet (6 meters), which are then assembled in series as a pipeline. Real-world pipelines may also have various fittings, such as elbows, to handle abrupt changes in direction, or isolation valves to close off flow through a particular section of pipe. Figure 3.15 shows ductile iron pipe sections. For modeling purposes, individual segments of pipe and associated fittings can all be combined into a single pipe element. A model pipe should have the same characteristics (size, material, etc.) throughout its length.

Section 3.6

Pipes

Figure 3.15 Ductile iron pipe sections

Length The length assigned to a pipe should represent the full distance that water flows from one node to the next, not necessarily the straight-line distance between the end nodes of the pipe. Scaled versus Schematic. Most simulation software enables the user to indicate either a scaled length or a user-defined length for pipes. Scaled lengths are automatically determined by the software, or scaled from the alignment along an electronic background map. User-defined lengths, applied when scaled electronic maps are not available, require the user to manually enter pipe lengths based on some other measurement method, such as use of a map wheel (see Figure 3.16). A model using user-defined lengths is a schematic model. The overall connectivity of a schematic model should be identical to that of a scaled model, but the quality of the planimetric representation is more similar to a caricature than a photograph. Even in some scaled models, there may be areas where there are simply too many nodes in close proximity to work with them easily at the model scale (such as at a pump station). In these cases, the modeler may want to selectively depict that portion of the system schematically, as shown in Figure 3.17.

Diameter As with junction elevations, determining a pipe’s diameter is not as straightforward as it might seem. A pipe’s nominal diameter refers to its common name, such as a 16-in. (400-mm) pipe. The pipe’s internal diameter, the distance from one inner wall of the pipe to the opposite wall, may differ from the nominal diameter because of manufacturing standards. Most new pipes have internal diameters that are actually larger than the nominal diameters, although the exact measurements depend on the class (pressure rating) of pipe.

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Figure 3.16 Use of a map measuring wheel for measuring pipe lengths

Figure 3.17 Scaled system with a schematic of a pump station

Scaled System

Pump Station Schematic (not to scale)

For example, Figure 3.18 depicts a new ductile iron pipe with a 16-in. nominal diameter (ND) and a 250-psi pressure rating that has an outside diameter (OD) of 17.40 in. and a wall thickness (Th) of 0.30 in., resulting in an internal diameter (ID) of 16.80 in. (AWWA, 1996). To add to the confusion, the ID may change over time as corrosion, tuberculation, and scaling occur within the pipe (see Figure 3.19). Corrosion and tuberculation are related in iron pipes. As corrosion reactions occur on the inner surface of the pipe, the reaction by-products expand to form an uneven pattern of lumps (or tubercules) in a process called tuberculation. Scaling is a chemical deposition process that forms a material build-up along the pipe walls due to chemical conditions in the water. For

Section 3.6

Pipes

example, lime scaling is caused by the precipitation of calcium carbonate. Scaling can actually be used to control corrosion, but when it occurs in an uncontrolled manner it can significantly reduce the ID of the pipe. Figure 3.18 Cross-section of a 16-in. pipe

Figure 3.19 Pipe corrosion and tuberculation

Courtesy of Donald V. Chase, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Dayton

Of course, no one is going to refer to a pipe as a 16.80-in. (426.72-mm) pipe, and because of the process just described, it is difficult to measure a pipe’s actual internal diameter. As a result, a pipe’s nominal diameter is commonly used in modeling, in combination with a roughness value that accounts for the diameter discrepancy. However, using nominal rather than actual diameters can cause significant differences

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Red Water Distribution systems with unlined iron or steel pipes can be subject to water quality problems related to corrosion, referred to as red water. Red water is treated water containing a colloidal suspension of very small, oxidized iron particles that originated from the surface of the pipe wall. Over a long period of time, this form of corrosion weakens the pipe wall and leads to the formation of tubercles. The most obvious and immediate impact, however, is that the oxidized iron particles give the water a murky, reddish-brown color. This reduction in the aesthetic quality of the water prompts numerous customer complaints. Several alternative methods are available to control the pipe corrosion that causes red water. The most traditional approach is to produce water that is slightly supersaturated with calcium carbonate. When the water enters the distribution system, the dissolved calcium carbonate slowly precipitates on the pipe walls, forming a thin, protective scale (Caldwell and Lawrence, 1953; Merrill and Sanks, 1978). The Langelier Index (an index of the corrosive potential of water) can be used as an indication of the potential of the water to precipitate calcium carbonate, allowing better management of the precipitation rate (Langelier, 1936).

A positive saturation index indicates that the pipe should be protected, provided that sufficient alkalinity is present. More recently, corrosion inhibitors such as zinc orthophosphate and hexametaphosphate have become popular in red water prevention (Benjamin, Reiber, Ferguson, Vanderwerff, and Miller, 1990; Mullen and Ritter, 1974; Volk, Dundore, Schiermann, and LeChevallier, 2000). Several theories exist concerning the predominant mechanism by which these inhibitors prevent corrosion. The effectiveness of corrosion control measures can be dependent on the hydraulic flow regime occurring in the pipe. Several researchers have reported that corrosion inhibitors and carbonate films do not work well in pipes with low velocities (Maddison and Gagnon, 1999; McNeil and Edwards, 2000). Water distribution models provide a way to identify pipes with chronic low velocities, and therefore more potential for red water problems. The effect of field operations meant to control red water (for example, flushing and blowoffs) can also be investigated using hydraulic model simulations.

when water quality modeling is performed. Because flow velocity is related to flow rate by the internal diameter of a pipe, the transport characteristics of a pipe are affected. Chapter 7 discusses these calibration issues further (see page 255). Typical roughness values can be found in Section 2.4.

Minor Losses Including separate modeling elements to represent every fitting and appurtenance present in a real-world system would be an unnecessarily tedious task. Instead, the minor losses caused by those fittings are typically associated with pipes (that is, minor losses are assigned as a pipe property). In many hydraulic simulations, minor losses are ignored because they do not contribute substantially to the overall head loss throughout the system. In some cases, however, flow velocities within a pipe and the configuration of fittings can cause minor losses to be considerable (for example, at a pump station). The term “minor” is relative, so the impact of these losses varies for different situations.

Section 3.7

Pumps

Composite Minor Losses. At any instant in time, velocity in the model is constant throughout the length of a particular pipe. Since individual minor losses are related to a coefficient multiplied by a velocity term, the overall head loss from several minor losses is mathematically equivalent to having a single composite minor loss coefficient. This composite coefficient is equal to the simple sum of the individual coefficients.

3.7

PUMPS

A pump is an element that adds energy to the system in the form of an increased hydraulic grade. Since water flows “downhill” (that is, from higher energy to lower energy), pumps are used to boost the head at desired locations to overcome piping head losses and physical elevation differences. Unless a system is entirely operated by gravity, pumps are an integral part of the distribution system. In water distribution systems, the most frequently used type of pump is the centrifugal pump. A centrifugal pump has a motor that spins a piece within the pump called an impeller. The mechanical energy of the rotating impeller is imparted to the water, resulting in an increase in head. Figure 3.20 illustrates a cross-section of a centrifugal pump and the flow path water takes through it. Water from the intake pipe enters the pump through the eye of the spinning impeller (1) where it is then thrown outward between vanes and into the discharge piping (2). Figure 3.20 Cross-section of a centrifugal pump

Frank M. White, Fluid Mechanics, 1994, McGraw-Hill, Inc. Reproduced by permission of the McGraw-Hill Companies.

Pump Characteristic Curves With centrifugal pumps, pump performance is a function of flow rate. The performance is described by the following four parameters, which are plotted versus discharge. • Head: Total dynamic head added by pump in units of length (see page 44) • Efficiency: Overall pump efficiency (wire-to-water efficiency) in units of percent (see pages 199 and 442)

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• Brake horsepower: Power needed to turn pump (in power units) • Net positive suction head (NPSH) required: Head above vacuum (in units of length) required to prevent cavitation (see page 48) Only the head curve is an energy equation necessary for solving pipe network problems. The other curves are used once the network has been solved to identify power consumption (energy), motor requirements (brake horsepower), and suction piping (NPSH). Fixed-Speed and Variable-Speed Pumps. A pump characteristic curve is related to the speed at which the pump motor is operating. With fixed-speed pumps, the motor remains at a constant speed regardless of other factors. Variable-speed pumps, on the other hand, have a motor or other device that can change the pump speed in response to the system conditions. A variable-speed pump is not really a special type of pump, but rather a pump connected to a variable-speed drive or controller. The most common type of variablespeed drive controls the flow of electricity to the pump motor, and therefore controls the rate at which the pump rotates. The difference in pump speed, in turn, produces different head and discharge characteristics. Variable-speed pumps are useful in applications requiring operational flexibility, such as when flow rates change rapidly, but the desired pressure remains constant. An example of such a situation would be a network with little or no storage available. Power and Efficiency. The term power may have one of several meanings when dealing with a pump. These possible meanings are listed below: • Input power: The amount of power that is delivered to the motor, usually in electric form • Brake power: The amount of power that is delivered to the pump from the motor • Water power: The amount of power that is delivered to the water from the pump Of course, there are losses as energy is converted from one form to another (electricity to motor, motor to pump, pump to water), and every transfer has an efficiency associated with it. The efficiencies associated with these transfers may be expressed either as percentages (100 percent is perfectly efficient) or as decimal values (1.00 is perfectly efficient), and are typically defined as follows: • Motor efficiency: The ratio of brake power to input power • Pump efficiency: The ratio of water power to brake power • Wire-to-water (overall) efficiency: The ratio of water power to input power Pump efficiency tends to vary significantly with flow, while motor efficiency remains relatively constant over the range of loads imposed by most pumps. Note that there

Section 3.7

Pumps

97

may also be an additional efficiency associated with a variable-speed drive. Some engineers refer to the combination of the motor and any speed controls as the driver. Figure 3.21 shows input power and wire-to-water efficiency curves overlaid on a typical pump head curve. Notice that the input power increases as discharge increases, and head decreases as discharge increases. For each impeller size, there is a flow rate corresponding to maximum efficiency. At higher or lower flows, the efficiency decreases. This maximum point on the efficiency curve is called the best efficiency point (BEP). Figure 3.21 Pump curves with efficiency, NPSH, and horsepower overlays

Courtesy of Peerless Pumps

Obtaining Pump Data. Ideally, a water utility will have pump operating curves on file for every pump in the system. These are usually furnished to the utility with the shop drawings of the pump stations or as part of the manufacturer’s submittals when replacing pumps. If the pump curve cannot be located, a copy of the curve can usually be obtained from the manufacturer (provided the model and serial numbers for the pump are available). To perform energy cost calculations, pump efficiency curves should also be obtained. Note that the various power and efficiency definitions can be confusing, and it is important to distinguish which terms are being referred to in any particular document. Every pump differs slightly from its catalog model, and normal wear and tear will cause a pump's performance to change over time. Thus, pumps should be checked to verify that the characteristic curves on record are in agreement with field performance. If an operating point does not agree with a characteristic curve, a new curve can be developed to reflect the actual behavior. More information is available on this subject in Chapter 5 (see page 199).

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Positive Displacement Pumps Virtually all water distribution system pumps are centrifugal pumps. However, pipe network models are used in other applications—such as chemical feeds, low-pressure sanitary sewer collection systems, and sludge pumping—in which positive displacement pumps (for example, diaphragm, piston, plunger, lobe, and progressive cavity pumps) are used. Unlike centrifugal pumps, these pumps produce a constant flow, regardless of the head supplied, up to a very high pressure. The standard approximations to pump curves used in most models do not adequately address positive displacement pumps because the head characteristic curve for such pumps consists of a virtually straight, vertical line. Depending on the model, forcing a pump curve to fit this shape usually results in warning messages. An easy way to approximate a positive displacement pump in a model is to not include a pump at all but rather to use two nodes—a suction node and a discharge node—that are not connected.

The suction side node would have a demand set equal to the pump flow, while the discharge node would have an inflow set equal to this flow. The model will then give the suction and discharge HGLs and pressures at the nodes. (Custom extended curve options can also be used.) Because the suction and discharge systems are separated, it is important for the modeler to include a tank or reservoir on both the suction and discharge sides of the pump. Otherwise, the model will not be able to satisfy the law of conservation of mass. For example, if the demands on the discharge side do not equal the inflow to the discharge side, the model may not give a valid solution. Because most models assume demands as independent of pressure, inflows must equal system demands, plus or minus any storage effects. If no storage is present, the model cannot solve unless inflows and demands are equal.

Even though a pump curve on record may not perfectly match the actual pump characteristics, many utilities accept that the catalogued values for the pump curve are sufficiently accurate for the purposes of the model, and forgo any performance testing or field verification. This decision is dependent on the specific situation.

Model Representation In order to model a pump’s behavior, some mathematical expression describing its pump head curve must be defined. Different models support different definitions, but most are centered on the same basic concept, furnishing the model with sufficient sample points to define the characteristic head curve. Selecting Representative Points. As discussed previously, the relationship between pump head and discharge is nonlinear. For most pumps, three points along the curve are usually enough to represent the normal operating range of the pump. These three points include • The zero-discharge point, also known as the cutoff or shutoff point • The normal operating point, which should typically be close to the best efficiency point of the pump • The point at the maximum expected discharge value

Section 3.7

Pumps

99

It is also possible to provide some models with additional points along the pump curve, but not all models treat these additional data points in the same way. Some models perform linear interpolation between points, some fit a polynomial curve between points, and others determine an overall polynomial or exponential curve that fits the entire data set. Constant Power Pumps. Many models also support the concept of a constant power pump. With this type of pump, the water power produced by the pump remains constant, regardless of how little or how much flow the pump passes. Water power is a product of discharge and head, which means that a curve depicting constant water power is asymptotic to both the discharge and head axes, as shown in Figure 3.22. Figure 3.22 Equivalent pump curve Head

Actual pump curve

Discharge

Some modelers use a constant power pump definition to define a curve simply because it is easier than providing several points from the characteristic curve, or because the characteristic curve is not available. The results generated using this definition, however, can be unreliable and sometimes counter-intuitive. As shown in Figure 3.22, the constant power approximation will be accurate for a specific range of flows, but not at very high or low flows. For very preliminary studies when all the modeler knows is the approximate size of the pump, this approximation can be used to get into pipe sizing quickly. However, it should not be used for pump selection. The modeler must remember that the power entered for the constant power pump is not the rated power of the motor but the water power added. For example, a 50 hp motor that is 90 percent efficient, running at 80 percent of its rated power, and connected to a pump that is operating at 70 percent efficiency will result in a water power of roughly 25 hp (that is, 50 × 0.9 × 0.8 × 0.7 ). The value 25 hp, not 50 hp, should be entered into the model. Node versus Link Representation. A pump can be represented as a node or a link element, depending on the software package. In software that symbolizes pumps as links, the pump connects upstream and downstream nodes in a system the same way a pipe would. A link symbolization more closely reflects the internal mathematical representation of the pump, but it can introduce inaccuracies. For example, Figure 3.23 illustrates how the pump intake and discharge piping may be ignored and the head losses occurring in them neglected.

Characteristic pump curve for a constant power pump

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Figure 3.23 Comparison of an actual pump and a pump modeled as a link element

Other models represent pumps as nodes, typically with special connectivity rules (for example, only allowing a single downstream pipe). This nodal representation is less error-prone, more realistic, and easier for the modeler to implement. Nodal representation may also be more intuitive, since a real-world pump is usually thought of as being in a single location with two distinct hydraulic grades (one on the intake side and one on the discharge side). Figure 3.24 illustrates a nodal representation of a pump. Figure 3.24 Comparison of an actual pump and a pump modeled as a node element

HGL

Real World

3.8

HGL

Model (Node)

VALVES

A valve is an element that can be opened and closed to different extents (called throttling) to vary its resistance to flow, thereby controlling the movement of water through a pipeline (see Figure 3.25). Valves can be classified into the following five general categories: • Isolation valves • Directional valves • Altitude valves • Air release and vacuum breaking valves • Control valves

Section 3.8

Valves

101

Figure 3.25 Different valve types

Check Valve

Gate Valve

Butterfly Valve Courtesy of Crane Co. All Rights Reserved.

Some valves are intended to automatically restrict the flow of water based on pressures or flows, and others are operated manually and used to completely turn off portions of the system. The behaviors of different valve types vary significantly depending on the software used. This section provides an introduction to some of the most common valve types and applications.

Isolation Valves Perhaps the most common type of valve in water distribution systems is the isolation valve, which can be manually closed to block the flow of water. As the term “isolation” implies, the primary purpose of these valves is to provide a field crew with a means of turning off a portion of the system to, for example, replace a broken pipe or a leaky joint. Well-designed water distribution systems have isolation valves throughout the network, so that maintenance and emergencies affect as few customers as possible. In some systems, isolation valves may be intentionally kept in a closed position to control pressure zone boundaries, for example. There are several types of isolation valves that may be used, including gate valves (the most popular type), butterfly valves, globe valves, and plug valves. In most hydraulic models, the inclusion of each and every isolation valve would be an unnecessary level of detail. Instead, the intended behavior of the isolation valve (minor loss, the ability to open and close, and so on) can be defined as part of a pipe. A common question in constructing a model is whether to explicitly include minor losses due to open gate valves, or to account for the effect of such losses in the HazenWilliams C-factor. If the C-factor for the pipe with no minor losses is known, an equivalent C-factor that accounts for the minor losses is given by:   0.54   L C e = C  ------------------------------   ΣK L-   L + D  --------f 

(3.3)

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where

Chapter 3

Ce C L D f Σ KL

= = = = = =

equivalent Hazen-Williams C-factor accounting for minor losses Hazen-Williams C-factor length of pipe segment (ft, m) diameter (ft, m) Darcy-Weisbach friction factor sum of minor loss coefficients in pipe

For example, consider a 400-ft (122-m) segment of 6-in. (152-mm) pipe with a Cfactor of 120 and an f of 0.02. From Equation 3.3, the equivalent C-factor for the pipe including a single open gate valve (KL = 0.39) is 118.4. For two open gate valves, the equivalent C-factor is 116.9. Given that C-factors are seldom known to within plus or minus 5, these differences are generally negligible. Note that if a model is calibrated without explicitly accounting for many minor losses, then the C-factor resulting from the calibration is the equivalent C-factor, and no further adjustment is needed.

Directional Valves Directional valves, also called check valves, are used to ensure that water can flow in one direction through the pipeline, but cannot flow in the opposite direction (backflow). Any water flowing backwards through the valve causes it to close, and it remains closed until the flow once again begins to go through the valve in the forward direction. Simple check valves commonly use a hinged disk or flap to prevent flow from traveling in the undesired direction. For example, the discharge piping from a pump may include a check valve to prevent flow from passing through the pump backwards (which could damage the pump). Most models automatically assume that every pump has a built-in check valve, so there is no need to explicitly include one (see Figure 3.26). If a pump does not have a check valve on its discharge side, water can flow backwards through the pump when the power is off. This situation can be modeled with a pipe parallel to the pump that only opens when the pump is off. The pipe must have an equivalent length and minor loss coefficient that will generate the same head loss as the pump running backwards. Figure 3.26 A check valve operating at a pump

HGL HGL

Demand Check Valve Pump Off

Demand Check Valve Pump On

Section 3.8

Valves

Mechanically, some check valves require a certain differential in head before they will seat fully and seal off any backflow. They may allow small amounts of reverse flow, which may or may not have noteworthy consequences. When potable water systems are hydraulically connected to nonpotable water uses, a reversal of flow could be disastrous. These situations, called cross-connections, are a serious danger for water distributors, and the possibility of such occurrences warrants the use of higher quality check valves. Figure 3.27 illustrates a seemingly harmless situation that is a potential cross-connection. A device called a backflow preventer is designed to be highly sensitive to flow reversal, and frequently incorporates one or more check valves in series to prevent backflow. Figure 3.27 A potential crossconnection

As far as most modeling software is concerned, there is no difference in sensitivity between different types of check valves (all are assumed to close completely even for the smallest of attempted reverse flows). As long as the check valve can be represented using a minor loss coefficient, the majority of software packages allow them to be modeled as an attribute associated with a pipe, instead of requiring that a separate valve element be created.

Altitude Valves Many water utilities employ devices called altitude valves at the point where a pipeline enters a tank (see Figure 3.28). When the tank level rises to a specified upper limit, the valve closes to prevent any further flow from entering, thus eliminating overflow. When the flow trend reverses, the valve reopens and allows the tank to drain to supply the usage demands of the system. Most software packages, in one form or another, automatically incorporate the behavior of altitude valves at both the minimum and maximum tank levels and do not require explicit inclusion of them. If, however, an altitude valve does not exist at a tank, tank overflow is possible, and steps must be taken to include this behavior in the model.

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Figure 3.28 Altitude valve controlling the maximum fill level of a tank

Max. Fill Level (Upper Limit) Filling/Draining

//=//= //=//=

//=//= //=//=

//=//= //=//=

Vault

//=//= //=//=

Vault No Flow

Altitude Valve Open

Altitude Valve Closed

Air Release Valves and Vacuum Breaking Valves Most systems include special air release valves to release trapped air during system operation, and air/vacuum valves that discharge air upon system start-up and admit air into the system in response to negative gage pressures (see Figure 3.29). These types of valves are often found at system high points, where trapped air settles, and at changes in grade, where pressures are most likely to drop below ambient or atmospheric conditions. Combination air valves that perform the functions of both valve types are often used as well. Air release and air/vacuum valves are typically not included in standard water distribution system modeling. The importance of such elements is significant, however, for advanced studies such as transient analyses. Figure 3.29 Air release and air/ vacuum valves

Air Release Valve

Vacuum Breaking Valve

Courtesy of Val-Matic Valve and Manufacturing Corporation, Elmhurst, Illinois.

Control Valves For any control valve, also called regulating valve, the setting is of primary importance. For a flow control valve, this setting refers to the flow setting, and for a throttle

Section 3.8

Valves

105

control valve, it refers to a minor loss coefficient. For pressure-based controls, however, the setting may be either the hydraulic grade or the pressure that the valve tries to maintain. Models are driven by hydraulic grade, so if a pressure setting is used, it is critically important to have not only the correct pressure setting, but also the correct valve elevation. Given the setting for the valve, the model calculates the flow through the valve and the inlet and outlet HGL (and pressures). A control valve is complicated in that, unlike a pump, which is either on or off, it can be in any one of the several states described in the following list. Note that the terminology may vary slightly between models. • Active: Automatically controlling flow - Open: Opened fully - Closed (1): Closed fully - Throttling: Throttling flow and pressure • Closed (2): Manually shut, as when an isolating valve located at the control valve is closed • Inactive: ignored Because of the many possible control valve states, valves are often points where model convergence problems exist. Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs). Pressure reducing valves (PRVs) throttle automatically to prevent the downstream hydraulic grade from exceeding a set value, and are used in situations where high downstream pressures could cause damage. For example, Figure 3.30 illustrates a connection between pressure zones. Without a PRV, the hydraulic grade in the upper zone could cause pressures in the lower zone to be high enough to burst pipes or cause relief valves to open. Figure 3.30 Schematic network illustrating the use of a pressure reducing valve

HGL

Without PRV Tank on Hill

Target Maximum Grade With PRV

Higher Service Area PRV

Lower Service Area

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Unlike the isolation valves discussed earlier, PRVs are not associated with a pipe but are explicitly represented within a hydraulic model. A PRV is characterized in a model by the downstream hydraulic grade that it attempts to maintain, its controlling status, and its minor loss coefficient. Because the valve intentionally introduces losses to meet the required grade, a PRV's minor loss coefficient is really only a concern when the valve is wide open (not throttling). Like pumps, PRVs connect two pressure zones and have two associated hydraulic grades, so some models represent them as links and some represent them as nodes. The pitfalls of link characterization of PRVs are the same as those described previously for pumps (see page 99). Pressure Sustaining Valves (PSVs). A pressure sustaining valve (PSV) throttles the flow automatically to prevent the upstream hydraulic grade from dropping below a set value. This type of valve can be used in situations in which unregulated flow would result in inadequate pressures for the upstream portion of the system (see Figure 3.31). They are frequently used to model pressure relief valves (see page 313). Like PRVs, a PSV is typically represented explicitly within a hydraulic model and is characterized by the upstream pressure it tries to maintain, its status, and its minor loss coefficient. Figure 3.31 Schematic network illustrating the use of a pressure sustaining valve

HGL Tank on Hill

Target Minimum Grade

Without PSV HGL

With PSV

Higher Service Area PSV

Lower Service Area

Flow Control Valves (FCVs). Flow control valves (FCVs) automatically throttle to limit the rate of flow passing through the valve to a user-specified value. This type of valve can be employed anywhere that flow-based regulation is appropriate, such as when a water distributor has an agreement with a customer regarding maximum usage rates. FCVs do not guarantee that the flow will not be less than the setting value, only that the flow will not exceed the setting value. If the flow does not equal the setting, modeling packages will typically indicate so with a warning. Similar to PRVs and PSVs, most models directly support FCVs, which are characterized by their maximum flow setting, status, and minor loss coefficient.

Section 3.9

Controls (Switches)

Throttle Control Valves (TCVs). Unlike an FCV where the flow is specified directly, a throttle control valve (TCV) throttles to adjust its minor loss coefficient based on the value of some other attribute of the system (such as the pressure at a critical node or a tank water level). Often the throttling effect of a particular valve position is known, but the minor loss coefficients as a function of position are unknown. This relationship can frequently be provided by the manufacturer.

Valve Books Many water utilities maintain valve books, which are sets of records that provide details pertaining to the location, type, and status of isolation valves and other fittings throughout a system. From a modeling perspective, valve books can provide valuable insight into the pipe connectivity at hydraulically complex intersections, especially in areas where system maps may not show all of the details.

3.9

CONTROLS (SWITCHES)

Operational controls, such as pressure switches, are used to automatically change the status or setting of an element based on the time of day, or in response to conditions within the network. For example, a switch may be set to turn on a pump when pressures within the system drop below a desired value. Or a pump may be programmed to turn on and refill a tank in the early hours of the morning. Without operational controls, conditions would have to be monitored and controlled manually. This type of operation would be expensive, mistake-prone, and sometimes impractical. Automated controls enable operators to take a more supervisory role, focusing on issues larger than the everyday process of turning on a pump at a given time or changing a control valve setting to accommodate changes in demand. Consequently, the system can be run more affordably, predictably, and practically. Models can represent controls in different ways. Some consider controls to be separate modeling elements, and others consider them to be an attribute of the pipe, pump, or valve being controlled.

Pipe Controls For a pipe, the only status that can really change is whether the pipe (or, more accurately, an isolation valve associated with the pipe) is open or closed. Most pipes will always be open, but some pipes may be opened or closed to model a valve that automatically or manually changes based on the state of the system. If a valve in the pipe is being throttled, it should be handled either through the use of a minor loss directly applied to the pipe or by inserting a throttle control valve in the pipe and adjusting it.

Pump Controls The simplest type of pump control turns a pump on or off. For variable-speed pumps, controls can also be used to adjust the pump’s relative speed factor to raise or lower

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the pressures and flow rates that it delivers. For more information about pump relative speed factors, see Chapter 2 (page 44). The most common way to control a pump is by tank water level. Pumps are classified as either “lead” pumps, which are the first to turn on, or “lag” pumps, the second to turn on. Lead pumps are set to activate when tanks drain to a specified minimum level and to shut off when tanks refill to a specified maximum level, usually just below the tank overflow point. Lag pumps turn on only when the tank continues to drain below the minimum level, even with the lead pump still running. They turn off when the tank fills to a point below the shut off level for the lead pump. Controls get much more complicated when there are other considerations such as time of day control rules or parallel pumps that are not identical.

Regulating Valve Controls Similar to a pump, a control valve can change both its status (open, closed, or active) and its setting. For example, an operator may want a flow control valve to restrict flow more when upstream pressures are poor, or a pressure reducing valve to open completely to accommodate high flow demands during a fire event.

Indicators of Control Settings If a pressure switch setting is unknown, tank level charts and pumping logs may provide a clue. As shown in Figure 3.32, pressure switch settings can be determined by looking at tank level charts and correlating them to the times when pumps are placed into or taken out of service. Operations staff can also be helpful in the process of determining pressure switch settings.

Time

Tank Level

Correlation between tank levels and pump operation

Pump Flow Rate

Figure 3.32

Time

Section 3.10

Types of Simulations

3.10 TYPES OF SIMULATIONS After the basic elements and the network topology are defined, further refinement of the model can be done depending on its intended purpose. There are various types of simulations that a model may perform, depending on what the modeler is trying to observe or predict. The two most basic types are • Steady-state simulation: Computes the state of the system (flows, pressures, pump operating attributes, valve position, and so on) assuming that hydraulic demands and boundary conditions do not change with respect to time. • Extended-period simulation (EPS): Determines the quasi-dynamic behavior of a system over a period of time, computing the state of the system as a series of steady-state simulations in which hydraulic demands and boundary conditions do change with respect to time.

Steady-State Simulation As the term implies, steady-state refers to a state of a system that is unchanging in time, essentially the long-term behavior of a system that has achieved equilibrium. Tank and reservoir levels, hydraulic demands, and pump and valve operation remain constant and define the boundary conditions of the simulation. A steady-state simulation provides information regarding the equilibrium flows, pressures, and other variables defining the state of the network for a unique set of hydraulic demands and boundary conditions. Real water distribution systems are seldom in a true steady state. Therefore, the notion of a steady state is a mathematical construct. Demands and tank water levels are continuously changing, and pumps are routinely cycling on and off. A steady-state hydraulic model is more like a blurred photograph of a moving object than a sharp photo of a still one. However, by enabling designers to predict the response to a unique set of hydraulic conditions (for example, peak hour demands or a fire at a particular node), the mathematical construct of a steady state can be a very useful tool. Steady-state simulations are the building blocks for other types of simulations. Once the steady-state concept is mastered, it is easier to understand more advanced topics such as extended-period simulation, water quality analysis, and fire protection studies (these topics are discussed in later chapters). Steady-state models are generally used to analyze specific worst-case conditions such as peak demand times, fire protection usage, and system component failures in which the effects of time are not particularly significant.

Extended-Period Simulation The results provided by a steady-state analysis can be extremely useful for a wide range of applications in hydraulic modeling. There are many cases, however, for which assumptions of a steady-state simulation are not valid, or a simulation is required that allows the system to change over time. For example, to understand the

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effects of changing water usage over time, fill and drain cycles of tanks, or the response of pumps and valves to system changes, an extended-period simulation (EPS) is needed. It is important to note that there are many inputs required for an extended-period simulation. Due to the volume of data and the number of possible actions that a modeler can take during calibration, analysis, and design, it is highly recommended that a model be examined under steady-state situations prior to working with extendedperiod simulations. Once satisfactory steady-state performance is achieved, it is much easier to proceed into EPSs. EPS Calculation Process. Similar to the way a film projector flashes a series of still images in sequence to create a moving picture, the hydraulic time steps of an extended-period simulation are actually steady-state simulations that are strung together in sequence. After each steady-state step, the system boundary conditions are reevaluated and updated to reflect changes in junction demands, tank levels, pump operations, and so on. Then, another hydraulic time step is taken, and the process continues until the end of the simulation. Simulation Duration. An extended-period simulation can be run for any length of time, depending on the purpose of the analysis. The most common simulation duration is typically a multiple of 24 hours, because the most recognizable pattern for demands and operations is a daily one. When modeling emergencies or disruptions that occur over the short-term, however, it may be desirable to model only a few hours into the future to predict immediate changes in tank level and system pressures. For water quality applications, it may be more appropriate to model a duration of several days in order for quality levels to stabilize. Even with established daily patterns, a modeler may want to look at a simulation duration of a week or more. For example, consider a storage tank with inadequate capacity operating within a system. The water level in the tank may be only slightly less at the end of each day than it was at the end of the previous day, which may go unnoticed when reviewing model results. If a duration of one or two weeks is used, the trend of the tank level dropping more and more each day will be more evident. Even in systems that have adequate storage capacity, a simulation duration of 48 hours or longer can be helpful in better determining the tank draining and filling characteristics. Hydraulic Time Step. An important decision when running an extended-period simulation is the selection of the hydraulic time step. The time step is the length of time for one steady-state portion of an EPS, and it should be selected such that changes in system hydraulics from one increment to the next are gradual. A time step that is too large may cause abrupt hydraulic changes to occur, making it difficult for the model to give good results. For any given system, predicting how small the time increment should be is difficult, although experience is certainly beneficial in this area. Typically, modelers begin by assuming one-hour time steps, unless there are considerations that point to the need for a different time step.

Section 3.10

Types of Simulations

Why Use a Scenario Manager? When water distribution models were first created, data were input into the computer program by using punch cards, which were submitted and processed as a batch run. In this type of run, a separate set of input data was required to generate each set of results. Because a typical modeling project requires analysis of many alternative situations, large amounts of time were spent creating and debugging multiple sets of input cards. When data files replaced punch cards, the batch approach to data entry was carried over. The modeler could now edit and copy input files more easily, but there was still the problem of trying to manage a large number of model runs. Working with many data files or a single data file with dozens of edits was confusing, inefficient, and errorprone. The solution to this problem is to keep alternative data sets within a single model data file. For example, data for current average day demands, maximum day demands with a fire flow at node 37, and peak hour demands in 2020 can be created, managed, and stored in a central database. Once this structure is in place, the user can then create many runs, or scenarios, by piecing together alternative data sets.

For example, a scenario may consist of the peak hour demands in 2020 paired with infrastructure data that includes a proposed tank on Washington Hill and a new 16-in. (400 mm) pipe along North Street. This idea of building model runs from alternative data sets created by the user is more intuitive than the batch run concept, and is consistent with the object-oriented paradigm found in modern programs. Further, descriptive naming of scenarios and alternative data sets provides internal documentation of the user’s actions. Because alternative plans in water modeling tend to grow out of previous alternatives, a good scenario manager will use the concept of inheritance to create new child alternatives from existing parent alternatives. Combining this idea of inheritance with construction of scenarios from alternative data sets gives the model user a selfdocumenting way to quickly create new and better solutions based on the results of previous model runs. A user accustomed to performing batch runs may find some of the terminology and concepts employed in scenario management a bit of a challenge at first. But, with a little practice, it becomes difficult to imagine building or maintaining a model without this versatile feature.

When junction demands and tank inflow/outflow rates are highly variable, decreasing the time step can improve the accuracy of the simulation. The sensitivity of a model to time increment changes can be explored by comparing the results of the same analysis using different increments. This sensitivity can also be evaluated during the calibration process. Ultimately, finding the correct balance between calculation time and accuracy is up to the modeler. Intermediate Changes. Of course, changes within a system don’t always occur at even time increments. When it is determined that an element’s status changes between time steps (such as a tank completely filling or draining, or a control condition being triggered), many models will automatically report a status change and results at that intermediate point in time. The model then steps ahead in time to the next even increment until another intermediate time step is required. If calculations are frequently required at intermediate times, the modeler should consider decreasing the time increment.

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Other Types of Simulations Using the fundamental concepts of steady-state and extended-period simulations, more advanced simulations can be built. Water quality simulations are used to ascertain chemical or biological constituent levels within a system or to determine the age or source of water (see page 61). Automated fire flow analyses establish the suitability of a system for fire protection needs. Cost analyses are used for looking at the monetary impact of operations and improvements. Transient analyses are used to investigate the short-term fluctuations in flow and pressure due to sudden changes in the status of pumps or valves (see page 573). With every advance in computer technology and each improvement in software methods, hydraulic models become a more integral part of designing and operating safe and reliable water distribution systems.

3.11 SKELETONIZATION Skeletonization is the process of selecting for inclusion in the model only the parts of the hydraulic network that have a significant impact on the behavior of the system. Attempting to include each individual service connection, gate valve, and every other component of a large system in a model could be a huge undertaking without a significant impact on the model results. Capturing every feature of a system would also result in tremendous amounts of data; enough to make managing, using, and troubleshooting the model an overwhelming and error-prone task. Skeletonization is a more practical approach to modeling that allows the modeler to produce reliable, accurate results without investing unnecessary time and money. Eggener and Polkowski (1976) did the first study of skeletonization when they systematically removed pipes from a model of Menomonie, Wisconsin, to test the sensitivity of model results. They found that under normal demands, they could remove a large number of pipes and still not affect pressure significantly. Shamir and Hamberg (1988a, 1988b) investigated rigorous rules for reducing the size of models. Skeletonization should not be confused with the omission of data. The portions of the system that are not modeled during the skeletonization process are not discarded; rather, their effects are accounted for within parts of the system that are included in the model.

Skeletonization Example Consider the following proposed subdivision, which is tied into an existing water system model. Figures 3.33, 3.34, 3.35, and 3.36 show how demands can be aggregated from individual customers to nodes with larger and larger nodal service areas. Although a modeler would almost never include the individual connections as shown in Figure 3.33, this example, which can be extrapolated to much larger networks, shows the steps that are followed to achieve various levels of skeletonization. As depicted in the network segment in Figure 3.33, it is possible to not skeletonize at all. In this case, there is a junction at each service tap, with a pipe and junction at each house. There are also junctions at the main intersections, resulting in a total of nearly 50 junctions (not including those required for fire hydrants).

Section 3.11

Skeletonization

113

Figure 3.33 An all-link network

0.3

0.2

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0.3

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0.3 0.3

0.6 0.3

Demand in gpm

The same subdivision could be modeled again, but slightly more skeletonized. Instead of explicitly including each household, only the tie-ins and main intersections are included. This level of detail results in a junction count of less than 20 (Figure 3.34). Note that in this level of skeletonization, hydraulic results for the customer service lines would not be available since they were not included in the model. If results for service lines are not important, then the skeletal model shown in Figure 3.34 represents an adequate level of detail. Figure 3.34 Minimal skeletonization

The system can be skeletonized even more, modeling only the ends of the main piping and the major intersections (Figure 3.35). Attributing the demands to the junctions becomes a little trickier since a junction is not being modeled at each tap location. The demands for this model are attributed to the junction nearest to the service (following the pipeline). The dashed boundary areas indicate the contributing area for each model junction. For example, the junction in the upper right will be assigned the demand for eight houses, while the lower right junction has demands for ten houses, and so on.

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Figure 3.35 Moderate skeletonization

3.5 gpm

2.5 gpm

2.7 gpm

An even greater level of skeletonization can be achieved using just a single junction node where the subdivision feeds from the existing system. The piping within the entire subdivision has been removed, with all demands being attributed to the remaining junction (see Figure 3.36). In this case, the model will indicate the impact of the demands associated with the subdivision on the overall hydraulic network. However, the modeler will not be able to determine how pressures and flows vary within the subdivision. Figure 3.36 Maximum skeletonization

8.7 gpm

An even broader level of skeletonization is possible in which even the junction node where the subdivision piping ties into the main line is excluded. The subdivision demands would simply be added to a nearby junction, where other effects may be combined with those from several other subdivisions that also have not been included in detail. As this example demonstrates, the extent of skeletonization depends on the intended use of the model and, to a large degree, is subject to the modeler’s discretion.

Section 3.11

Skeletonization

Skeletonization Guidelines There are no absolute criteria for determining whether a pipe should be included in the model, but it is safe to say that all models are most likely skeletonized to some degree. Water distribution networks vary drastically from one system to another, and modeling judgment plays a large role in the creation of a solution. For a smalldiameter system, such as household plumbing or a fire sprinkler system, small differences in estimated flow rate may have perceptible effects on the system head losses. For a large city system, however, the effects of water demanded by an entire subdivision may be insignificant for the large-transmission main system. Opposing Philosophies. There are definitely opposing philosophies regarding skeletonization that stem from different modeling perspectives. Some modelers assert that a model should never be bigger than a few hundred elements, because no one can possibly digest all of the data that pours out of a larger model. Others contend that a model should include all the pipes, so that data-entry can be done by less skilled personnel, who will not need to exercise judgment about whether or not an element should be included. Followers of this approach then use database queries, automated consolidation algorithms, and demand allocation procedures (see page 136) to generate skeletonized models for individual applications. Somewhere in the Middle. Most network models, however, fall somewhere between the two extremes. The level of skeletonization used depends on the intended use of the model. At one extreme, energy operation studies require minimal detail, while determining available fire flow at individual hydrants requires the most. For master planning or regional water studies, a broader level of skeletonization will typi-

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cally suffice. For detailed design work or water quality studies, however, much more of the system needs to be included to accurately model the real-world system. The responsibility really comes back to the modeler, who must have a good understanding of the model’s intended use and must select a level of detail appropriate for that purpose. Most modelers choose to develop their own skeletonization guidelines.

Elements of High Importance Any elements that are important to the system or can potentially influence system behavior should be included in the model. For most models this criterion includes • Large water consumers • Points of known conditions, such as sampling points • Critical points with unknown conditions • Large-diameter pipes • Pipes that complete important loops • Pumps, control valves, tanks, and other controlling elements

Elements of Unknown Importance If the modeler is unsure what the effects of including or excluding specific elements may be, there is a very simple method that can be used to find out exactly what the effects are on the system. Run the model and see what happens. A base skeleton can be created using experience and judgment, with pipes of questionable importance included. The model should be run over a range of study conditions and the results noted. One or more questionable pipes can then be closed (preventing them from conveying water) and the model run again. If the modeler determines that the results from the two analyses are essentially the same, then the pipes apparently did not have a significant effect on the system and can be removed from the skeleton. If a pipe’s level of significance cannot be determined or is questionable, it is usually better to leave the pipe in the model. With older, nongraphical interfaces, it was often desirable to limit the number of pipes as much as possible to prevent becoming lost in the data. With the advanced computers and easy-to-use software tools of today, however, there are fewer reasons to exclude pipes from the model.

Automated Skeletonization An increasing number of water utilities are linking their models to GIS systems and even creating models from scratch by importing data from their GIS. However, there are generally far more GIS elements than the user would want pipes in the model presenting an obstacle for a smooth data conversion process. For example, Figure 3.37 shows how a single pipe link from a model can correspond to a large number of GIS

Section 3.11

Skeletonization

elements. The number of pipes in the GIS is even greater when each hydrant lateral and service line is included in the GIS. Of course, the modeler can manually eliminate pipes from the model, but this task can be extremely tedious and error prone, especially if it must be repeated for several time periods or planning scenarios. Thus, it is highly desirable and clearly more efficient to automate the process of model skeletonization. Figure 3.37 GIS pipes versus model pipes

Simply removing pipes and nodes from a model based on a rule, such as pipe size, is a straightforward process. The process becomes complicated, however, when it is necessary to also keep track of the demands (and associated demand patterns) and emitter coefficients that were assigned to the nodes being removed, and it becomes even more complicated when one tries to account for the hydraulic capacity of the pipes being removed. Skeletonization is not a single process but several different low-level element removal processes that must be applied in series to ensure that the demands are logically brought back to their source of supply. The skeletonization process also involves developing rules for pumps, tanks, and valves, and deciding which pipes and nodes should be identified as nonremovable. As with manual skeletonization, the degree to which a system is skeletonized depends on the type of raw data and the ultimate purpose of the model. If the raw data are a complete GIS of the system including service lines and hydrant laterals and the model is going to be used to set up pump controls or study energy costs, it may be possible to remove the overwhelming majority of the pipes. On the other hand, if the model was built manually from distribution maps and the model is to be used to determine available fire flow at every hydrant, then there may be little room for skeletonization.

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The individual processes involved with skeletonization are discussed in the subsections that follow. Simple Pipe Removal. The simplest type of pipe removal is when pipes are simply removed from the system based on size or other criteria without any consideration of their effects on demand loading or hydraulic capacity. This can be useful when importing data from a GIS if the dataset contains service lines and hydrant laterals. This type of pipe removal is usually practiced before demands are assigned to model nodes (as a preprocessing step), although that is not always the case. Some models that claim to perform automated skeletonization only perform this type of skeletonization process. Removing Branch Pipes. The next simplest type of skeletonization consists of removing dead-end branches that do not contain tanks at the end. This process is referred to as branch trimming, or branch collapsing, and the user needs to determine whether some finite number of branches should be trimmed or if the network should be trimmed back to a pipe that is part of a loop. Figure 3.38 shows how a branch is trimmed back to a node that is part of a loop. When dead-end branch pipes are removed, the removal has no effect on the carrying capacity of the remainder of the system. Figure 3.38 Branch pipe removal (branch trimming)

J-13 Q=8

J-12 Q=4

J-11 Q=5

Before Trimming

J-10 Q=10

After Trimming

J-10 Q=27

Removing Pipes in Series (with no other pipes connected to the common node). In most cases, removing pipes in series (sometimes called pipe merging) has a negligible effect on model performance. For example, in Figure 3.39, pipes P-121 and P-122 can be combined to form a new P-121. In this example, the

Section 3.11

Skeletonization

119

demand (Q) at J-12 is split evenly between the two nodes at the ends of the resulting pipe. Depending on the situation, however, other rules regarding demands can be applied. For example, either of the nodes could receive all the demand, or the demand could be split according to user-specified rules. Figure 3.39 Series pipe removal – similar attributes

J-11 Q=5

J-12 Q=8

J-13 Q=5 P-122 L=250 D=8 C=120

P-121 L=350 D=8 C=120 Before Series Pipe Removal

J-11 Q=9

J-13 Q=9 P-121 L=600 D=8 C=120 After Series Pipe Removal

If the node between two pipes in series has a large demand, removing it may adversely impact the model results. To prevent such situations, the modeler may consider setting a limit on flows such that nodes that exceed the limit cannot be eliminated. A key issue in combining two pipes into one lies in determining the attributes of the resulting pipe. In Figure 3.39, the length of the resulting pipe is equal to the sum of the lengths of the two pipes being combined and because the two pipes have the same diameter and C-factor, the resulting pipe also has the same diameter and C-factor. The problem becomes more complicated when the two pipes have different attributes, as shown in Figure 3.40. In this case, the length is still the sum of the length of the two pipes, but now there are an infinite number of combinations of diameter and C-factor that would produce the same head loss through the pipe. As an option, the modeler can choose to use the diameter and C-factor of one of the pipes as the attributes for the resulting pipe. Or, the modeler can pick either the C-factor or the diameter for the resulting pipe and then calculate the other property. For example, if the modeler specifies the diameter, then the C-factor of the resulting pipe can be given by Equation 3.4.

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Li  L r  0.54   – 0.54 - -----------------------C r =  ----------  ∑ 1.85  D 4.87   i D 4.87 Ci  r i

where

L D C r i

= = = = =

(3.4)

length (ft, m) diameter (in., m) Hazen-Williams C-factor subscript referring to resulting pipe subscript referring to the i-th pipe being combined

The mathematics are considerably more complicated when using the Darcy-Weisbach equation. In Figure 3.40, the length of the resulting pipe is 600 ft, so that if an 8-in. diameter pipe was used, the Hazen-Williams C-factor of that pipe would be 55, and if a 6-in. diameter was used, the C-factor would be 118. Either of these values will give the correct head loss. Minor loss coefficients and check valves can then be assigned to the resulting pipe if needed. Figure 3.40 Series pipe removal – different attributes

Removing Parallel Pipes. Another way to skeletonize a system is to remove parallel pipes. (Two pipes are considered to be in parallel if they have the same beginning and ending nodes.) When removing parallel pipes, one of the pipes is considered to be the dominant pipe and the length and either the diameter or C-factor from that pipe is used for the new equivalent pipe. Depending on whether the diameter or Cfactor is used from the dominant pipe, the other parameter is calculated using equiva-

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Skeletonization

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lent pipe formulas. For example, if the diameter of the dominant pipe is used, then the C-factor is given by the following equation: 0.54

2.63

Lr Ci Di C r = ---------------------------2.63 ∑ 0.54 Dr Li i

(3.5)

In Figure 3.41, the length and diameter of P-40 are kept, but to account for the removal of P-41, the capacity of P-40 is increased by increasing the C-factor. Other factors to consider when removing parallel pipes are check valves and minor losses. If both pipes have check valves, then the resulting pipe should also have a check valve. Accurately assigning minor loss coefficients when determining equivalent pipes, however, can be more difficult. In most cases, assigning some average value does not cause a significant error. Figure 3.41 Removing parallel pipes

Removing Pipes to Break Loops. The types of pipe removal described in the preceding sections can reduce the complexity of a model somewhat, but to dramatically reduce system size for typical water distribution systems, it is necessary to actually break loops. Although two parallel pipes are considered a loop, they can be handled with the basic action described in the previous section, and the hydraulic capacity can be accounted for using Equation 3.5. This section applies to loops with more than two attachments to the remainder of the system.

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Consider the three-pipe loop in Figure 3.42 made up of pipes P-31, P-32, and P-33. Removing any pipe in the loop can possibly result in a branch system that can be further skeletonized using the methods described previously. However, in contrast to the unique solutions that result from the pipe removal operations described in the preceding sections, the results of breaking this loop by removing a pipe are different depending on which pipe is removed because the removal can have an impact on the carrying capacity of the rest of the system. Figure 3.42 Removing pipes in loop

Therefore, there needs to be a rule for determining which pipe should be removed first. Usually, it is best to remove the pipe with the least carrying capacity, which may be defined as the smallest or the pipe with the minimum value of the quantity 2.63

CD ----------------0.54 L

(3.6)

In Figure 3.42, pipe P-33 has the lowest carrying capacity so its removal should have the least adverse impact to the carrying capacity of the system. It is important to note that removing the pipe with the least carrying capacity does not always do the least harm to the overall accuracy of the model. In some cases, a pipe with very little capacity may be very important in some scenario and may need to be kept in spite of its low carrying capacity. Summary of Basic Pipe Removals. The results of the possible pipe removal actions can be summarized as shown in Table 3.2. The first three actions are fairly simple in that the system will end up with the correct flows and head loss. With the fourth removal action, however, some carrying capacity is lost and removing one pipe from a loop will give a different carrying capacity than removal of a different pipe.

Section 3.11

Skeletonization

Table 3.2 Summary of pipe removal actions Action

Effect on Node

Loss of System Capacity

Remove branch pipe

Removes node

No

Remove pipe in series

Removes node

No

Remove pipe in parallel

No nodes removed

No

Remove pipe from loop

No nodes removed

Yes

Removing Nonpipe Elements. Removing link-type elements other than fully open pipes can be problematic, thus special rules must be developed for handling the skeletonization of other network elements including pumps, tanks, closed pipes, and valves. A closed pipe or a pump that is not running has essentially already been skeletonized out of the system and any effort to skeletonize it is trivial. If the element may be open, however, then it should be treated as being open during the removal process. Some other rules regarding the skeletonization of other network elements include the following: • When loads are being aggregated from removed nodes, they cannot be passed through pumps, control valves, check valves, or closed valves. • Pumps, control valves, and check valves in a branch can be trimmed and represented as an outflow from the remaining upstream system. • Pumps, control valves, and check valves can be removed from series, parallel, or looped systems only if their effect can be accounted for, which is usually difficult. • If there is a check valve on a pipe in series, the resulting pipe must also have the check valve. • Tanks are usually too important to be removed during skeletonization and no pipes connected to tanks should be removed. Complex Skeletonization. Skeletonizing a real system involves applying the basic removal actions in a sequence. In general, it is best to perform the skeletonizing actions in the order given in Table 3.2. First, remove all dead-ends or branch pipes, then remove series pipes, then combine parallel pipes, and finally, remove loops. After each action, it is necessary to review the network because the previous action may have created a dead-end or a parallel pipe that did not exist previously. Figure 3.43, which shows a network being reduced, illustrates these actions. The network looks like a dead-end branch and if one were doing the skeletonization manually, a modeler would simply add together the demands and place them on node J-10. However, it is difficult for a computer to recognize that this is a branch, and it must first eliminate series pipes and loops to identify the branch.

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Figure 3.43 Steps for applying automatic skeletonization to complex pipe systems

P-53 P-52

P-53

P-52

P-54 P-51

P-51

J-10

J-10

Original System

Remove Pipe P-54 in Series

P-52

P-51

J-10 Remove Parallel Pipe P-53

J-10 Remove Branch Pipes P-51 and P-52

Stopping Criteria. Using the basic steps described in the preceding sections, automated skeletonization can reduce any network to a handful of tanks and pumps. In most cases, however, a user would not want this much reduction. The key to stopping the skeletonization lies in defining criteria for links and nodes not to be skeletonized. Usually, the user will specify that all pipes with a certain diameter or larger will not be skeletonized. This preserves the larger pipes in the system. The user can also specify that certain pipes, especially those that close loops, are not to be removed (or that the basic action of removing pipes from loops will not be carried out at all). The user can also specify that if a pipe removal removes a node with greater than a specified demand, then that removal action will not be carried out. After these limits are set, the skeletonization process continues until it results in a system that is skeletonized to the level specified by the user.

Skeletonization Conclusions No hard and fast rules exist regarding skeletonization. It all depends on perspective and the intended use of the model. For a utility that operates large transmission mains and sells water to community networks, a model may be skeletonized to include only

Section 3.12

Model Maintenance

the source and large-diameter pipes. For a community that receives water from that utility, the opposite may be true. Although most planning and analysis activities can be performed successfully with a moderately skeletonized model, local fire flow evaluations and water quality analyses call for little to no skeletonization.

3.12 MODEL MAINTENANCE Once a water distribution model is constructed and calibrated, it can be modified to simulate and predict system behavior under a range of conditions. The model represents a significant investment on the part of the utility, and that investment should be maximized by carefully maintaining the model for use well into the future. Good record-keeping that documents model runs and history is necessary to ensure that the model is used correctly by others or at a later date, and that time is not wasted in deciphering and reconstructing what was done previously. There should be notes in the model files or paper records indicating the state of the system in the various model versions. These explanations will help subsequent users determine the best model run to use as a starting point in future analyses. Although the initial calibrated model reflects conditions in the current system, the model is frequently used to test future conditions and alternative piping systems. The scenario manager features in modeling software (see page 111) enable the user to maintain the original model while keeping track of numerous proposed changes to the system, some of which are never constructed. Eventually, a model file may contain many “proposed” facilities and demands that fall into the following categories: • Installed • Under design or construction • To be installed later • Never to be installed The user needs to periodically update the model file so that installed piping is accurately distinguished from proposed facilities, and that facilities that will most likely never be installed are removed from the model. The modeler also needs to be in regular contact with operations personnel to determine when new piping is placed into service. Note that there may be a substantial lag between the time that a pipe or other facility is placed into service, and the time that facility shows up in the system map or GIS. Once a master plan or comprehensive planning study is completed, model use typically becomes sporadic, though the model will still be used to respond to developer inquiries, address operations problems, and verify project designs. Each of these special studies involves creating and running additional scenarios. A single model eventually becomes cluttered with extraneous data on alternatives not selected. A good practice in addressing these special studies is to start from the existing model and create a new data file that will be used to study alternative plans. Once the project design is complete, the facilities and demands associated with the selected plan

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should be placed into the main model file as future facilities and demands. The version of the model used for operational studies should not be updated until the facilities are actually placed into service.

REFERENCES American Water Works Association (1996). “Ductile Iron Pipe and Fitting.” AWWA Manual M-41, Denver, Colorado. Benjamin, M. M., Reiber, S. H., Ferguson, J. F., Vanderwerff, E. A., and Miller, M. W. (1990). Chemistry of corrosion inhibitors in potable water. AWWARF, Denver, Colorado. Caldwell, D. H., and Lawrence, W. B. (1953). “Water Softening and Conditioning Problems.” Industrial Engineering Chemistry, 45(3), 535. Eggener, C. L., and Polkowski, L. (1976). “Network Modeling and the Impact of Modeling Assumptions. Journal of the American Water Works Association, 68(4), 189. ESRI. (2001). “What is a GIS?” http://www.esri.com/library/gis/abtgis/what_gis.html. Langelier, W. F. (1936). “The Analytical Control of Anti-Corrosion in Water Treatment.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 28(10), 1500. Maddison, L. A., and Gagnon, G. A. (1999). “Evaluating Corrosion Control Strategies for a Pilot-Scale Distribution System.” Proceedings of the Water Quality Technology Conference, American Water Works Association, Denver, Colorado. McNeil, L. S., and Edwards, M. (2000). “Phosphate Inhibitors and Red Water in Stagnant Iron Pipes.” Journal of Environmental Engineering, ASCE, 126(12), 1096. Merrill, D. T. and Sanks, R. L. (1978). Corrosion Control by Deposition of CaCO3 Films. AWWA, Denver, Colorado. Mullen, E. D., and Ritter, J. A. (1974). “Potable-Water Corrosion Control.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 66(8), 473. Shamir, U. and Hamberg, D. (1988a). “Schematic Models for Distribution Systems Design I: Combination Concept.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 114(2), 129. Shamir, U. and Hamberg, D. (1988b). “Schematic Models for Distribution Systems Design II: Continuum Approach.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 114(2), 141. Volk, C., Dundore, E., Schiermann, J., LeChevallier, M. (2000). “Practical Evaluation of Iron Corrosion Control in a Drinking Water Distribution System.” Water Research, 34(6), 1967. Walski, T. M. (1999). “Importance and Accuracy of Node Elevation Data.” Essential Hydraulics and Hydrology, Haestad Press, Waterbury, Connecticut. Walski, T. M. (2000). “Hydraulic Design of Water Distribution Storage Tanks.” Water Distribution System Handbook, Mays L. W., ed., McGraw Hill, New York, New York.

Discussion Topics and Problems

DISCUSSION TOPICS AND PROBLEMS Read the chapter and complete the problems. Submit your work to Haestad Methods and earn up to 11.0 CEUs. See Continuing Education Units on page xxix for more information, or visit www.haestad.com/awdm-ceus/.

3.1 Manually find the flow rate through the system shown in the figure and compute the pressure at node J-1. Also, find the suction and discharge pressures of the pump if it is at an elevation of 115 ft. Use the Hazen-Williams equation to compute friction losses. Assume hP is in ft and Q is in cfs.

300 ft R -B Pipe 3: L=1,000 ft D=12 in. C=120

hP = 225 - 10Q

1.50

Pipe 2: L=2,200 ft D=12 in. C=120

125 ft R-A

Pipe 1: L=220 ft D=16 in. C=120

J-1 Elev = 150 ft

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3.2 Manually find the flow in each pipeline and the pressure at node J-1 for the system shown in the figure. Assume that hP is in m and Q is in m3/s and note the demand at junction J-1 of 21.2 l/s. Use the Hazen-Williams equation to compute friction losses. Hint: Express the flow in Pipe 3 in terms of the flow in Pipe 1 or Pipe 2.

91.4 m

R-B Pipe 3: L=304.8 m D=305 mm C=120

hP = 68.58 - 639.66Q

1.50

J -1 Elev = 45.7 m

Pipe 2: L=670.6 m D=305 mm C=120

Q = 21.2 l/s 38.1 m

R-A

Pipe 1: L=67.1 m D=406 mm C=120

3.3 English Units: Manually find the discharge through each pipeline and the pressure at each junction node of the rural water system shown in the figure. Physical data for this system are given in the tables that follow. Fill in the tables at the end of the problem.

P -12

J-12

P -11

P -8 J-8

J-10

J-11 P -10

P -9

J-9

J-7 J-5

J-6

P -7 P -5 P -6

P -4

J-3

J-4 P -3 R -1

(Not To Scale)

P -1

P -2 J-1

J-2

Discussion Topics and Problems

Pipe Label

Length (ft)

Diameter (in.)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

P-1

500

10

120

P-2

1,200

6

120

P-3

4,200

10

120

P-4

600

6

110

P-5

250

4

110

P-6

500

4

100

P-7

5,200

8

120

P-8

4,500

4

100

P-9

5,500

3

90

P-10

3,000

6

75

P-11

570

6

120

P-12

550

4

80

Node Label

Elevation (ft)

Demand (gpm)

R-1

1050

N/A

J-1

860

40

J-2

865

15

J-3

870

30

J-4

875

25

J-5

880

5

J-6

885

12

J-7

880

75

J-8

850

25

J-9

860

J-10

860

18

J-11

850

15

J-12

845

10

Pipe Label

Flow (gpm)

Head loss (ft)

P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 P-6 P-7 P-8 P-9 P-10 P-11 P-12

129

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Node Label

Chapter 3

HGL (ft)

Pressure (psi)

J-1 J-2 J-3 J-4 J-5 J-6 J-7 J-8 J-9 J-10 J-11 J-12 SI Units: Manually find the discharge through each pipeline and the pressure at each junction node of the rural water system shown in the figure. Physical data for this system are given in the tables that follow. Fill in the tables at the end of the problem. Pipe Label

Length (m)

Diameter (mm)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

P-1

152.4

254

120

P-2

365.8

152

120

P-3

1,280.2

254

120

P-4

182.9

152

110

P-5

76.2

102

110

P-6

152.5

102

100

P-7

1,585.0

203

120

P-8

1,371.6

102

100

P-9

1,676.4

76

90

P-10

914.4

152

75

P-11

173.7

152

120

P-12

167.6

102

80

Discussion Topics and Problems

Node Label

Elevation (m)

Demand (l/s)

R-1

320.0

N/A

J-1

262.1

2.5

J-2

263.7

0.9

J-3

265.2

1.9

J-4

266.7

1.6

J-5

268.2

0.3

J-6

269.7

0.8

J-7

268.2

4.7

J-8

259.1

1.6

J-9

262.1

J-10

262.1

1.1

J-11

259.1

0.9

J-12

257.6

0.6

Pipe Label

Flow (l/s)

Head loss (m)

HGL (m)

Pressure (kPa)

P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 P-6 P-7 P-8 P-9 P-10 P-11 P-12

Node Label J-1 J-2 J-3 J-4 J-5 J-6 J-7 J-8 J-9 J-10 J-11 J-12

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3.4 Determine the effect of placing demands at points along a pipe rather than at the end node (point D) for the 300-m long pipe segment A-D shown in the figure. The pipe has a diameter of 150 mm and a roughness height of 0.0001 m, and the kinematic viscosity of water at the temperature of interest is 1x10-6 m2/s. The total head at Point A is 200 m, and the ground elevation along the pipe is 120 m. The flow past point A is 9 l/s. Points A, B, C, and D are equidistant from each other.

Upstream Point A

Intermediate Point B

Intermediate Point C

End Point D

a) Assume that there is no water use along the pipe (that is, flow is 9 l/s in all segments). Determine the head loss in each segment and the pressure head (in meters) at points B, C, and D. b) Assume that a small amount of water is used at points B and C (typical of a pipe in a residential neighborhood), such that the flow in the second and third segments decreases to 8 and 7 l/s, respectively. Determine the pressures at points B, C, and D. c) Assume that the water is withdrawn evenly along the pipe, such that the flows in the second and third segments are 6 and 3 l/s, respectively. Find the pressures at points B, C, and D. d) At these flows, do the pressures in the pipe vary significantly when the water use is lumped at the endpoint versus being accounted for along the length of the pipe? Would you expect a similar outcome at much higher flows?

Pressure in meters of water Point B C D

Part (a)

Part (b)

Part (c)

C H A P T E R

4 Water Consumption

The consumption or use of water, also known as water demand, is the driving force behind the hydraulic dynamics occurring in water distribution systems. Anywhere that water can leave the system represents a point of consumption, including a customer’s faucet, a leaky main, or an open fire hydrant. Three questions related to water consumption must be answered when building a hydraulic model: (1) How much water is being used? (2) Where are the points of consumption located? and (3) How does the usage change as a function of time? This chapter addresses these questions for each of the three basic demand types described below. • Customer demand is the water required to meet the non-emergency needs of users in the system. This demand type typically represents the metered portion of the total water consumption. • Unaccounted-for water (UFW) is the portion of total consumption that is “lost” due to system leakage, theft, unmetered services, or other causes. • Fire flow demand is a computed system capacity requirement for ensuring adequate protection is provided during fire emergencies. Determining demands is not a straightforward process like collecting data on the physical characteristics of a system. Some data, such as billing and production records, can be collected directly from the utility but are usually not in a form that can be directly entered into the model. For example, metering data are not grouped by node. Once this information has been collected, establishing consumption rates is a process requiring study of past and present usage trends and, in some cases, the projection of future ones. After consumption rates are determined, the water use is spatially distributed as demands, or loads, assigned to model nodes. This process is referred to as loading the model. Loading is usually a multistep process that may vary depending on the problem being considered. The following steps outline a typical example of the process the modeler might follow.

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1. Allocate average-day demands to nodes. 2. Develop peaking factors for steady-state runs (page 153) or diurnal curves for EPS runs (page 155). 3. Estimate fire and other special demands. 4. Project demands under future conditions for planning and design. This chapter presents some of the methods to follow when undertaking the process of loading a water distribution system model.

4.1

BASELINE DEMANDS

Most modelers start by determining baseline demands to which a variety of peaking factors and demand multipliers can be applied, or to which new land developments and customers can be added. Baseline demands typically include both customer demands and unaccounted-for water. Usually, the average day demand in the current year is the baseline from which other demand distributions are built.

Data Sources Pre-Existing Compiled Data. The first step in finding demand information for a specific utility should always be to research the utility’s existing data. Previous studies, and possibly even existing models, may have a wealth of background information that can save many hours of investigation. However, many utilities do not have existing studies or models, or may have only limited resources to collect this type of information. Likewise, models that do exist may be outdated and may not reflect recent expansion and growth. System Operational Records. Various types of operational records are available that can offer insight into the demand characteristics of a given system. Treatment facility logs may provide data regarding long-term usage trends such as seasonal pattern changes or general growth indications. Pumping logs and tank level charts (such as the one shown in Figure 4.1) contain data on daily system usage, as well as the changing pattern of demand and storage levels over time. Water distribution systems may measure and record water usage in a variety of forms, including • Flow information, such as the rate of production of a treatment or well facility • Volumetric information, such as the quantity of water consumed by a customer • Hydraulic grade information, such as the water level within a tank The data described above are frequently collected in differing formats and require conversion before they can be used. For example, tank physical characteristics can be used to convert tank level data to volumes. If data describing the temporal changes in tank levels are incorporated, volumes can be directly related to flow rates.

Section 4.1

Baseline Demands

Figure 4.1 Tank level chart

Courtesy of the City of Waterbury, CT Bureau of Water

Customer Meters and Billing Records. If meters are employed throughout a system, they can be the best source of data for determining customer demands. Customers are typically billed based on a volumetric measure of usage, with meter readings taken on a monthly or quarterly cycle. Using these periodically recorded usage volumes, customers’ average usage rates can be computed. Billing records, therefore, provide enough information to determine a customer’s baseline demand, but not enough to determine fluctuations in demand on a finer time scale such as that required for extended-period simulations. Ideally, the process of loading demand data into a model from another source would be relatively automatic. Cesario and Lee (1980) describe an early approach to automate model loading. Coote and Johnson (1995) developed a system in Valparaiso, Indiana in which each customer account was tied to a node in their hydraulic model. With the increasing popularity of geographic information systems (GIS) among water utilities, more modelers are turning to GIS to store and manipulate demand data to be imported into the model. Stern (1995) described how Cybernet data were loaded from a GIS in Los Angeles, and Basford and Sevier (1995) and Buyens, Bizier, and Combee (1996) describe similar applications in Newport News, Virginia, and Lake-

135

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land, Florida, respectively. As GIS usage becomes more widespread, more utilities will construct automated links between customer data, GIS, and hydraulic models.

Spatial Allocation of Demands Although water utilities make a large number of flow measurements, such as those at customer meters for billing and at treatment plants and wells for production monitoring, data are usually not compiled on the node-by-node basis needed for modeling. The modeler is thus faced with the task of spatially aggregating data in a useful way and assigning the appropriate usage to model nodes. The most common method of allocating baseline demands is a simple unit loading method. This method involves counting the number of customers [or acres (hectares) of a given land use, number of fixture units, or number of equivalent dwelling units] that contribute to the demand at a certain node, and then multiplying that number by the unit demand [for instance, number of gallons (liters) per capita per day] for the applicable load classification. For example, if a junction node represents a population of 200, and the average usage is 100 gal/day/person (380 l/day/person), the total baseline demand for the node would be 20,000 gal/day (75,710 l/day). In applying unit demands, the user must be careful to understand what is accounted for by that measure. Equations 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 show three different unit demands that can be determined for a utility (Male and Walski, 1990).

Section 4.1

Baseline Demands

Demands in the United Kingdom Not all water systems are universally metered as is customary in North America. For example, in the United Kingdom, only roughly 10 percent of the domestic customers are metered. Instead of metering individual customers, distribution systems in the UK are divided into smaller zones, called District Metered Areas (DMAs), which are isolated by valving and are fed through a smaller number of inlet and outlet meters (WRc, 1985). The number of properties in a DMA is known fairly precisely, and usually varies from 500 to 5,000 properties but can go as high as 10,000. The flows are recorded using data-logging technology or telemetered to a central location. Per capita consumption at the unmetered residences is estimated to be on the order of 150 liters per capita per day, although there is considerable variation (Ofwat, 1998). Some of the variation is attributed to different socioeconomic classes as accounted for by ACORN (A Classification of Residential Neighborhoods), which classifies properties in England and Wales into categories such as “modern family housing with higher income” to “poorest council estates.”

Demand patterns in the UK are similar to most other developed nations, and the patterns can be established by DMA or groups of DMAs. Data logging is used to determine individual demand patterns only for the largest users. Because most residences are not metered, unaccounted-for water in the UK is large, but most of this water is delivered to legitimate users and can be estimated fairly reasonably. The amount of actual leakage depends on pressure, burst frequency, leakage control policy, and age of pipes. Despite the differences in metering practices between the UK and North America, loading of the model still involves many of the same steps, and the system metering data collected in the UK can make calibration easier than in locations without pervasive distribution metering.

system-wide use = (production) / (domestic customers)

(4.1)

non-industrial use = (production – industrial use) / (domestic customers)

(4.2)

domestic use = (domestic metered consumption) / (domestic customers)

(4.3)

All three unit demands can be determined on a per capita or per account basis. Although all three can be referred to as unit demands, each yields a different result, and it is important that the modeler understand which unit demand is being used. The first unit demand includes all nonemergency uses and is the largest numerical value; the second excludes industrial uses; the third excludes industrial use and unaccounted-for water and is the smallest. If the third unit demand is used, then unaccounted-for water and industrial use must be handled separately from the unit demands. This approach may be advantageous where industrial use is concentrated in one portion of the network. Another approach to determining the baseline demand for individual customers involves the use of billing records. However, rarely does a system have enough recorded information to directly define all aspects of customer usage. Even in cases where both production records and full billing records are available, disagreements between the two may exist that need to be resolved.

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Two basic approaches exist for filling in the data gaps between water production and computed customer usage: top-down and bottom-up. Both of these methods are based on general mass-balance concepts and are shown schematically in Figure 4.2. Figure 4.2 Approaches to model loading

Production

Start: Production Data

Large Users

Goal: Nodal Demands

Nodes

Nodes / Service Area

Nodes

Nodes

Nodes

Nodes

Nodes

Meter Routes

Start: Meter Records

Billing Records

Unaccounted-For

Top-down demand determination involves starting from the water sources (at the “top”) and working down to the nodal demands. With knowledge about the production of water and any large individual water customers, the remainder of the demand is disaggregated among the rest of the customers. Bottom-up demand determination is exactly the opposite, starting with individual customer billing records and summing their influences using meter routes as an intermediate level of aggregation to determine the nodal demands. Most methods for loading models are some variation or combination of the top-down and bottom-up approaches, and tend to be system-specific depending on the availability of data, the resources for data-entry, and the need for accuracy in demands. For some systems, the decision to use top-down or bottom-up methods can be made on a zone-by-zone basis. Cesario (1995) uses the terms estimated consumption method and actual consumption method to describe these two approaches. However, both methods involve a certain level of estimation. An intermediate level of detail can be achieved by applying the top-down approach with usage data on a meter-route-by-meter-route basis (AWWA, 1989). Most design decisions, especially for smaller pipes, are controlled by fire flows, so modest errors in loading have little impact on pipe sizing. The case in which loading becomes critical is in the tracking of water quality constituents through a system, because fire flows are not typically considered in such cases.

Section 4.1

Baseline Demands

„ Example — Top-Down Demand Determination. Consider a system that serves a community of 1,000 people and a single factory, which is metered. Over the course of a year, the total production of potable water is 30,000,000 gallons (114,000 m3). The factory meter registered a usage of 10,000,000 gallons (38,000 m3). Determining the average per capita residential usage in this case is straightforward: Total volume of residential usage

= = =

Residential volume usage per capita = = =

(Total usage) – (Non-residential usage) 30,000,000 gallons – 10,000,000 gallons 20,000,000 gallons (Total volume of residential usage) / (no. of residents) 20,000,000 gallons / 1,000 capita 20,000 gallons/capita

Residential usage rate per capita (given that prior volume calculations were for a period of one year) = (Residential volume usage per capita) / time = (20,000 gallons/capita/year) × (1 year / 365 days) = 55 gallons/capita/day = 210 liters/capita/day Models usually require demands in gallons per minute or liters per second, which gives 0.038 gpm/capita = 0.0024 l/s/capita Next, the approximate number of people (or houses) per node (e.g., 25 houses with 2.5 residents per house = 62.5 residents/node) is determined to give average nodal demand of 2.37 gpm/node =0.15 l/s/node These average residential nodal demands can be adjusted for different parts of town based on population density, amount of lawn irrigation, and other factors.

„ Example — Bottom-Up Demand Determination. Each customer account is assigned an x-y coordinate in a GIS. Then, each account can be assigned to a node in the model based on polygons around each node in the GIS. (If a GIS is not available, customer accounts can be directly assigned to a node in the customer service information system used for billing purposes.) Then, each account in the customer information database records can be assigned to a model node. By querying the customer information database, the average demand at each node for any billing period can be determined. The billing data must now be corrected for unaccounted-for water. Consider a user who decides to allocate unaccounted-for water uniformly to each node. The daily production is 82,000 gpd, and metered sales are 65,000 gpd. For each node, the demand must be corrected for unaccounted-for water. One approach is to assign unaccounted-for water in proportion to the demand at a node using: Corrected demand = (Node consumption) × [(Production) / (Metered Sales)] For a node with a consumption of 4.2 gpm, the corrected demand is: Corrected demand = (4.2 gpm) × (82,000/65,000) = 5.3 gpm = 0.33 l/s

As can be seen in the preceding examples, bottom-up demand allocation requires a great deal of initial effort to set up links between accounts and nodes, but after this work is done, the loads can be recalculated easily. Of course, the corrections due to unaccounted-for water and the fact that instantaneous demands are most likely not equal to average demands suggest that both approaches are subject to error.

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„ Example — Demand Allocation. In a detailed demand allocation, a key step is determining the customers assigned to each node. Figure 4.3 demonstrates the allocation of customer demands to modeled junction nodes. The dashed lines represent the boundaries between junction associations. For example, the junction labeled J-1 should have demands that represent nine homes and two commercial establishments. Likewise, J-4 represents the school, six homes, and one commercial building.

Figure 4.3 Allocating demands to network junctions

Homes

J-1

J-2

Commercial Establishments School

J-5

J-4

J-3

Node Service Area Boundary (typ.) Following demand allocation, the modeler must ensure that demands have been assigned to junction nodes in such a way that (1) the sums of the nodal demands system-wide and in each pressure zone are in agreement with production records, and (2) the spatial allocation of demands closely approximates actual demands.

When working with high-quality GIS data, the modeler can much more precisely assign demands to nodes. Nodal demands can be loaded using several GIS-related methodologies, ranging from a simple inverse-pipe-diameter allocation model to a comprehensive polygon overlay. The inverse-pipe-diameter approach assumes that demands are associated with small-diameter pipes, whereas large-diameter pipes are mainly used for transmission and thus should have less “weight” associated with them. More detailed methods make use of extensive statistical data analysis and GIS processing by combining layers of data that account for variables such as population changes over time, land use, seasonal changes, planning, and future development rates. Davis and Brawn (2000) describe an approach they employed to allocate demands using a GIS.

Using GIS for Demand Allocation As discussed previously, an integral part of creating a water distribution model is the accurate allocation of demands to the node elements within the model. The spatial

Section 4.1

Baseline Demands

141

analysis capabilities of GIS make it a logical tool for the automation of the demand allocation process. The following sections provide descriptions of some of the automated allocation strategies that have been used successfully. Meter Assignment. This allocation strategy uses the spatial analysis capabilities of GIS to assign geocoded (possessing coordinate data based on physical location, such as an x-y coordinate) customer meters to the nearest demand node. Therefore, this type of model loading is a point-to-point demand allocation technique, meaning that known point demands (customer meters) are assigned to network demand points (demand nodes). Meter assignment is the simplest technique in terms of required data, because there is no need for service polygons to be applied (see Figure 4.4). However, meter assignment can prove less accurate than the more complex allocation strategies because “nearest” is determined by straight-line proximity between the demand node and the consumption meter. Piping routes are not considered, so the nearest demand node may not be the location from which the meter actually receives its flow. In addition, the actual location of the service meter may not be known. Ideally, these meter points should be placed at the location of the tap, but the centroid of the building or land parcel may be all that is known about a customer account. Figure 4.4 Meter assignment

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Meter Aggregation. Meter aggregation is the technique of assigning all meters within a service polygon to a specified demand node (see Figure 4.5). Service polygons define the service area for each of the demand junctions. Meter aggregation is a polygon-to-point allocation technique because the service areas are contained in a GIS polygon layer and the demand junctions are contained in a point layer. The demands associated with each of the service-area polygons are assigned to the respective demand node points. Because of the need for service polygons, the initial setup for this approach is more involved than for the simpler meter assignment strategy, with the tradeoff being greater control over the assignment of meters to demand nodes. Automated construction of the service polygons may not produce the desired results, so it may be necessary to manually adjust the polygon boundaries, especially at the edges of the drawing. Figure 4.5 Meter aggregation

Flow Distribution. This strategy involves distributing a lump-sum demand among a number of service polygons (service areas) and, by extension, their associated demand nodes. The lump-sum area is a polygon for which the total (lump-sum) demand of all of the service areas (and their demand nodes) is known (metered), but

Section 4.1

Baseline Demands

the distribution of the total demand among the individual nodes is not. Lump-sum areas can be based on pressure zones, meter routes, or other criteria. The known demand within the lump-sum area is divided among the service polygons within the area using one of two techniques: equal distribution or proportional distribution. The equal distribution option simply divides the known demand evenly between the demand nodes. For example, in Figure 4.6, the total demand in meter route A may be 55 gpm (3.48 l/s), and the total demand in meter route B may be 72 gpm (4.55 l/s). Since there are 11 nodes in meter route A and 8 nodes in meter route B, the demand at each node will be 5 gpm (0.32 l/s) and 9 gpm (0.57 l/s), respectively. Figure 4.6 Equal flow distribution

The proportional distribution option divides the lump-sum demand among the service polygons based on one of two attributes of the service polygons: the area or the population. That is, the greater the percentage of the lump-sum area or population that a service polygon contains, the greater the percentage of total demand that will be assigned to that service polygon. Each service polygon has an associated demand node, and the demand that is calculated for each service polygon is assigned to this demand node. For example, if a service polygon makes up 50 percent of the lump-sum polygon’s area, then 50 percent of the demands associated with the lump-sum polygon will be assigned to the demand node associated with that service polygon.

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Flow distribution strategies require the definition of lump-sum area or population polygons, service polygons, and their related demand nodes. Sometimes, a combination of demand allocation methods is recommended. One case where this technique is particularly helpful is in accounting for unaccounted-for water. A meter assignment or meter aggregation method can be used to distribute the normal demands, and a flow distribution technique can be used in addition to assign the unaccounted-for water. Point Demand Assignment. A point demand assignment technique is used to directly assign a demand to a demand node. This strategy is primarily a manual operation, and is used to assign large (generally industrial or commercial) water users to the demand node that serves the consumer in question. This technique is unnecessary if all demands are accounted for by using one of the other allocation strategies. Projection of Future Demands. Automated techniques have also been developed to assist in the assignment of future demands to nodes. These are similar to flow distribution allocation except that the type of base layer that is used to intersect with the service layer may contain information other than average-day demands. Demand projection relies on a polygon layer that contains data regarding expected future conditions. Some data types that can be used for this include future land use and projected population, in combination with a demand density (for example, gallons per capita per day), with the polygons based on traffic analysis zones, census tracts, planning districts, or another classification. Many of these data types do not include demand information, so demand density is required to translate the information contained in the future-condition polygons into projected demand values. Methods of using water-use data based on population or land use involve overlaying those polygons on node service-area polygons and are described in more detail in Chapter 12.

Categorizing Demands Sometimes water users at a single node fall into several categories, and the modeler would like to keep track of these categories within the model. Composite demands enable the modeler to do this type of tracking. The modeler can selectively search for all demands of a certain type (for example, residential or industrial) and make adjustments. The modeler can also make changes to the characteristics of an entire category, and all of the customers of that type will automatically be modified. Composite Demands. Whether a unit-loading-based or a billing-record-based method is used to generate the baseline demand, the user may need to convert it into a composite demand at a particular node. This conversion is necessary since a junction node does not always supply a single customer type. When more than one demand type is served by a particular junction, the demand is said to be a composite. Determining the total rate of consumption for a junction node with a composite demand is a simple matter of summing the individual components. Composite demands are also a way of keeping track of unaccounted-for water independent of the other demands at a node.

Section 4.1

Baseline Demands

When temporal patterns are applied to composite demands, the total demand for a junction at any given time is equal to the sum of each baseline demand times its respective pattern multiplier. It is also possible with most software packages to assign a different pattern to the different components of the composite demand. Q i, t =

∑ Bi, j Pi, j, t

(4.4)

j

where

Qi, t = total demand at junction i at time t (cfs, m3/s) Bi, j = baseline demand for demand type j at junction i (cfs, m3/s) Pi, j, t = pattern multiplier for demand type j at junction i at time t

Nomenclature. Depending on the scale of the model, the demand type may consist of such broad categories as “residential,” “commercial,” and “industrial,” or be broken down into a finer level of detail with categories such as “school,” “restaurant,” “multifamily dwelling,” and so on. An issue that arises when discussing demands is that each utility classifies customers differently. For example, an apartment may be a “residential” account at one utility, a “commercial” account at another, and a “multifamily residential” account at yet another. Schools may be classified as “institutional,” “commercial,” “public,” or simply “schools.” A modeler working for a utility can easily adapt to the naming conventions, but a consultant who works with many utilities may have a difficult time keeping track of the nomenclature when moving from one system to another.

Mass Balance Technique Regardless of whether a modeler is studying the entire system, one particular pressure zone, or an individual customer, mass balance techniques are useful for determining changes in demand occurring on a finer time scale than a monthly billing cycle. For a water distribution system, a mass balance simply indicates that what goes into the system must be equal to what comes out of the system or zone (accounting for changes in storage). In equation form, this can be stated as follows: Q demand = Q inflow – Q outflow + ∆V storage ⁄ ∆t

(4.5)

Qinflow = average rate of production (cfs, m3/s) Qdemand = average rate of demand (cfs, m3/s) Qoutflow = average outflow rate (cfs, m3/s) ∆V storage = change in storage within the system (ft3, m3)

where

∆t = time between volume measurements (s)

Note that the rates of production and demand in the above equation are representative of the average flow rates over the time period. The change in storage, however, is

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found by taking the difference between storage volumes at the beginning and end of the time period for each tank, as follows:

∑ ( Vi, t + ∆t – Vi, t )

∆V storage =

(4.6)

i

where V i, t + ∆t = storage volume of tank i at time t+ ∆ t (ft3, m3) Vi, t = storage volume of tank i at time t (ft3, m3) When calculating volume changes in storage, a sign convention must apply. If the volume in storage decreased during the time interval, then that volume is added to the inflows, and if it increased over the time period, then it is subtracted from inflows. For upright cylindrical tanks (or any tank with vertical sides), the change in storage can be determined directly from the change in tank level, as follows: ∆V storage =

∑ ( Hi, t + ∆t – Hi, t )Ai, t

(4.7)

i

where H i, t + ∆t = water level at beginning of times step t+ ∆ t at tank i (ft, m) Hi,t = water level at beginning of times step t at tank i (ft, m) Ai,t = surface area of tank i during time step t (ft2, m2) „ Example — Mass Balance. Consider a pressure zone with a single cylindrical tank having a diameter of 40 feet. At the beginning of a daily monitoring interval, the water level is at 28.3 feet, and at the beginning of the next day it is 29.1 feet. During that time, the total flow into that zone is determined to be 455 gallons per minute, and there is no outflow to other zones. What is the total average daily demand within the zone? Knowing the tank’s diameter, its area is found to be 2

2

π ( 40 ) - = 1256 2 πD - = ---------------A = --------ft 4 4 The change in storage is then found as

∆V = A(Hi+1 - Hi) = 1256 ft2 (29.1 ft – 28.3 ft) × 7.48 gal/ft3 = 7,516 gal Storage in the tank increased over the monitoring period, thus the sign convention dictates that the flows to storage be subtracted from the total inflow. With the change in storage and the average inflow, the average zone demand occurring over the hourly monitoring period is

7516 - = 449.8 gpm Q = 455 – ----------------60 × 24 This answer makes sense because the average zone demand must be smaller than the average inflow for the tank to fill during the monitoring period.

Section 4.1

Baseline Demands

Using Unit Demands In the case of new water customers, flows can usually be estimated based on similar customers in the community. Numerous investigators have compiled typical water consumption for different types of facilities. To use this data, the modeler needs to determine the number of units (for example, number of rooms in a hotel or number of seats in a restaurant) and multiply by the typical unit flow to determine the average daily flow from that establishment. Table 4.1 provides typical unit loads for a number of different types of users. Ranges are given because there is considerable variation between establishments within a given category. Table 4.1 Typical rates of water use for various establishments Range of Flow User

(l/person or unit/day)

(gal/person or unit/day)

Airport, per passenger

10–20

3–5

Assembly hall, per seat

6–10

2–3

Bowling alley, per alley

60–100

16–26

Pioneer type

80–120

21–32

Children’s, central toilet and bath

160–200

42–53

Day, no meals

40–70

11–18

Luxury, private bath

300–400

79–106

Labor

140–200

37–53

Trailer with private toilet and bath, per unit (2 1/2 persons)

500–600

132–159

Resident type

300–600

79–159

Transient type serving meals

60–100

16–26

Apartment house on individual well

300–400

79–106

Apartment house on public water supply, unmetered

300–500

79–132

Boardinghouse

150–220

40–58

Hotel

200–400

53–106

120–200

32–53

Motel

400–600

106–159

Private dwelling on individual well or metered supply

200–600

53–159

Private dwelling on public water supply, unmetered

400–800

106–211

40–100

11–26

Camp

Country clubs

Dwelling unit, residential

Lodging house and tourist home

Factory, sanitary wastes, per shift

Table extracted from Ysuni, 2000 based on Metcalf and Eddy, 1979

147

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Table 4.1 (cont.) Typical rates of water use for various establishments Range of Flow User

(l/person or unit/day)

(gal/person or unit/day)

Fairground (based on daily attendance)

2–6

1–2

Average type

400–600

106–159

Hospital

Institution

700–1200

185–317

Office

40–60

11–16

Picnic park, with flush toilets

20–40

5–11

Average

25–40

7–11

Kitchen wastes only

10–20

3–5

Short order

10–20

3–5

Short order, paper service

4–8

1–2

Bar and cocktail lounge

8–12

2–3

Average type, per seat

120–180

32–48

Average type, 24 h, per seat

160–220

42–58

Tavern, per seat

60–100

16–26

Service area, per counter seat (toll road)

1000–1600

264–423

Service area, per table seat (toll road)

600–800

159–211

Day, with cafeteria or lunchroom

40–60

11–16

Day, with cafeteria and showers

60–80

16–21

Boarding

200–400

53–106

1000–3000

264–793

First 7.5 m (25 ft) of frontage

1600–2000

423–528

Each additional 7.5 m of frontage

1400–1600

370–423

40–60

11–16

Indoor, per seat, two showings per day

10–20

3–5

Outdoor, including food stand, per car (3 1/3 persons)

10–20

3–5

Restaurant (including toilet)

School

Self-service laundry, per machine Store

Swimming pool and beach, toilet and shower Theater

Table extracted from Ysuni, 2000 based on Metcalf and Eddy, 1979

Other investigators have linked water use in nonresidential facilities to the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes for each industry as shown in Table 4.2. To use this table, the modeler determines the number of employees in an industry and multiplies the number by the use rate given in the table. As is the case with Table 4.1, there will be considerable variation about the typical values given Table 4.2.

Section 4.1

Baseline Demands

Table 4.2 Average rates of nonresidential water use from establishment-level data Category

SIC Code

Construction

Use Rate (gal/employee/day)

Sample Size

31

246

General building contractors

15

118

66

Heavy construction

16

20

30

Special trade contractors

17

25

150

164

2790

Manufacturing Food and kindred products

20

469

252

Textile mill products

22

784

20

Apparel and other textile products

23

26

91

Lumber and wood products

24

49

62

Furniture and fixtures

25

36

83

Paper and allied products

26

2614

93

Printing and publishing

27

37

174

Chemicals and allied products

28

267

211

Petroleum and coal products

29

1045

23

Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products

30

119

116

Leather and leather products

31

148

10

Stone, clay, and glass products

32

202

83

Primary metal industries

33

178

80

Fabricated metal products

34

194

395

Industrial machinery and equipment

35

68

304

Electronic and other electrical equipment

36

95

409

Transportation equipment

37

84

182

Instruments and related products

38

66

147

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries

39

36

55

50

226

Transportation and public utilities Railroad transportation

40

68

3

Local and interurban passenger transit

41

26

32

Trucking and warehousing

42

85

100

U.S. Postal Service

43

5

1

Water transportation

44

353

10

Transportation by air

45

171

17

Transportation services

47

40

13

Communications

48

55

31

Electric, gas, and sanitary services

49

51

19

53

751 518

Wholesale trade Wholesale trade–durable goods

50

46

Wholesale trade–nondurable goods

51

87

233 Table from Dziegielweski, Opitz, and Maidment, 1996

149

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Table 4.2 (cont.) Average rates of nonresidential water use from establishment-level data Category

SIC Code

Retail trade

Use Rate (gal/employee/day)

Sample Size

93

1044

Building materials and garden supplies

52

35

56

General merchandise stores

53

45

50

Food stores

54

100

90

Automotive dealers and service stations

55

49

498

Apparel and accessory stores

56

68

48

Furniture and home furnishings stores

57

42

100

Eating and drinking places

58

156

341

Miscellaneous retail

59

132

161

Finance, insurance, and real estate

192

238

Depository institutions

60

62

77

Nondepository institutions

61

361

36

Security and commodity brokers

62

1240

2

Insurance carriers

63

136

9

Insurance agents, brokers, and service

64

89

24

Real estate

65

609

84

Holding and other investment offices

67

290

5

Services

137

1878

Hotels and other lodging places

70

230

197

Personal services

72

462

300

Business services

73

73

243

Auto repair, services, and parking

75

217

108

Miscellaneous repair services

76

69

42

Motion pictures

78

110

40

Amusement and recreation services

79

429

105

Health services

80

91

353

Legal services

81

821

15

Educational services

82

110

300

Social service

83

106

55

Museums, botanical, zoological gardens

84

208

9

Membership organizations

86

212

45

Engineering and management services

87

58

5

Services, NEC

89

73

60

Public administration

106

25

Executive, legislative, and general

91

155

2

Justice, public order, and safety

92

18

4

Administration of human resources

94

87

6 Table from Dziegielweski, Opitz, and Maidment, 1996

Section 4.1

Baseline Demands

Table 4.2 (cont.) Average rates of nonresidential water use from establishment-level data SIC Code

Use Rate (gal/employee/day)

Sample Size

Environmental quality and housing

95

101

6

Administration of economic programs

96

274

5

National security and international affairs

97

445

2

Category

Table from Dziegielweski, Opitz, and Maidment, 1996

Unaccounted-For Water Ideally, if individual meter readings are taken for every customer, they should exactly equal the amount of water that is measured leaving the treatment facility. In practice, however, this is not the case. Although inflow does indeed equal outflow, not all of the outflows are metered. These “lost” flows are referred to as unaccounted-for water (UFW). There are many possible reasons why the sum of all metered customer usage may be less than the total amount of water produced by the utility. The most common reasons for discrepancies are leakage, errors in measurement, and unmetered usage. Ideally, customer demands and unaccounted-for water should be estimated separately. In this way, a utility can analyze the benefits of reducing unaccounted-for water. Unaccounted-for water must be loaded into the model just like any other demand. However, the fact that it is unaccounted-for means that the user does not know where to place it. Usually, the user simply calculates total unaccounted-for water and divides that quantity equally among all nodes. If the modeler knows that one portion of a system has a greater likelihood of leakage because of age, then more unaccounted-for water can be placed within that section. Leakage. Leakage is frequently the largest component of UFW and includes distribution losses from supply pipes, distribution and trunk mains, services up to the meter, and tanks. The amount of leakage varies from system to system, but there is a general correlation between the age of a system and the amount of UFW. Newer systems may have as little as 5 percent leakage, while older systems may have 40 percent leakage or higher. Leakage tends to increase over time unless a leak detection and repair program is in place. Use of acoustic detection equipment to listen for leaks is shown in Figure 4.7. Other factors affecting leakage include system pressure (the higher the pressure, the more leakage), burst frequencies of mains and service pipes, and leakage detection and control policies. These factors make leakage very difficult to estimate, even without the complexity of approximating other UFW causes. If better information is not available, UFW is usually assigned uniformly around the system.

151

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Figure 4.7 Use of leak detection equipment

Meter Under Registration. Flow measurement errors also contribute to UFW. Flow measurements are not always exact, and thus metered customer usage may contain inaccuracies. Some flow meters under-register usage at low flow rates, especially as they get older. Unmetered Usage. Systems may have illegal connections or other types of unmetered usage. Not all unmetered usage is indicative of water theft. Fire hydrants, blow-offs, and other maintenance appurtenances are typically not metered.

4.2

DEMAND MULTIPLIERS

By definition, baseline demands during a steady-state simulation do not change over time. However, in reality, water demand varies continuously over time according to several time scales: • Daily. Water use varies with activities over the course of a day. • Weekly. Weekend patterns are different from weekdays. • Seasonal. Depending on the extent of outdoor water use or seasonal changes, such as tourism, consumption can vary significantly from one season to another.

Section 4.2

Demand Multipliers

• Long-term. Demands can grow due to increases in population and the industrial base, changes in unaccounted-for water, annexation of areas previously without service, and regionalization of neighboring water systems. The modeler needs to be cognizant of the impacts of temporal changes on all of these scales. These time-varying demands are handled in the model by either • Steady-state runs for a particular condition, or • Extended-period model runs For extended-period simulations, the model requires both baseline demand data and information on how demands vary over time. Modeling of these temporal variations is described in the next section. In steady-state runs, the user can build on the baseline demand by using multipliers and/or assigning different demands to specific nodes. Fortunately, the entire demand allocation need not be redone. The following are some examples of demand events frequently considered: • Average-day demand: The average rate of demand for an average day (past, present, or future) • Maximum-day demand: The average rate of use on the maximum usage day (past, present, or future) • Peak-hour demand: The average rate of usage during the maximum hour of usage (past, present, or future) • Maximum day of record: The highest average rate of demand for the historical record

Peaking Factors For some consumption conditions (especially predicted consumption conditions), demands can be determined by applying a multiplication factor or a peaking factor. For example, a modeler might determine that future maximum day demands will be double the average-day demands for a particular system. The peaking factor is calculated as the ratio of discharges for the various conditions. For example, the peaking factor applied to average-day demands to obtain maximum day demands can be found by using Equation 4.8. PF = Q max ⁄ Q avg

where

(4.8)

PF = peaking factor between maximum day and average-day demands Qmax = maximum day demands (cfs, m3/s) Qavg = average-day demands (cfs, m3/s)

Determining system-wide peaking factors is fairly easy because most utilities keep good records on production and tank levels. However, peaking factors for different types of demands applied at individual nodes are more difficult to determine, because

153

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individual nodes do not necessarily follow the same demand pattern as the system as a whole. Peaking factors from average day to maximum day tend to range from 1.2 to 3.0, and factors from average day to peak hour are typically between 3.0 and 6.0. Of course, these values are system-specific, so they must be determined based on the demand characteristics of the system at hand. Fire flows represent a special type of peaking condition, and they are described on page 165. Fire flows are usually added to maximum day flows when evaluating the capacity of the system for fire fighting. Demands in Systems with High Unaccounted-For Water. Using global demand multipliers for projections in systems with high unaccounted-for water is based on the assumption that the relative amount of unaccounted-for water will remain constant in the future. Unaccounted-for water can also be treated as one of the parts of a composite demand, as discussed on page 144. If unaccounted-for water is reduced, then the utility will see higher peaking factors because unaccounted-for water tends to flatten out the diurnal demand curve. Walski (1999) describes a method for correcting demand multipliers for systems where leakage is expected to change over time. M -----  A  c Qc + L M ----- = ----------------------------Qc + L A

where

M/A (M/A)c Qc L

= = = =

(4.9)

corrected multiplier multiplier for consumptive users only water use through customer meters in future (cfs, m3/s) leakage in future (cfs, m3/s)

„ Example — Peaking Factors. If the multiplier for metered customers (M/A)c is 2.1, and the metered demand (Qc) is projected to be 2.4 MGD in a future condition, then the overall multiplier can be determined based on estimated future leakage as shown in the following table. Leakage (MGD)

M/A

0.0

2.1

0.5

1.9

1.0

1.8

Because leakage contributes the same to average and peak demands, the peak demand multipliers increase as leakage decreases. The numerical value of (M/A)c can be calculated using current year data and Equation 4.10.

M ----- ( Q c + L ) – L A M ----- = ---------------------------------- A c Q c

(4.10)

Section 4.3

Time-Varying Demands

The L and Q values are based on current year actual values. For example, in this problem, say that the current year overall multiplier is 1.8, the metered demand is 1.5 MGD, and the leakage is 0.6 MGD. The multiplier for metered consumption is then

1.8 ( 1.5 + 0.6 ) – 0.6- = 2.1 M ----- = --------------------------------------------- A c 1.5

Commercial Building Demands. A means of estimating design demands for proposed commercial buildings is called the Fixture Unit Method. If the nature of the customer/building is known, and the number and types of water fixtures (toilets, dishwashers, drinking fountains, and so on) can be calculated, then the peak design flow can be determined. The fixture unit method accounts for the fact that it is very unlikely that all of the fixtures in a building will be operated simultaneously. Chapter 9 contains more information on using this method (see page 399).

4.3

TIME-VARYING DEMANDS

Water usage in municipal water distribution systems is inherently unsteady due to continuously varying demands. In order for an extended period simulation to accurately reflect the dynamics of the real system, these demand fluctuations must be incorporated into the model. The temporal variations in water usage for municipal water systems typically follow a 24-hour cycle called a diurnal demand pattern. However, system flows experience changes not only on a daily basis, but also weekly and annually. As one might expect, weekend usage patterns often differ from weekday patterns. Seasonal differences in water usage have been related to climatic variables such as temperature and precipitation, and also to the changing habits of customers, such as outdoor recreational and agricultural activities occurring in the summer months.

Diurnal Curves Each city has its own unique level of usage that is a function of recent climatic conditions and the time of day. (Economic growth also influences demands, but its effect occurs over periods longer than the typical modeling time horizon, and it is accounted for using future demand projections.) Figure 4.8 illustrates a typical diurnal curve for a residential area. There is relatively low usage at night when most people sleep, increased usage during the early morning hours as people wake up and prepare for the day, decreased usage during the middle of the day, and finally, increased usage again in the early evening as people return home. For other water utilities and other types of demands, the usage pattern may be very different. For example, in some areas, residential irrigation occurs overnight to minimize evaporation, which may cause peak usage to occur during the predawn hours. For small towns that are highly influenced by a single industry, the diurnal pattern may be much more pronounced because the majority of the population follows a similar schedule. For example, if a large water-using industry runs 24 hours per day, the overall demand pattern for the system may appear relatively flat because the steady industrial usage is much larger than peaks in the residential patterns.

155

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Figure 4.8 A typical diurnal curve

Developing System-Wide Diurnal Curves A system-wide diurnal curve can be constructed using the same mass balance techniques discussed earlier in this chapter. The only elaboration is that the mass balance is performed as a series of calculations, one for each hydraulic step of an EPS simulation. Time Increments. The amount of time between measurements has a direct correlation to the resolution and precision of the constructed diurnal curve. If measurements are only available once per day, then only a daily average can be calculated. Likewise, if measurements are available in hourly increments, then hourly averages can be used to define the pattern over the entire day. If the modeler tries to use a time step that is too small, small errors in tank water level can lead to large errors in water-use calculations. This type of error is explained further in Walski, Lowry, and Rhee (2000). Modeling of hydraulic time steps smaller than one hour is usually only justified in situations in which tank water levels change rapidly. Even if facility operations (such as pump cycling) occur frequently, it may still be acceptable for the demand pattern time interval to be longer than the hydraulic time step. The modeler should be aware that incremental measurements can still overlook a peak event. For example, consider something as simple as determining the peak-hour demand (the highest average demand over any continuous one-hour period). If measurements are taken every hour on the hour, then the determination of the computed peak hour will only be accurate if the actual peak begins and ends right on an even

Section 4.3

Time-Varying Demands

157

hour increment (such as a peak occurring from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m.). The modeler will underestimate peak hour usage if the true peak occurs, for example, from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. The diurnal demand curve in Figure 4.9 illustrates this point. As can also be seen in Figure 4.9, as time increments become smaller, peak flows become higher (for instance, the 15-minute peak is higher than the one-hour peak). Figure 4.9 Missed peak on a diurnal curve due to model time step

Usage

Diurnal Curve Peak Missed

12am

Hourly Measurements

5am

6am

7am

8am

9am

10am

11am

11pm

Time

Developing Customer Diurnal Curves Frequently, developing a diurnal curve for a specific customer requires more information than can be extracted from typical billing records. In these situations, more intensive data collection methods are needed to portray the time-variant nature of the demands. Data Logging for Customer Usage. Manually reading a customer’s water meter at frequent intervals would obviously be a tedious and expensive undertaking. The process of data logging refers to the automated gathering of raw data in the field. These data are later compiled and analyzed for a variety of purposes, among them the creation of diurnal demand curves. Various applications of data logging are described in papers by Brainard (1994); Rhoades (1995); and DeOreo, Heaney, and Mayer (1996). There have been many recent advances in data-logging technology, making it a reliable and fairly inexpensive way to record customer water usage. Figure 4.10 illus-

158

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trates a typical meter/data logger setup. Utilities can now easily place a data logger on a customer’s meter and determine that customer’s consumption pattern. While it would be nice to have such a detailed level of data on all customers, the cost of obtaining the information is only justifiable for large customers and a sampling of smaller ones. Figure 4.10 A typical meter/data logger setup

Meter-Master Model 100EL Flow Recorder manufactured by F.S. Brainard & Company

Representative Customers. Although it is possible to study a few customers in detail and extend the conclusions of that study to the rest of the system, this type of data extrapolation has some inherent dangers. The probability of selecting the “perfect” average customer is small, and any deviation from the norm or error in measurement will be compounded when it is applied to an entire community. As with all statistical data collection methods, the smaller the sample size, the less confidence there can be in the results. There are also applications in which use of a representative customer is inappropriate under any circumstances. With large industries, for example, there may be no relationship at all between the volumes and patterns of usage even though they share a similar zoning classification. Therefore, demands for large consumers (industries, hospitals, hotels, and so on) and their diurnal variations should be individually determined. Even if data logging cannot be applied to all customers, studying the demands of large consumers and applying the top-down demand determination concept to the smaller consumers can still yield reasonable demand calculations. The large customer data is subtracted from the overall system or zone usage, and the difference in demand is attributable to the smaller customers. It is impossible to know with absolute certainty when water will be used or how much water is used in a short period of time, even though usage per billing period is known exactly. Bowen, Harp, Baxter, and Shull (1993) collected data from single and multi-

Section 4.3

Time-Varying Demands

family residential customers in several U.S. cities. These demand patterns can be used as a starting point for assigning demand patterns to residential nodes. Buchberger and Wu (1995) and Buchberger and Wells (1996) developed a stochastic model for residential water demands and verified it by collecting extensive data on individual residential customers. The model is particularly useful for evaluating the hydraulics of dead-ends and looped systems in the periphery of distribution networks. The researchers found that the demand at an individual house cannot simply be multiplied by the number of houses to determine the demand in a larger area. The methods that they developed provide a way of combining the individual stochastic demands from individual customers who are brushing their teeth or running their washing machines, dishwashers, and so on into the aggregate for use in a larger area over a longer time interval. In general, hotels and apartments have demand patterns similar to those of residential customers, office buildings have demand patterns corresponding to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. operations, and retail area demand patterns reflect 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. operations. Every large industry that uses more than a few percentage points of total system production should have an individual demand pattern developed for it.

Defining Usage Patterns within a Model Usage could be defined directly by describing a series of actual flow versus time points for each junction in the system. One shortcoming of this type of definition is that it does not offer much data reuse for nodes with similar usage patterns. Consequently, most hydraulic models express demands by using a constant baseline demand multiplied by a dimensionless demand pattern factor at each time increment. A demand multiplier is defined as Mult i = Q i ⁄ Q base

where

(4.11)

Multii = demand multiplier at the ith time step Qi = demand in ith time step (gpm, m3/s) Qbase = base demand (gpm, m3/s)

The series of demand pattern multipliers models the diurnal variation in demand and can be reused at nodes with similar usage characteristics. The baseline demand is often chosen to be the average daily demand (although peak day demand or some other value can be used). Assuming a baseline demand of 200 gpm, Table 4.3 illustrates how nodal demands are computed using a base demand and pattern multipliers. Table 4.3 Calculation of nodal demands using pattern multipliers Time

Pattern Multiplier

Demand

0:00

0.7

200 gpm × 0.7 = 140 gpm

159

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Table 4.3 Calculation of nodal demands using pattern multipliers Time

Pattern Multiplier

Demand

1:00

1.1

200 gpm × 1.1 = 220 gpm

2:00

1.8

200 gpm × 1.8 = 360 gpm

As one can imagine, usage patterns are as diverse as the customers themselves. Figure 4.11 illustrates just how different diurnal demand curves for various classifications can be. A broad zoning classification, such as commercial, may contain differences significant enough to warrant the further definition of subcategories for the different types of businesses being served. For instance, a hotel may have a demand pattern that resembles that of a residential customer. A dinner restaurant may have its peak usage during the late afternoon and evening. A clothing store may use very little water, regardless of the time of day. Water usage in an office setting may coincide with coffee breaks and lunch hours. Figure 4.11 Single Family

Demand Multiplier

Demand Multiplier

Businesses

Time

Time

Factory

Restaurant

Demand Multiplier

Demand Multiplier

Diurnal curve for different user categories

Time

Time

There will sometimes be customers within a demand classification whose individual demand patterns differ significantly from the typical demand pattern assigned to the classification as a whole. For most types of customers, the impact such differences have on the model is insignificant. For other customers, such as industrial users, errors in the usage pattern may have a large impact on the model. In general, the larger the individual usage of a customer, the more important it is to ensure the accuracy of the consumption data. Stepwise and Continuous Patterns. In a stepwise demand pattern, demand multipliers are assumed to remain constant over the duration of the pattern time step.

Section 4.3

Time-Varying Demands

161

A continuous pattern, on the other hand, refers to a pattern that is defined independently of the pattern time step. Interpolation methods are used to compute multiplier values at intermediate time steps. If the pattern time step is reset to a smaller or larger value, the pattern multipliers are automatically recalculated. The pattern multiplier value is updated by linearly interpolating between values occurring along the continuous curve at the new time step interval. The result is a more precise curve fit that is independent of the time step specified, as shown in Figure 4.12. Figure 4.12 Stepwise and continuous pattern variation

Continuous

1.5

Pattern Multiplier

Stepwise

Average

1.0

0.5

0.0

8

12

18

24

Time of Day

For example, the pattern from Table 4.3 can be extended to show how a typical model might determine multipliers after the time step had been changed from 1 hour to 15 minutes over the time period 0:00 to 1:00. As Table 4.4 shows, a pattern multiplier for an intermediate time increment in a continuous pattern can differ significantly from its stepwise pattern counterpart. Table 4.4 Interpolated stepwise and continuous pattern multipliers Time

Pattern Multiplier

Stepwise Multiplier

Continuous Multiplier

0:00

0.7

0.7

0.7

0:15

0.7

0.7

0.8

0:30

0.7

0.7

0.9

0:45

0.7

0.7

1.0

1:00

1.1

1.1

1.1

Pattern Start Time and Repetition. When defining and working with patterns, it is important to understand how the pattern start time is referenced. Does pattern hour 2 refer to 2:00 a.m., or does it refer to the second hour from the beginning of

162

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a simulation? If a model simulation begins at midnight, then there is no difference between military time and time step number. If the model is intended to start at some other time (such as 6:00 a.m., when many systems have refilled all their tanks), then the patterns may need to be adjusted, advancing or retarding them in time accordingly. Most modelers accept that demand patterns repeat every 24 hours with only negligible differences, and are willing to use the same pattern each day in such a way that hours 25 and 49 use the same demands as the first hour. For a factory with three shifts, a pattern may repeat every eight hours. Other patterns may not repeat at all. Each software package handles pattern repetition in its own way; thus, some research and experimentation may be required to produce the desired behavior for a particular application.

4.4

PROJECTING FUTURE DEMANDS

Water distribution models are created not only to solve the problems of today, but also to prevent problems in the future. With almost any endeavor, the future holds a lot of uncertainty, and demand projection is no exception. Long-range planning may include the analysis of a system for 5-, 10-, and 20-year time frames. When performing long-term planning analyses, estimating future demands is an important factor influencing the quality of information provided by the model.

Section 4.4

Projecting Future Demands

The uncertainty of this process puts the modeler in the difficult position of trying to predict the future. The complexity of such analyses, however, can be reduced to some extent with software that supports the creation and comparison of a series of possible alternative futures. Testing alternative future projections provides a way for the modeler to understand the sensitivity of decisions regarding demand projections. Scenario management tools in models help make this process easier. Even the most comprehensive scenario management, however, is just another tool that needs to be applied intelligently to obtain reasonable results.

Historical Trends Since the growth of cities and industries is hard to predict, it follows that it is also difficult to predict future water demands. Demand projections are only as accurate as the assumptions made and the methods used to extrapolate development. Some cities have relatively stagnant demands, but others experience volatile growth that challenges engineers designing water systems. How will the economy affect local industries? Will growth rates continue at their current rate, or will they level off? Will regulations requiring low-flow fixtures actually result in a drop in water usage? What will be the combined result of increased population and greater interest in water conservation? These questions are all difficult to answer, and no method exists that can answer them with absolute certainty. In general, the decision about which alternative future projection should be used is not so much a modeling decision as a utility-wide planning decision. The modeler alone should not try to predict the future, but rather facilitate the utility decision-makers’ process of coming to a consensus on likely future demands. Figure 4.13 illustrates some possible alternative futures given a historical demand pattern. In spite of its shortcomings, the most commonly used method for predicting demands is to examine historical demand trends and to extrapolate them into the future under the assumption that they will continue.

Spatial Allocation of Future Demands Planning departments and other groups may provide population projections for future years and associate these population estimates with census tracts, traffic analysis zones, planning districts, or other areas. The data must then be manipulated to determine the spatial allocation of nodal demands for the water model. This manipulation requires a good deal of judgment on the modeler’s part, reflecting the uncertainty of the process. Predictions concerning the future, by their nature, contain varying degrees of uncertainty. If the significant factors affecting community growth have been identified, the modeler can usually save time by making good judgments about how the current baseline demand allocation can be modified and reused for planning purposes. It is also important for the modeler to consider the future fire protection requirements. Because fire protection demands are often much larger than baseline demands, they are usually a major factor in future pipe-sizing decisions.

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Figure 4.13 Several methods for projecting future demands

5.0

4.5

Constant Percent Growth Growth to Buildout

Peak Day Demand, MGD

4.0

3.5

Linear Growth

3.0

Economic Downturn

2.5 Annual Demand Data 2.0

1.5 1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

2030

2040

Time, year

Disaggregated Projections Rather than basing projections on extrapolation of flow rate data, it is somewhat more rational to examine the causes of demand changes and then project that data into the future. This technique is called disaggregated projection. Instead of predicting demands, the user predicts such things as industrial production, number of hotel rooms, and cost of water, and then uses a forecasting model to predict demand. The simplest type of disaggregated demand projection involves projecting population and per capita demand separately. In this way, the modeler can, for example, separate the effects of population growth from the effects of a decrease in per capita consumption due to low-volume fixtures and other water conservation measures. These types of approaches attempt to account for many variables that influence future demands, including population projections, water pricing, land use, industrial growth, and the effects of water conservation (Vickers, 1991; and Macy, 1991). The IWRMain model (Opitz et al., 1998; Dziegielewski and Boland, 1989) is a sophisticated model that uses highly disaggregated projections to forecast demands. The most difficult factor to predict when performing a projection is drastic change in the economy of an area (for example, a military base closure or the construction of a factory). Using disaggregated projections, population projections can be modified

Section 4.5

Fire Protection Demands

more rationally than can flow projections when developing demand forecasts that reflect these types of events. Population Estimates. Planning commissions often have population studies and estimates that predict the future growth of a city or town. Though population estimates usually contain uncertainties, they can be used as a common starting point for any model requiring future estimates, such as water distribution models, sewer plans, and traffic models. Starting with current per capita usage rates or projections of per capita usage trends, future demands can be estimated by taking the product of the future population and the future per capita usage. In areas that are already densely populated, the growth may be only slightly positive, or even negative. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) publishes per capita water consumption rates for each state, but these values include nonmunicipal uses such as power generation and agriculture. A per capita consumption rate developed in this manner cannot be widely applied because there are large differences in water consumption among customers in different areas within a particular state. Land Use. Sometimes, water demands can be estimated based on land use designations such as single-family residential, high-density residential, commercial, light industrial, heavy industrial, and so on. Information regarding a representative water usage rate based on land use can then aid in planning for other areas that are in the same category. As with population estimates, using land use designation requires some level of prediction regarding future growth in every area from residential land use to industrial and commercial operations. For example, the loss or gain of a single large industry can have a tremendous effect on the overall consumption in the system.

4.5

FIRE PROTECTION DEMANDS

When a fire is in progress, fire protection demands can represent a huge fraction of the total demand for the system. The effects of fire demands are difficult to derive precisely since fires occur with random frequency in different areas, with each area having unique fire protection requirements. Generally, the amount of water needed to adequately fight a fire depends on the size of the burning structure, its construction materials, the combustibility of its contents, and the proximity of adjacent buildings. For some systems, fire protection is a lower priority than water quality or construction costs. To reduce costs in situations in which customers are very spread out, such as in rural areas, the network may not be designed to provide fire protection. Instead, the fire departments rely on water tanker trucks or other sources for water to combat fires (for example, ponds constructed specifically for that purpose). One of the primary benefits of providing water for fire protection is a reduction in the insurance rates of residents and businesses in the community. In the United States, community fire protection infrastructure (the fire-fighting capabilities of the fire department and the capacity of the water distribution network) is audited and rated by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) using the Fire Protection Rating System (ISO,

165

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1998). In Canada, the Insurers Advisory Organization (IAO) evaluates water supply systems using the Grading Schedule for Municipal Fire Protection (IAO, 1974). The ISO evaluation process is summarized in AWWA M-31 (1998). In Europe, no fire prevention standards exist that apply to all European countries; therefore, each country must develop or adopt its own fire flow requirements. For example, the flow rates that the UK Fire Services ideally require to fight fires are based on the national guidance document on the provision of water for fire fighting (Water UK and LGA, 1998). Similarly, the German standards (DVGW, 1978), the French standards (Circulaire, 1951, 1957, and 1967), the Russian standards (SNIP, 1985), and others, are based on fire risk categories that assign the level of risk according to the type of premises to be protected, fire-spread risk, installed fire proofing, or any combination of these factors. Because systems will be evaluated using ISO methods, engineers in the United States usually base design of fire protection systems on the ISO rating system, which includes determining fire flow demands according to the ISO approach. Although the actual water needed to fight a fire depends on the structure and the fire itself, the ISO method yields a Needed Fire Flow (NFF) that can be used for design and evaluation of the system. Different calculation methods are used for different building types, such as residential, commercial, or industrial. For one- and two-family residences, the needed fire flow is determined based on the distance between structures, as shown in Table 4.5. Table 4.5 Needed fire flow for residences two stories and less Distance Between Buildings (ft)

Fire Flow (gpm)

More than 100

500

31-100

750

11-30

1,000

Less than 11

1,500

For commercial and industrial structures, the needed fire flow is based on building area, construction class (that is, frame or masonry construction), occupancy (such as a department store or chemical manufacturing plant), exposure (distance to and type of nearest building), and communication (types and locations of doors and walls). The formula can be summarized as: NFF = 18FA

where

NFF F A O X P

= = = = = =

0.5

O(X + P )

needed fire flow (gpm) class of construction coefficient effective area (ft2) occupancy factor exposure factor communication factor

(4.12)

References

The procedure for determining NFF is documented in the Fire Protection Rating System (1998) and AWWA M-31 (1998). The minimum needed fire flow is not less than 500 gpm (32 l/s), and the maximum is no more than 12,000 gpm (757 l/s). Most frequently, the procedure produces values less than 3,500 gpm (221 l/s). Values are rounded to the nearest 250 gpm (16 l/s) for NFFs less than 2,500 gpm (158 l/s), and to the nearest 500 gpm (32 l/s) for values greater than 2,500 gpm (158 l/s). Values are also adjusted if a building is equipped with sprinklers. In addition to a flow rate requirement, a requirement exists for the duration over which the flow can be supplied. According to ISO (1998), fires requiring 3,500 gpm (221 l/s) or less are referred to as receiving “Public Fire Suppression,” and those requiring greater than 3,500 gpm (221 l/s) are classified as receiving “Individual Property Fire Suppression.” For fires requiring 2,500 gpm (158 l/s) or less, a two-hour duration is sufficient; for fires needing 3,000 to 3,500 gpm (190 to 221 l/s), a threehour duration is used; and for fires needing more than 3,500 gpm (221 l/s), a fourhour duration is used along with slightly different rules for evaluation. Methods for estimating sprinkler demands are based on the area covered and a flow density in gpm/ft2 as described in NFPA 13 (1999) for commercial and industrial structures, and in NFPA 13D (1999) for single- and two-family residential dwellings. For residences, the sprinklers shall provide at least 18 gpm (1.14 l/s) when one sprinkler operates and no less than 13 gpm (0.82 l/s) per sprinkler when more than one operates. For commercial and industrial buildings, the flow density can vary from 0.05 to 0.35 gpm/ft2 (2 to 14 l/min/m2), depending on the hazard class associated with the building and the floor area. Sprinkler design is covered in detail on page 401. NFPA 13 provides a chart for determining flow density based on whether occupancy is light, ordinary hazard, or extra hazard. A hose stream requirement exists as well for water used to supplement the sprinkler flows. These values range from 100 to 1000 gpm (6.3 to 63 l/s), depending on the hazard classification.

REFERENCES American Water Works Association (1989). “Distribution Network Analysis for Water Utilities.” AWWA Manual M-32, Denver, Colorado. American Water Works Association (1998). “Distribution System Requirements for Fire Protection.” AWWA Manual M-31, Denver, Colorado. Basford, C., and Sevier, C. (1995). “Automating the Maintenance of Hydraulic Network Model Demand Database Utilizing GIS and Customer Billing Records.” Proceedings of the AWWA Computer Conference, American Water Works Association, Norfolk, Virginia. Bowen, P. T., Harp, J., Baxter, J., and Shull, R. (1993). Residential Water Use Patterns. AWWARF, Denver, Colorado. Brainard, B. (1994). “Using Electronic Rate of Flow Recorders.” Proceedings of the AWWA Distribution System Symposium, American Water Works Association, Omaha, Nebraska. Buchberger, S. G., and Wu, L. (1995). “A Model for Instantaneous Residential Water Demands.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 121(3), 232. Buchberger, S. G., and Wells, G. J. (1996). “Intensity, Duration, and Frequency of Residential Water Demands.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 122(1), 11.

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Buyens, D. J., Bizier, P. A., and Combee, C. W. (1996). “Using a Geographical Information System to Determine Water Distribution Model Demands.” Proceedings of the AWWA Annual Conference, American Water Works Association, Toronto, Canada. Cesario, A. L., and Lee T. K. (1980). “A Computer Method for Loading Model Networks.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 72(4), 208. Cesario, A. L. (1995). Modeling, Analysis, and Design of Water Distribution Systems. American Water Works Association, Denver, Colorado. Circulaire des Ministreres de l’Intériur et de l’Agriculture du Février (1957). Protection contre l’incendie dans les communes rurales. Paris, France. Circulaire du Ministrere de l’Agriculture du Auout (1967). Réserve d’eau potable. Protection contre l’incendie dans les communes rurales. Paris, France. Circulaire Interministérielle du Décembre (1951). Alimentation des communes en eau potable - Lutte contre l’incendie. Paris, France. Coote, P. A., and Johnson, T. J. (1995). “Hydraulic Model for the Mid-Size Utility.” Proceedings of the AWWA Computer Conference, American Water Works Association, Norfolk, Virginia. Davis, A. L., and Brawn, R. C. (2000). “General Purpose Demand Allocator (DALLOC).” Proceedings of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute Conference, American Society of Civil Engineers, Minneapolis, Minnesota. DeOreo, W. B., Heaney, J. P., and Mayer, P. W. (1996). “Flow Trace Analysis to Assess Water Use.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 88(1), 79. DVGW. (1978). “DVGW W405 Bereitstellung von Löschwasser durch die Öffentliche Trinkwasserversorgung.” Deutscher Verein des Gas — und Wasserfaches, Franfurt, Germany. Dziegielewski, B., and Boland J. J. (1989). “Forecasting Urban Water Use: the IWR-MAIN Model.” Water Resource Bulletin, 25(1), 101 – 119. Dziegielewski, B., Opitz, E. M., and Maidment, D. (1996). “Water Demand Analysis.” Water Resources Handbook, Mays, L. W., ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Insurance Advisory Organization (IAO) (1974). Grading Schedule for Municipal Fire Protection. Toronto, Canada. Insurance Services Office (ISO) (1998). Fire Suppression Rating Schedule. New York, New York. Macy, P. P. (1991). “Integrating Construction and Water Master Planning.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 83(10), 44 – 47. Male, J. W., and Walski, T. M. (1990). Water Distribution: A Troubleshooting Manual. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, Florida. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. (1979). Water Resources and Environmental Engineering. 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (1999). “Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes.” NFPA 13D, Quincy, Massachusetts. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (1999). “Standard for Installation of Sprinkler Systems.” NFPA 13, Quincy, Massachusetts. Office of Water Services (Ofwat) (1998). 1997-98 Report on Leakage and Water Efficiency. http:// www.open.gov.uk/ofwat/leak97.pdf, United Kingdom. Opitz, E. M., et al. (1998). “Forecasting Urban Water Use: Models and Application.” Urban Water Demand Management and Planning, Baumann D., Boland, J. and Hanemann, W. H., eds., McGraw Hill. New York, New York, 350. Rhoades, S. D. (1995). “Hourly Monitoring of Single-Family Residential Areas.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 87(8), 43.

References

SNIP (1985). Water Supply Standards (in Russian). 2.04.02-84, Moscow, Russia. Stern, C. T. (1995). “The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Hydraulic Modeling Project.” Proceedings of the AWWA Computer Conference, American Water Works Association, Norfolk, Virginia. Vickers, A. L. (1991). “The Emerging Demand Side Era in Water Conservation.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 83(10), 38. Walski, T. M. (1999). “Peaking Factors for Systems with Leakage.” Essential Hydraulics and Hydrology, Haestad Press, Waterbury, Connecticut. Walski, T. M., Lowry, S. G., and Rhee, H. (2000). “Pitfalls in Calibrating an EPS Model.” Proceedings of the Environmental and Water Resource Institute Conference, American Society of Civil Engineers, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Water Research Centre (WRc) (1985). District Metering, Part I - System Design and Installation. Report ER180E, United Kingdom. Water UK and Local Government Association (1998). National Guidance Document on the Provision of Water for Fire Fighting. London, United Kingdom. Ysuni, M. A. (2000). “System Design: An Overview.” Water Distribution Systems Handbook, Mays, L. W., ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, New York.

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DISCUSSION TOPICS AND PROBLEMS Read the chapter and complete the problems. Submit your work to Haestad Methods and earn up to 11.0 CEUs. See Continuing Education Units on page xxix for more information, or visit www.haestad.com/awdm-ceus/.

4.1 Develop a steady-state model of the water distribution system shown in the figure. Data describing the system and average daily demands are provided in the tables that follow.

P -2

R-1

J -1

J -2

P -3

P -4

P -1

P -5

P -7

P -6

J -4

P -9

J -3

P -8

J -5

Discussion Topics and Problems

Pipe Label

Length (ft)

Diameter (in.)

HazenWilliams C-factor

Minor Loss Coefficient

P-1

500

12

120

10

P-2

2,600

10

120

P-3

860

8

120

P-4

840

8

120

5

P-5

710

6

120

P-6

1,110

4

120

P-7

1,110

4

120

P-8

710

6

120

P-9

1,700

6

120

Node Label

Elevation (ft)

Demand (gpm)

R-1

750

N/A

J-1

550

250

J-2

520

75

J-3

580

125

J-4

590

50

J-5

595

a) Fill in the tables below with the pipe and junction node results. Pipe Label

Flow (gpm)

Hydraulic Gradient (ft/1000 ft)

P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 P-6 P-7 P-8 P-9

Node Label J-1 J-2 J-3 J-4 J-5

Hydraulic Grade (ft)

Pressure (psi)

171

172

Water Consumption

Chapter 4

b) Complete the tables below assuming that all demands are increased to 225 percent of averageday demands.

Pipe Label

Flow (gpm)

Hydraulic Gradient (ft/1000 ft)

P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 P-6 P-7 P-8 P-9

Node Label

Hydraulic Grade (ft)

Pressure (psi)

J-1 J-2 J-3 J-4 J-5 c) Complete the tables below assuming that, in addition to average-day demands, there is a fire flow demand of 1,850 gpm added at node J-3. Pipe Label

Flow (gpm)

Hydraulic Gradient (ft/1000 ft)

P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 P-6 P-7 P-8 P-9

Node Label J-1 J-2 J-3 J-4 J-5

Hydraulic Grade (ft)

Pressure (psi)

Discussion Topics and Problems

4.2 English Units: Perform a 24-hour extended-period simulation with a one-hour time step for the system shown in the figure. Data necessary to conduct the simulation are provided in the tables that follow. Alternatively, the pipe and junction node data has already been entered into Prob4-02.wcd. Use a stepwise format for the diurnal demand pattern. Answer the questions presented at the end of this problem.

J-9

Crystal Lake

P -16

P -14

Suction Discharge

J-1

J-8 P -12

P -1

J-7 P -13

P -11

West Carrolton Tank P -10

J-2

J-3 P -2

P -4

J-6 P -8

P -9

P -3 Miamisburg Tank

J-10

P -15

J-4

P -5

J-5

P -6

P -7 (Not To Scale)

Pipe Label

Length (ft)

Diameter (in.)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

Suction

25

24

120

Discharge

220

21

120

P-1

1,250

6

110

P-2

835

6

110

P-3

550

8

130

P-4

1,010

6

110

P-5

425

8

130

P-6

990

8

125

P-7

2,100

8

105

P-8

560

6

110

P-9

745

8

100

P-10

1,100

10

115

P-11

1,330

8

110

P-12

890

10

115

P-13

825

10

115

P-14

450

6

120

P-15

690

6

120

P-16

500

6

120

173

174

Water Consumption

Chapter 4

Node Label

Elevation (ft)

Demand (gpm)

Crystal Lake

320

N/A

J-1

390

120

J-2

420

75

J-3

425

35

J-4

430

50

J-5

450

J-6

445

155

J-7

420

65

J-8

415

J-9

420

55

J-10

420

20

Pump Curve Data Head (ft)

Flow (gpm)

Shutoff

245

Design

230

1,100

Max Operating

210

1,600

Elevated Tank Information Miamisburg Tank

West Carrolton Tank

Base Elevation (ft)

Minimum Elevation (ft)

535

525

Initial Elevation (ft)

550

545

Maximum Elevation (ft)

570

565

Tank Diameter (ft)

49.3

35.7

Diurnal Demand Pattern Time of Day

Multiplication Factor

Midnight

1.00

6:00 am

0.75

Noon

1.00

6:00 pm

1.20

Midnight

1.00

a) Produce a plot of the HGL in the Miamisburg and West Carrolton tanks as a function of time. b) Produce a plot of the pressures at node J-3 versus time.

Discussion Topics and Problems

SI Units: Perform a 24-hour extended-period simulation with a one-hour time step for the system shown in the figure. Data necessary to conduct the simulation are provided in the tables below. Alternatively, the pipe and junction node data has already been entered into Prob4-02m.wcd. Use a stepwise format for the diurnal demand pattern. Answer the questions presented at the end of this problem. Pipe Label

Length (m)

Diameter (mm)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

Suction

7.6

610

120

Discharge

67.1

533

120

P-1

381.0

152

110

P-2

254.5

152

110

P-3

167.6

203

130

P-4

307.8

152

110

P-5

129.5

203

130

P-6

301.8

203

125

P-7

640.1

203

105

P-8

170.7

152

110

P-9

227.1

203

100

P-10

335.3

254

115

P-11

405.4

203

110

P-12

271.3

254

115

P-13

251.5

254

115

P-14

137.2

152

120

P-15

210.3

152

120

P-16

152.4

152

120

Node Label

Elevation (m)

Demand (l/s)

Crystal Lake

97.5

N/A

J-1

118.9

7.6

J-2

128.0

4.7

J-3

129.5

2.2

J-4

131.1

3.2

J-5

137.2

J-6

135.6

9.8

J-7

128.0

4.1

J-8

126.5

J-9

128.0

3.5

J-10

128.0

1.3

Head (m)

Flow (l/s)

Shutoff

74.6

Design

70.1

69

Max Operating

64.0

101

Pump Curve Data

175

176

Water Consumption

Chapter 4

Elevated Tank Information Miamisburg Tank

West Carrolton Tank

Base Elevation (m)

Minimum Elevation (m)

163.1

160.0

Initial Elevation (m)

167.6

166.1

Maximum Elevation (m)

173.7

172.2

Tank Diameter (m)

15.0

10.9

Diurnal Demand Pattern Time of Day

Multiplication Factor

Midnight

1.00

6:00 a.m.

0.75

Noon

1.00

6:00 p.m.

1.20

Midnight

1.00

a) Produce a plot of the HGL in the Miamisburg and West Carrolton tanks as a function of time. b) Produce a plot of the pressures at node J-3 versus time.

4.3 Develop a steady-state model for the system shown in the figure and answer the questions that follow. Data necessary to conduct the simulation are provided in the following tables. Alternatively, the pipe and junction node data has already been entered into Prob4-03.wcd. Note that there are no minor losses in this system. The PRV setting is 74 psi.

Lower Pressure Zone J-9 P-16

J-10

Newtown Res. J-8

P-15

P-1 P-17

P-19

J-11 P-18

J-3 P-5

PRV-1

P-14

P-4

J-2

P-2

PMP-1

P-3 J-1

P-6

J-4

Pressure Zone Boundary

J-5

P-10

High Field Res.

J-7 P-20

P-7

PMP-2

Central Tank P-13

P-11

P-9

P-12 P-8

J-6

Higher Pressure Zone

Discussion Topics and Problems

Pipe Label

Length (ft)

Diameter (in.)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

P-1

120

24

120

P-2

435

16

120

P-3

2,300

12

120

P-4

600

10

110

P-5

550

10

110

P-6

1,250

12

110

P-7

850

12

110

P-8

4,250

12

120

P-9

2,100

12

120

P-10

50

24

105

P-11

250

16

105

P-12

1,650

10

115

P-13

835

8

110

P-14

800

8

100

P-15

1,300

6

95

P-16

1,230

6

95

P-17

750

6

95

P-18

1,225

8

95

P-19

725

6

100

P-20

155

4

75

Node Label

Elevation (ft)

Demand (gpm)

High Field Reservoir

1,230

N/A

Newtown Reservoir

1,050

N/A

Central Tank

1,525

N/A

J-1

1,230

J-2

1,275

J-3

1,235

120

J-4

1,250

35

J-5

1,300

55

J-6

1,250

325

J-7

1,260

J-8

1,220

100

J-9

1,210

25

J-10

1,210

30

J-11

1,220

45

PRV-1

1,180

N/A

PMP-1

1,045

N/A

PMP-2

1,225

N/A

177

178

Water Consumption

Chapter 4

Pump Curve Data PMP-1

PMP-2

Head (ft)

Flow (gpm)

Head (ft)

Flow (gpm)

Shutoff

550

320

Design

525

750

305

1,250

Max Operating

480

1,650

275

2,600

a) Fill in the tables for pipe and junction node results. Pipe Label

Flow (gpm)

Hydraulic Gradient (ft/1000 ft)

P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 P-6 P-7 P-8 P-9 P-10 P-11 P-12 P-13 P-14 P-15 P-16 P-17 P-18 P-19 P-20

Node Label J-1 J-2 J-3 J-4 J-5 J-6 J-7 J-8 J-9 J-10 J-11

Hydraulic Grade (ft)

Pressure (psi)

Discussion Topics and Problems

Analyze the following demand conditions for this system by using the average-day demands as your base demands. b) Increase all demands to 150 percent of average-day demands. What are the pressures at nodes J-2 and J-10? c) Add a fire flow demand of 1,200 gpm to node J-4. What is the discharge from the Newtown pump station? What is the pressure at node J-4? d) Replace the demand of 120 gpm at node J-3 with a demand of 225 gpm. How does the pressure at node J-3 change between the two demand cases? e) Replace the existing demands at nodes J-3, J-9, J-10, and J-11 with 200 gpm, 50 gpm, 90 gpm, and 75 gpm, respectively. Is Central Tank filling or draining? How does the tank condition compare with the original simulation before demands were changed?

4.4 Perform an extended-period simulation on the system from part (a) of Problem 4.3. However, first add a PRV to pipe P-6 and close pipe P-14. Note that pipe P-6 must split into two pipes when the PRV is inserted. Specify the elevation of the PRV as 1,180 ft and the setting as 74 psi. The simulation duration is 24 hours and starts at midnight. The hydraulic time step is 1 hour. The capacity and geometry of the elevated storage tank and the diurnal demand pattern are provided below. Assume that the diurnal demand pattern applies to each junction node and that the demand pattern follows a continuous format. Assume that the High Field pump station does not operate. Central Tank Information Base Elevation (ft)

1,260

Minimum Elevation (ft)

1,505

Initial Elevation (ft)

1,525

Maximum Elevation (ft)

1,545

Tank Diameter (ft)

46.1

Diurnal Demand Pattern Time of Day

Multiplication Factor

Midnight

0.60

3:00 a.m.

0.75

6:00 a.m.

1.20

9:00 a.m.

1.10

Noon

1.15

3:00 p.m.

1.20

6:00 p.m.

1.33

9:00 p.m.

0.80

Midnight

0.60

a) Produce a plot of HGL versus time for Central Tank. b) Produce a plot of the discharge from the Newtown pump station versus time. c) Produce a plot of the pressure at node J-3 versus time. d) Does Central Tank fill completely? If so, at what time does the tank completely fill? What happens to a tank when it becomes completely full or completely empty?

179

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e) Why does the discharge from the Newtown pump station increase between midnight and 6:00 a.m.? Why does the discharge from the pump station decrease, particularly after 3:00 p.m.? f) Does the pressure at node J-3 vary significantly over time?

4.5 Given a pressure zone with one pump station pumping into it and a smaller one pumping out of it, and a single 40-ft diameter cylindrical tank, develop a diurnal demand pattern. The pumping rates and tank water levels are given in the table below. The pumping rates are the average rates during the hour, and the tank levels are the values at the beginning of the hour. What is the average use in this pressure zone? What is the average flow to the higher pressure zone?

Hour

Pump In (gpm)

Pump Out (gpm)

Tank Level (ft)

650

35.2

1

645

210

38.5

2

645

255

40.4

3

652

255

42.1

4

310

255

43.5

5

255

42.8

6

255

39.6

7

36.0

8

33.4

9

225

30.3

10

650

28.9

11

650

30.5

12

650

32.1

13

650

33.8

14

650

45

35.8

15

645

265

37.5

16

645

260

37.5

17

645

260

37.2

18

645

260

36.5

19

645

260

36.4

20

645

255

36.7

21

645

150

37.2

22

115

38.7

23

38.3

24

37.1

C H A P T E R

5 Testing Water Distribution Systems

Verifying that a water distribution model replicates field conditions requires an intimate knowledge of how the system performs over a wide range of operating conditions. For example, can the model reproduce the flow patterns and pressures that occur during periods of peak summertime usage, or can the model accurately simulate chlorine decay? Collecting water distribution system data in the field provides valuable insight into system performance and is an essential part of calibration. Data collection, the first step in the model calibration process, is discussed in depth within this chapter. The chapter begins with a brief discussion of system testing, including descriptions of some simple tests for measuring flow and pressure, as well as some of the pitfalls that may be encountered. The details of performing fire hydrant flow tests, head loss tests, pump performance tests, and water quality tests are discussed as well. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the importance of data quality, particularly when automated calibration methods are used.

5.1

TESTING FUNDAMENTALS

Pressure Measurement Pressures are measured throughout the water distribution system to monitor the level of service and to collect data for use in model calibration. Pressure readings are commonly taken at fire hydrants (see Figure 5.1) but can also be read at hose bibs (also called spigots); home faucets; pump stations (both suction and discharge sides); tanks; reservoirs; and blow-off, air release, and other types of valves. If the measurements are taken at a location other than a direct connection to a water main (for example, at a house hose bib), the head loss between the supply main and the site where pressure is measured must be considered. Of course, the best solution is to have no flow (and hence no head loss) between the main and the gage. To check if flow into the building is occurring, listen at the hose bib for the sound of rushing water.

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Figure 5.1 Pressure gages on a fire hydrant

When measuring pressure, slight fluctuations may be seen on the gage due to changing flows in the system. Devices such as pressure snubbers and liquid-filled pressure gages can be used to dampen the pressure fluctuations, unless the fluctuations themselves are a source of interest. Pressure gages are most accurate when measuring pressures within 50 to 75 percent of the maximum value on the scale. Using several pressure gages of varying pressure ranges is advisable when working with a water distribution system. A pressure gage with a range of 0 to 100 psi (690 kPa) is commonly used; however, a pressure gage that can read up to 200 psi (1,380 kPa) may be necessary for measurements taken at a pump discharge or at a low elevation. If pressure measurements are taken on the suction side of a pump, then a pressure gage capable of reading negative pressures, called a pressure-vacuum gage, may be required. Remember that it is the elevation of the gage, not the elevation of the node, that is used in calculating the elevation of the HGL (see page 252).

Flow Measurement Flow is measured at key locations throughout a system to provide insight into flow patterns and system performance, develop consumption data, and determine flow rates for calibration. Many of the tests described in this chapter require measuring flow in pipes. A variety of flow meters are available for this purpose, including Venturi meters, magnetic flowmeters, and ultrasonic meters. Pressure and flow metering and recording equipment should be calibrated regularly and undergo routine performance checks to ensure that it is in good working order. Furthermore, even if a flow meter is accurate and calibrated, the monitoring station may use an analog gage or dial readout that has a coarse level of precision, which limits the overall precision.

Section 5.1

Testing Fundamentals

The extent of flow measurement employed varies from system to system. Usually, flow is measured continuously at only a few key locations in the distribution system such as treatment plants and pump stations. Data from these sites should be used to the greatest extent possible in system calibration. Flow from higher to lower pressure zones can also be measured at pressure zone boundaries using combination pressure reducing valve/flow meters (Walski, Gangemi, Kaufman, and Malos, 2001). More rarely, systems employ in-line flow meters at key points throughout the network and transmit the flow rates back to a control center using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and telemetry (See Chapter 6). This type of comprehensive flow monitoring is not typically done in the United States; however, more utility managers and operators are starting to see the value of in-line flow information. Temporary flow metering may be a cost-effective option to check pump discharges or to see if in-line flow measurements are required throughout the system. Field measurement using a Pitot rod is shown in Figure 5.2. The rod is inserted into the pipe to measure total head and pressure head, which can then be converted into velocity (Walski, 1984a). The Pitot rod should not be confused with the Pitot gage, which measures velocity head only. Clamp-on or insertion electromagnetic or ultrasonic meters may also be used. Placement of the flow-measuring device is important. To be sure that disturbances caused by any bends or obstructions do not influence the readings, the device should be placed far enough downstream of the disturbance (usually at a distance of approximately 10 times the pipe diameter) that the effects will have completely dissipated. In certain cases it may be desirable to isolate one end of the pipe such that all of the flow through the pipe is diverted through a hydrant for measurement. The hydrant flow can then be measured with a hydrant Pitot gage as described in Section 5.2. Net flow in and out of a tank during a time period can be measured by monitoring water level in the tank and then calculating the flow based on cross-sectional area in the tank.

183

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Figure 5.2 Tip of Pitot rod inserted into clear pipe

Potential Pitfalls in System Measurements Flow measurement tests can be beneficial, but there are potential drawbacks to keep in mind. Testing may result in disruption of service to some customers. For example, fire flow tests typically cause lower than normal pressures and higher than normal velocities, particularly in residential areas. Higher velocities can entrain sediments in pipes or shear against tuberculation on pipe walls, causing customers to experience discolored water. Customers may, either by accident or necessity, be disconnected from the system when valves are operated to facilitate flow tests. As described in the following sections, head loss tests require the operation of system valves to isolate sections of water main. Valve operation needs to be carefully planned when conducting such tests to avoid inadvertently disconnecting customers from the system. To avoid surprises, customers should be notified prior to the tests.

5.2

FIRE HYDRANT FLOW TESTS

Obtaining data for a wide range of operating conditions, including peak (high) demand periods, would be difficult without fire hydrant flow tests. These tests can be used to simulate high flow conditions (see page 218) and allow the system behavior to be analyzed under extreme conditions. Fire hydrant flow tests are primarily used to measure the fire flow capacity of the system. They also provide data on pressures within the system under static conditions (no hydrants flowing) and stressed conditions (high flows occurring at the hydrants) and can be used in conjunction with the hydraulic model to calibrate parameters such as pipe roughness (Walski, 1988). Procedures for conducting fire hydrant flow tests are described in AWWA (1989) and ISO (1963).

Section 5.2

Fire Hydrant Flow Tests

Two or more hydrants are required to perform a fire hydrant flow test, as illustrated in Figure 5.3. One hydrant is identified as the residual hydrant(s), where all pressure measurements are taken, and the other is identified as the flowed hydrant(s), where all flow measurements are taken. When the flowed hydrant(s) is closed, referred to as static conditions, the pressure at the residual hydrant is called the static pressure. When one or more of the flowed hydrants are open, referred to as flowed conditions, the pressure at the residual hydrant is called the residual pressure. Figure 5.3 Residual Hydrant

Q1

//=//=

Pressure Gage

Hydrant flow test

Flowed Hydrants

Q2

//=//=

Q3

//=//=

Conducting a fire hydrant flow test is a simple procedure, and a number of these tests can be conducted throughout the system in a day’s time. Although not essential, many utilities have a policy requiring that the residual hydrant be opened and allowed to flow prior to connecting the pressure gage. This precaution helps remove any particles that have accumulated in the hydrant lateral and barrel since it was last exercised. After that, a pressure gage is connected to the residual hydrant and a static pressure reading taken. Next, the first of the flowed hydrants is opened and flowed. Once the readings stabilize, a reading is taken at the flowed hydrant using a hand-held or clamp-on Pitot gage (shown in Figure 5.4) or a Pitot diffuser (shown in Figure 5.5). Meanwhile, another pressure reading is taken at the residual hydrant. Once the residual pressure is taken and the discharge rate of the flowed hydrant is recorded, the same procedure can be repeated for additional hydrants if needed. The number of hydrants that should be flowed during a test is determined by the pressure drop observed at the residual hydrant. Usually, a drop of at least 10 psi (70 kPa) is needed to give good results. In a 6- to 8-in. pipe (150 to 200 mm), flowing a single hydrant is sufficient. For larger pipes, more hydrants may need to be flowed.

Pitot Gages and Diffusers Because a Pitot gage (shown in Figure 5.4) converts virtually all of the velocity head associated with the flow stream to pressure head, the Pitot gage pressure reading can be converted to a hydrant discharge rate using the orifice relationship in Equation 5.1. Q = Cf Cd D

2

P

(5.1)

185

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Figure 5.4 Hand-held Pitot gage

where

Q Cd D P Cf

= = = = =

hydrant discharge (gpm, l/s) discharge coefficient outlet diameter (in., cm) pressure reading from Pitot gage (psi, kPa) unit conversion factor (29.8 English, 0.111 SI)

For a typical 2.5-in. (64 mm) outlet with a discharge coefficient of 0.9, Equation 5.1 can be reduced to: Q = 167 P

The discharge coefficient in Equation 5.1 accounts for the decrease in the diameter of flow that occurs between the hydrant opening and the end of the Pitot gage, as well as the head losses through the opening. The coefficient depends on the geometry of the inside of the hydrant opening and can be determined by feeling the inside of the hydrant nozzle (see Figure 5.6). The Pitot diffuser is similar to a Pitot gage except that it incorporates a nozzle that redirects the flow from the hydrant, reducing its momentum and thus the potential for erosion. Because the velocity head sensor is measuring inside the diffuser at a point where the pressure is not equal to zero, a slightly modified formula is required to compute flow. This formula varies with the manufacturer of the diffuser (Walski and Lutes, 1990; and Morin and Rajaratnam, 2000). For example, for the Pitot diffuser shown in Figure 5.5, the coefficient of 167 given previously reduces to 140.

Section 5.2

Fire Hydrant Flow Tests

187

Figure 5.5 Pitot diffuser

Figure 5.6 Discharge coefficients at hydrant openings

Rounded Cd = 0.9

Square and Sharp Cd = 0.8

Projecting Cd = 0.7

To briefly review, the procedure for conducting a fire hydrant flow test is as follows: 1. Place a pressure gage on the residual hydrant and record static pressure. 2. Take the 2 ½-in. (64 mm) cap off of the flowed hydrant. 3. Feel the inside of the hydrant opening to determine its geometry. 4. Slowly start the flow. 5. Once readings stabilize, take a Pitot gage reading at the flowed hydrant(s). 6. Simultaneously measure the residual pressure(s) at the residual hydrant(s). 7. Slowly close the hydrants.

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8. Assign the discharge coefficient according to the geometry of the hydrant opening. 9. Determine the hydrant discharge rate by using Equation 5.1 or the equation provided by the Pitot diffuser manufacturer. Once all of the data have been collected, a table similar to Table 5.1 can be constructed to present the results of the fire hydrant flow test. Table 5.1 Results of fire hydrant flow test Number of Hydrants Flowing

Residual Pressure (psi)

Hydrant #1 Discharge (gpm)

Hydrant #2 Discharge (gpm)

Hydrant #3 Discharge (gpm)

Total Discharge (gpm)

78

N/A

N/A

N/A

1

72

1,360

N/A

N/A

1360

2

64

1,150

975

N/A

2125

3

49

850

745

600

2195

When sufficient resources are available, additional residual pressure measurements can be taken during the fire hydrant flow test at various locations throughout the system. Taking these additional pressure readings will provide more information on how the hydraulic grade changes across the system. Depending on the nature of the water distribution system, the pressure drop may be localized to the vicinity of the flowed hydrants. If the hydrant flow test is conducted to provide data for model calibration, it is extremely important to note the boundary conditions at the time of the test. Recall that boundary conditions reflect the water levels in tanks and reservoirs, as well as the operational status of any high-service pumps, booster pumps, or control valves (for example, pressure reducing valves) for both static and flowed conditions. As will be discussed in Chapter 7 (see page 261), these boundary conditions must also be defined in the hydraulic model. In addition, system demands in place at the time of the test need to be replicated in the model. It is important to note the time of day and the weather conditions when the test was performed to assist in establishing the demands and boundary conditions.

Potential Problems with Fire Flow Tests Fire hydrant flow tests are a useful tool. They do, however, present some areas of concern. Because the discharges from fire hydrants can be quite large, the following suggestions can reduce potential problems associated with these flows. 1. Minimize the period of time over which hydrants are flowed to limit flooding potential. (In some locations it may be necessary to dechlorinate water before it can be discharged into receiving waters.) 2. Direct the flow through the 2 ½-in. (64 mm) nozzle opening instead of the 4 ½-in. (115 mm) opening. This will help to reduce street flooding while still producing flow velocities sufficient for calibration.

Section 5.2

Fire Hydrant Flow Tests

Evaluating Distribution Capacity with Hydrant Tests The results of hydrant flow tests described in this chapter are used primarily to evaluate the distribution system’s capacity to provide water for fighting fires. The standard formula for converting the test flow to the distribution capacity at some desired residual pressure—usually 20 psi (135 kPa)—was developed by the Insurance Services Office (1963), and is given in AWWA M-17 (1989) as:

P s – P r 0.54 Q r = Q t  ----------------- Ps – Pt where Qr = fire flow at residual pressure Pr (gpm, l/s) Qt = hydrant discharge during test (gpm, l/s) Ps = static pressure (psi, kPa) Pr = desired residual pressure (psi, kPa) Pt = residual pressure during test (psi, kPa)

The value of Qr is referred to as the distribution main capacity in that location, and is used in evaluation of water systems for insurance purposes. Assumptions made when using the above equation are as follows: 1. Head loss is negligible during static conditions. 2. Demands correspond to maximum day demands.

3. All pumps and regulating valves that would open during an actual fire are open and operating during the test. 4. There is sufficient water quantity to supply the fire throughout the duration of the fire event. 5. Tank level is at normal day low level. 6. The residual and flowed hydrants are close to one another (Walski, 1984b). Water system models can explicitly account for these factors and are a more accurate and flexible way of assessing available fire flow at a given residual pressure. However, this equation is still widely used. The previous equation can also be rearranged to provide a rough estimate of residual pressure for some future flow, given hydrant flow test results, according to

Qr P r = P s – ( P s – P t )  ------ Qt

1.85

In this case, Qr is the estimated flow, and Pr is the pressure that will exist at that flow rate, given that all other conditions remain the same.

3. Use hydrant diffusors to reduce the high velocity of the hydrant stream. This will help to avoid erosion problems and damage to vegetation. 4. Conduct fire hydrant flow tests during warm weather to avoid ice problems. 5. Notify customers who may be impacted by the test beforehand. In some systems, hydrant flow tests can stir up sediments and rust, causing temporary water quality problems. 6. Make sure to open and close the hydrants gradually, as sudden changes in flow can induce dangerous pressure surges in the system. 7. Make sure that the residual and flowed hydrants are hydraulically close to one another. It is possible to have two hydrants that are near each other at the street but are fed by different mains that may not be hydraulically connected for several blocks. Ideally, the flowed and residual hydrants would be located side-by-side on the same pipeline, but because this will almost never be the case, accuracy can instead be improved by minimizing the flow between the hydrants. (The flow can often be reduced by bracketing the residual hydrant between two flowed hydrants.)

189

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Using Fire Flow Tests for Calibration In addition to measuring the fire protection capacity of the network, fire hydrant flow tests can provide valuable data for hydraulic model calibration. To use the results of a test, a demand equivalent to the hydrant discharge should be assigned to the junction node in the model that corresponds to the flowed hydrant. When the hydraulic simulation is conducted, the HGL at the junction node representing the residual hydrant should agree with the HGL measured in the field. Note that comparisons between field measurements and model results should be done in terms of HGL, not pressure (see page 252). Although this section refers to pressure comparisons, remember that in practice, the field pressures should be converted to the equivalent HGL before comparing them to the model results. Consider the system shown in Figure 5.7 and the results of the fire hydrant flow test presented in Table 5.1. The top half of the figure illustrates the model representation of a series of hydrants where nodes J-23, J-24, and J-25 correspond to Hydrants 1, 2, and 3 respectively; and J-22 corresponds to the residual hydrant. The hydrant flow test results outlined in Table 5.1 can be described in four unique scenarios: • Static conditions where none of the hydrants are flowing • Hydrant 1 is flowing • Hydrants 1 and 2 are flowing simultaneously • Hydrants 1, 2, and 3 are flowing simultaneously Figure 5.7 Field measured flows are modeled as demands in a network simulation

Q1

J-22

Residual Hydrant

Hydrant 1 Q1

//=//=

Pressure Gage

J-25

J-24

J-23

//=//=

Q3

Q2

Hydrant 3

Hydrant 2 Q2

Q3

//=//=

The scenario in which only Hydrant 1 is flowing results in a discharge of 1,360 gpm (0.086 m3/s) and a residual pressure of 72 psi (497 kPa). Therefore, a demand of 1,360 gpm will be placed at model node J-23, and when the hydraulic simulation is conducted, the pressure computed at node J-22 will be compared to the residual pressure of 72 psi measured in the field. If the pressure at J-22 is close to that figure, the model will be nearly calibrated (at least for this one condition). On the other hand, if the pressure at J-22 is not close to the measured pressure, adjustments need to be made to the model to bring it into better agreement. Identifying the actual adjustments that need to be made depends on the cause of the discrepancy.

Section 5.3

Head Loss Tests

191

Chapter 7 has more information regarding reasons why differences might occur as well as details on modeling the results of flow tests. The procedure described previously is repeated for each of the flowed conditions, and the parameters are changed as necessary to obtain a suitable match between observed and computed pressures. It is critical that the modeling nodes used to represent the hydrants are placed in exactly the same location as the hydrants in the field. Accurate placement is particularly important for calibration purposes, as illustrated in the following example. In Figure 5.8a, the pressure measurements are taken at the residual hydrant, and the model representation of the hydrant is at J-35 (Figure 5.8b), a few hundred feet away. The modeler may have justified this simplification by reasoning that the locations of the residual hydrant and node J-35 are relatively close together, and that the pressures should be similar because the elevations are approximately the same. During calibration, the modeler then (mistakenly) compares the field-measured pressure at the residual hydrant to the modeled pressure at J-35 and adjusts the model to achieve an acceptable match. Figure 5.8 Residual Hydrant

Importance of node location

J-35 Q

Q

6" Water Main 8" Water Main

(a)

(b)

What the modeler has failed to consider in this situation is the head loss between the two points (J-35 and the actual hydrant location) during the fire hydrant flow test. If the head loss is significant, the computed pressure at node J-35 would be higher than the computed pressure at the residual hydrant. By trying to match pressures at different locations, the modeler could introduce inaccuracies into the model. The subject of model calibration and the use of fire hydrant flow tests for that purpose are treated in greater detail in Chapter 7.

5.3

HEAD LOSS TESTS

The purpose of a head loss test is to directly measure the head loss and discharge through a length of pipe—information that can then be used to compute the pipe roughness. Head loss tests can be performed using either the two-gage or the parallelpipe method. The two-gage method uses pressure readings from two standard pressure gages to determine the head loss over the pipe length, and the parallel-pipe method uses a single pressure differential gage to find the head loss.

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The length of water main being tested is typically located between two fire hydrants. During a head loss test, valves are closed downstream of the length of test pipe to hydraulically isolate the test section. Thus, all flow through the section is directed to the downstream fire hydrant for measurement. Assuming that the internal pipe diameter is known, head loss, pipe length, and flow rate are then measured between the two points and used to compute the internal pipe roughness using the expressions for the Hazen-Williams C-factor and the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor (Equations 5.2 and 5.3). 1.852 1 ⁄ 1.852

 C f LQ  - C =  ----------------------4.87  hL D 

where

C L Q hL D Cf

= = = = = =

Hazen-Williams C-factor length of test section (ft, m) flow through test section (cfs, m3/s) head loss due to friction (ft, m) diameter of test section (ft, m) unit conversion factor (4.73 English, 10.7 SI) D2g f = h L ----------2LV

where

(5.2)

(5.3)

f = Darcy-Weisbach friction factor g = gravitational acceleration constant (32.2 ft/s2, 9.81 m/s2) V = velocity through test section (ft/s, m/s)

The velocity is determined from the flow and diameter by using Equation 2.9: 4QV = --------2 πD

To apply the friction factor to other pipes, it is necessary to convert f to absolute roughness. Equation 5.4 is the Colebrook-White formula solved for roughness. 1  2.51 ε- = 3.7 exp  ------------------– ------------- – 0.86 f Re f D

where

(5.4)

ε = absolute roughness Re = Reynolds number

For smooth pipes, the above equation can occasionally yield negative numbers, which should be converted to zero roughness (that is, hydraulically smooth pipe).

Section 5.3

Head Loss Tests

193

Two-Gage Test For the two-gage test (shown in Figure 5.9), the test section is located between two fire hydrants and is isolated by closing the downstream valves. The pressures at both of the fire hydrants are measured using standard pressure gages, and these pressures are then converted to HGLs. The head loss over the test section is then computed as the difference between the HGLs at the two fire hydrants, as shown in Equation 5.5. McEnroe, Chase, and Sharp (1989) found that to overcome uncertainties in measuring length, diameter, and flow, a pressure drop of 15–20 psi (100 - 140 kPa) should be attained. Figure 5.9 Hydrant 2

Hydrant 1

The two-gage head loss test

Flowed Hydrant Q

//=//=

//=//=

Pressure Gage

//=//=

Q

Test Section

Closed Valve

h L = HGL U – HGL D

(5.5)

where HGLU = hydraulic grade at upstream fire hydrant (ft, m) HGLD = hydraulic grade at downstream fire hydrant (ft, m) Realizing that the HGL can be more generally described using the difference in pressure and elevation between the upstream and downstream hydrants, Equation 5.5 can be rearranged to yield hL = Cf ( PU – PD ) + ( ZU – ZD )

where

PU PD ZU ZD Cf

= = = = =

(5.6)

pressure at upstream fire hydrant (psi, kPa) pressure at downstream fire hydrant (psi, kPa) elevation at upstream fire hydrant (ft, m) elevation at downstream fire hydrant (ft, m) unit conversion factor (2.31 English, 0.102 SI)

Head loss occurs only when there is a flow; therefore, if no flow is passing through the test section, the HGL values at the upstream and downstream hydrants will be the same. Even so, the pressures at the upstream and downstream hydrants may be different as a result of the elevation difference between them. Assuming a no-flow condi-

194

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tion, the head loss in Equation 5.6 is set to zero and the elevation difference can be expressed through the use of pressures, as shown in the following equation. Z U – Z D = – C f ( P US – P DS )

where

(5.7)

PUS = pressure at upstream hydrant, static conditions (psi, kPa) PDS = pressure at downstream hydrant, static conditions (psi, kPa) Cf = unit conversion factor (2.31 English, 0.102 SI)

Substituting Equation 5.7 into 5.6 provides a new expression for determining the head loss between two hydrants. This expression eliminates the need to obtain the elevation of the pressure gages by using two sets of pressure readings: static and flowed. h L = C f [ ( P UT – P DT ) – ( P US – P DS ) ]

where

(5.8)

PUT = pressure at upstream hydrant, flowed conditions (psi, kPa) PDT = pressure at downstream hydrant, flowed conditions (psi, kPa) Cf = unit conversion factor (2.31 English, 0.102 SI)

In some situations, the test section may be located near a permanent system meter, such as at the discharge of a pump station, and thus the flow meters at the pump station can be used instead of a hydrant. A pressure gage located on the pipe just before it leaves the pump station can give the upstream pressure. The downstream pressure must be measured sufficiently far away such that the head loss will be much greater than the error associated with measuring it. It may be necessary to close valves at tees and crosses along the pipeline to obtain this long run of pipe with constant flow. Walski and O’Farrell (1994) described how head loss testing equipment can be installed with important transmission mains to assist routine head loss testing.

Parallel-Pipe Test Figure 5.10 illustrates the concept of the parallel-pipe head loss test. As with the twogage test, a test section is isolated between two hydrants by closing the downstream valves. Then a hose equipped with a differential pressure gage is connected between the two hydrants in parallel with the pipe test section. Because there is no flow, and consequently no head loss, through the hose or gage, the hydraulic grade on each side of the gage is equal to the hydraulic grade of the hydrant on that same side. Therefore, the measured pressure differential can be used in the following expression to calculate the head loss through the pipe. h L = C f × ∆P

where

(5.9)

∆P = differential pressure reading (psi, kPa)

Cf = unit conversion factor (2.31 English, 0.102 SI) The head loss, or pressure head difference, over the test section can be found for any fluid by dividing the differential pressure ( ∆P ) by the specific weight of the fluid ( γ ).

Section 5.3

Head Loss Tests

195

Because the pressure readings are taken at one location (at the pressure differential gage), there is no need to consider the elevation of either hydrant. However, if water in the parallel hose is allowed to change temperature from the water in the pipes, errors can occur (Walski, 1985). Accordingly, water in the hose should be kept moving whenever a reading is not being taken. This can be accomplished by opening a small valve (pit-cock) at the differential pressure gage. Figure 5.10 Small Diameter Hose

Parallel-pipe head loss test

Differential Pressure Gage Hydrant 2

Hydrant 1

Flowed Hydrant Q

//=//=

//=//=

//=//=

Q

Test Section

Closed Valve

The procedure for finding the discharge through the test section is similar to the one used for fire hydrant flow tests. A Pitot gage is used to measure the velocity head at the flowed hydrant, assuming the flow out of the hydrant equals the flow through the test section. The orifice formula (Equation 5.1) is then used to convert the Pitot gage reading into the discharge from the hydrant (McEnroe, Chase, and Sharp, 1989). McEnroe, Chase, and Sharp (1989) found that to overcome uncertainties in measuring length, diameter, and flow, a pressure drop of 2–3 psi (14 - 21 kPa) for the parallelpipe method should be attained.

Potential Problems with Head Loss Tests Regardless of the method used for measuring head loss, all flow that passes through the test section is directed out of a flowed hydrant by closing the valve downstream of the flowed hydrant. When working with a looped system, isolation valves on some side mains may also be closed, as shown in Figure 5.11. To ensure that no customers are taken out of service when closing valves, the utility should examine system maps to verify that alternate flow paths (loops) are available within the system. As a check, have one individual watch the pressure gage as the valve is being closed and be ready to give a signal if the pressure drops to zero. Frequently, there will be customers connected to the test section between the two hydrants. To obtain accurate results, the customer water usage during the head loss tests should be negligible compared to the amount of water discharged through the flowed hydrant. Recall from Equations 5.2 and 5.3 that the discharge is assumed to reflect the total amount of water that passes through the test section. Therefore, if the amount of water that passes through the test section is significantly different from the

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measured discharge due to withdrawals at other points in the system, a correction must be made. Figure 5.11 Use of isolation valves during a head loss test

Side Main Hydrant 2

Hydrant 1

Flowed Hydrant

Closed Valves

Closed Valve Test Section Side Main

Using Head Loss Test Results for Calibration The process of using the results of a head loss test is fairly straightforward. Head loss tests provide information on the internal roughness of a pipe; therefore, once the head loss tests are complete, the calculated roughness values can simply be supplied to the computer model. The extent of head loss testing, however, is dependent on the project budget. Some projects are planned such that a sample of mains that are representative of the system are selected for testing. Then the results are extrapolated to the rest of the system. One way to limit the amount of head loss testing that must be done to get valid data is to perform head loss tests for a wide variety of pipe sizes, types, and ages. These data can then be placed in chart form, showing pipe roughness values as a function of pipe and size (Ormsbee and Lingireddy, 1997). Roughness values are then selected based on the age and size of the selected main. Systems in which pipe roughness varies over a wide range usually contain a significant amount of unlined cast iron pipe. Sharp and Walski (1988) showed that equivalent sand grain roughness heights in unlined, commercial, cast iron pipe increased linearly with time. Therefore, in terms of absolute roughness: ε = ε o + at

where

(5.10)

ε = roughness height at age t (in., mm) ε o = roughness height when pipe was new (t=0) (in., mm) a = rate of change in roughness height (in./year, mm/year) t = age of pipe (years)

Roughness height for new cast iron pipe is usually on the order of 0.008 in. (0.18 mm).

Section 5.4

Pump Performance Tests

By measuring the roughness height for a few pipes in a head loss test, it is possible to determine the coefficient in Equation 5.10 (the rate of change of roughness, a) and use the value for other pipes of that type, provided that the corrosive characteristics of the water have not changed significantly. Walski, Edwards, and Hearne (1989) developed a method for adjusting values when water quality had changed during the life of a pipe. For those using Hazen-Williams C-factor instead of equivalent sand grain roughness height, the relationship between C and age is related to the base 10 log of the roughness height and diameter. ε o + at C = 18.0 – 37.2 log  ---------------- D

where

(5.11)

D = diameter (in., mm)

Using data from Lamont (1981) and Hudson (1966), Sharp and Walski (1988) performed a regression analysis using Equation 5.10, relating the corrosivity of the water using the Langelier Index, shown in Table 5.2. It should be noted that values for any water system are specific to that system. Table 5.2 Correlation between Langelier Index and the roughness growth rate Description

a (in./year)

a (mm/year)

Langelier Index

Slight attack

0.00098

0.025

0.0

Moderate attack

0.003

0.076

-1.3

Appreciable attack

0.0098

0.25

-2.6

Severe attack

0.030

0.76

-3.9

5.4

PUMP PERFORMANCE TESTS

There are four types of pump characteristic curves: head, brake horsepower, efficiency, and NPSH (see page 49). Although modelers can usually rely on pump characteristic curves that are provided by the manufacturer, it is good practice to check these curves against pump performance data collected in the field. The following section discusses how to determine points for the head characteristic curve. It is followed by a discussion of measuring efficiency, which is needed for pump energy analysis.

Head Characteristic Curve As presented in Chapter 2 (see page 44), the head characteristic curve gives total dynamic head as a function of discharge through the pump. Consider the pump shown in Figure 5.12. If the energy equation is applied between the discharge (section 2) and suction (section 1) sides of the pump, the following expression is obtained.

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2

2

V suc V dis h dis + --------- = h suc + h P – h L – h m + ---------2g 2g

where

hdis Vdis g hsuc hP hL hm Vsuc

= = = = = = = =

(5.12)

pump discharge head (ft, m) velocity at point where discharge head is measured (ft/s, m/s) gravitational acceleration constant (32.2 ft/sec2, 9.81 m/sec2) pump suction head (m, ft) head added at pump (m, ft) head loss due to friction (m, ft) minor head losses due to fittings and appurtenances (m, ft) velocity at point where suction head is measured (ft/s, m/s)

Figure 5.12 Pump performance test

Clearwell

1

Pump

2

Valve Q

Discharge

Suction

Because sections 1 and 2 are close together, any head losses due to friction, hL, will usually be negligible. In addition, the minor losses that occur within the pump as a result of changing streamlines are not directly considered through the hm term. Accordingly, the head loss terms are usually set to zero, and the minor losses within the pump are addressed through the pump head term, hP. Assuming that sections 1 and 2 have the same elevation, Equation 5.12 can be rewritten as shown: 2

2

P dis P suc  V dis V suc - – ---------- +  ---------- – ---------- + h L + h m h P =  --------γ γ 2g   2g

where

(5.13)

Pdis = discharge pressure (psi, kPa) Psuc = suction pressure (psi, kPa)

A pump head characteristic curve is a plot of hP versus flow. As shown in Equation 5.13, suction and discharge pressures and the suction and discharge velocity heads are needed to develop the curve. The velocity heads can be calculated based on the flow through the pump (most pump stations are equipped with flow meters) and the suction and discharge pipe diameters. Because the suction and discharge pipe diameters are usually not significantly different for water distribution pumps, the difference between velocity head terms is often negligible. If the pump is equipped with pressure gages on the suction and discharge lines, the pressure information can also be easily collected. In some instances, however, a pump

Section 5.4

Pump Performance Tests

will have a pressure gage on the discharge side only. In this case, the suction head can be found by applying the energy equation to the suction side of the pump, making sure that all head losses between a hydraulic boundary condition and the pump are accounted for. If the pump does not have a discharge pressure gage, then the energy equation can be applied between the pump discharge and a point of known head (a boundary condition). Again, all head losses between the two points must be considered. The pump head characteristic curve is developed by finding the pump heads for a series of corresponding pump flows. To do so, the operator varies pump flows through the use of a valve on the discharge side of the pump. With the discharge valve wide open, the pump is turned on and allowed to arrive at full speed. Next, the suction pressure, discharge pressure, and pump flow are measured. The result of substituting these measured values into Equation 5.13 is a point on the pump curve. Then the valve is adjusted slightly, and another set of pressure and flow data is collected. This process is repeated, closing the valve a little more each time, until the desired number of data points have been obtained. The key to developing a useful curve is to vary the discharge over the entire range, from shutoff head to maximum flow. In some cases, it may be necessary to operate hydrants or blow-offs to get sufficiently high flows.

Pump Efficiency Testing Typically, only the head characteristic curve is needed for modeling; however, some models determine energy usage at pump stations as well as flow and head. To determine energy usage, the model must convert the water power produced by the pump into electric power used by the pump. This conversion is done using the efficiency relationships summarized below.

where

ep = (water powerout ) / (pump powerin )

(5.14)

em = (pump powerin ) / (electric powerin )

(5.15)

ep = pump efficiency (%) em = motor efficiency (%)

Pump power refers to the brake horsepower on the pump shaft, and it is difficult to measure in the field. Therefore, all that can be calculated is the overall (wire-towater) efficiency. ew-w = e p × e m = (water powerout ) / (electric powerin ) where

(5.16)

ew-w = wire-to-water efficiency (%)

Although efficiency is expressed as a decimal in the above equations and in most calculations, it is generally discussed in terms of percentages. Water power is computed from the following relationship: WP = C f Qh P γ

where

WP = water power (hp, Watts)

(5.17)

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Q = flow rate (gpm, l/s) hP = head added at pump (ft, m) γ = specific weight of water (lb/ft3, N/m3) Cf = unit conversion factor (4.058 × 10-6 English, 0.001 SI) The measurement of electric power depends on the instrumentation available at the pump station. Large stations may have a direct readout of kilowatts, thus the wire-towater efficiency can be easily computed by converting the water power and electric power to the same units. In other cases, it may be possible to measure the current drawn in amps. Knowing the voltage, power factor, and number of phases, the electric power drawn can be determined as EP = VI N ( PF )

where

EP V I N PF

= = = = =

(5.18)

electrical power (watts) voltage (volts) current averaged over all legs (amps) number of phases power factor

Except for the motors driving the smallest pumps, pump motors are generally threephase. The power factor is a function of the motor size and the load for three-phase motors. Additional information can be found in WEF (1997). At some pump stations, there may be no instrumentation available for measuring electric power, and it may be difficult for electricians to directly determine amperage. In these situations, it is necessary to measure the energy usage at the building power meter and divide the energy use by time to determine power. If the meter is being read directly, be sure to account for other sources of power consumption. Similar to the head characteristic curve, the efficiency curve can be developed by setting a flow rate, measuring the necessary parameters, and then adjusting the flow until sufficient points to form a curve are determined.

Potential Problems with Pump Performance Tests A key piece of information needed for the model representation of the pump is the shutoff head (the head at zero flow). To find this point, the discharge valve is closed and measurements are taken while the pump is operating. It is important to note that if the pump operates with the valve closed for an extended period of time, the water in the pump may begin to heat, potentially damaging the pump and seals. Thus, the measurements must be taken quickly. Another potential area of concern is electricity billing rates. Some water utilities include an electricity demand charge in their billing structure that is typically based on the highest 15- or 30-minute peak power usage period for the pump station. This demand charge, which can be quite high (US$14/kW for example), is applied to all of the current billing period, and may be applied to subsequent billing periods for up to a year. It is important to note that pump testing may require large amounts of energy,

Section 5.5

Extended-Period Simulation Data

and care should be taken that a new and expensive demand charge is not set for the utility.

Using Pump Performance Test Data for Calibration The data obtained from a pump performance test are used to generate the pump head versus discharge and efficiency curves, which are used to mathematically model the performance of the pumps. The pump test data collected are input into the model, which then uses curve-fitting techniques to create the relationships describing the pump efficiency and head curves.

5.5

EXTENDED-PERIOD SIMULATION DATA

Most of the testing described in Sections 5.1 to 5.4 results in static measurements of the distribution system—that is, measurements taken at a single point in time under a single set of conditions. This information is useful for estimating various parameters used in steady-state and EPS models. When an extended-period simulation model is developed, it is necessary to supplement the static field testing with field measurements taken over a period of several days. This information can be used for calibrating an EPS model (see Chapter 7) and validating that an existing EPS model adequately represents the behavior of the distribution system over time. Two types of data that are useful for calibrating and validating an extended-period simulation model are • Time-varying measurements of flow, pressure, and tank water levels in the distribution system • Concentrations of a conservative tracer over time throughout the system The following sections discuss these two types of data.

Distribution System Time-Series Data Flows, pressures, tank water levels, and other characteristics vary throughout the distribution system both temporally and spatially. Seasonal variations, variations by day of the week, diurnal variations, and small time scale stochastic variations typically occur. If an extended-period model of the distribution system has been properly constructed and calibrated, the model results should approximately mimic the behavior of the system over a period of time. Such temporally and spatially varying data are frequently collected for use in calibrating an EPS model (see Chapter 7). Frequently, time-series data is available automatically through remote telemetry that is part of a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system (see Chapter 6). This information can usually be easily downloaded or converted to a format for use in the calibration process. Though information may be transmitted at very frequent intervals, for most calibration purposes, measurements every 15 to 60 minutes are generally adequate. SCADA data can be supplemented by that from flow meters or pressure gages and data loggers installed for short-term data collection. Section 5.1 describes different types of flow meters.

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Conducting a Tracer Test In a tracer test, a conservative substance is added to the water in a distribution system over a period of time, and the movement of the tracer through the system is determined by measuring its concentration over time at stations located at key points within the system (Grayman, 2001). The resulting data may be used in conjunction with an EPS hydraulic model and a water quality model in the calibration process (see Chapter 7 for details on the use of these data for calibration). The steps in conducting a tracer test are as follows: 1. A conservative tracer is identified for a distribution system. The tracer can be a chemical that is added to the flow at an appropriate location taking into account the study objective and location specific details or, for the situation where there are multiple sources of water, a naturally occurring difference in the water sources, such as hardness. Chemicals that are typically used include fluoride, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, and lithium chloride. Selection of the tracer generally depends on government regulations (for example, some localities will not allow the use of fluoride), the availability and cost of the chemicals, the methods for adding the chemical to the system, and the measuring and analysis devices. For example, a tracer chemical may be selected because it is inexpensive and can

Section 5.6

Water Quality Sampling

be added using a water plant’s existing dry chemical feed system. The amount of tracer that is added depends on the measurement methods (that is, it must be great enough so that differences in concentration can be measured) and on regulations (resulting concentrations should not exceed allowable levels). 2. Before beginning the tests, it is recommended to simulate the test with the model to determine the likely results. Determining the results ahead of time assists in identifying the best sampling locations and times, and identifies the most likely concentrations to make sure that they are in the range of the measuring equipment. 3. A controlled field experiment is performed in which either: (1) the conservative tracer is injected into the system for a prescribed period of time; (2) a conservative substance that is normally added, such as fluoride, is shut off for a prescribed period; or (3) a naturally occurring substance that differs between sources is traced. 4. During the field experiment, the concentration of the tracer is measured at selected locations in the distribution system. It is desirable to have quick feedback on the movement of the tracer through the system so that adjustments can be made in the sampling schedule. For example, if the tracer takes more time than expected to reach a station, sampling needs to be extended beyond the originally planned period. With some tracers, such as fluoride, more accurate measurements can be made in the laboratory. To satisfy the need for quick feedback and accurate measurements, a quick method, such as use of a Hach handheld digital meter, can be employed for immediate feedback in conjunction with samples taken in bottles for later analysis in the lab. Measurements should continue until the tracer has reached the areas of the distribution system with the oldest water. In a system that contains a tank or multiple tanks, that may require a tracer test lasting many days (Clark, Grayman, Goodrich, Deininger, and Hess, 1991). 5. During the tracer test, other parameters that are required by a hydraulic model, such as tank water levels, pump operations, flows, and so on, should be collected at frequent intervals as well. This information is needed as part of the model calibration/validation process. 6. Frequently, a tracer test is conducted in conjunction with a water quality study (see Section 5.6) so that other constituents, such as chlorine residual, may be measured at the same time that tracer measurements are made.

5.6

WATER QUALITY SAMPLING

When extending a calibrated hydraulic model to include water quality, various physical and chemical parameters must be determined. Some tests require bench scale analyses that can easily be conducted in a modestly outfitted water quality laboratory. Other measurements can be made directly in the field. The sections that follow describe the types of tests that are performed in order to support the development of a water quality model. A calibrated, extended-period simulation hydraulic model provides a starting point for water quality modeling. Steady-state hydraulic analysis is not adequate because it

203

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does represent operational characteristics that vary temporally and does not account for the effect of storage and mixing in tanks and reservoirs, a factor known to contribute to the degradation of water quality. As described in Chapter 2, transport, mixing, and chemical reactions depend on the pipe flows, transport pathways, and residence times of water in the network (all are network characteristics determined by the hydraulic simulation). Therefore, a calibrated extended-period hydraulic model is a prerequisite for any water quality modeling project. After a hydraulic model is prepared, some types of water quality modeling analyses (especially water age and source tracing) can be conducted with little additional effort whereas modeling reactive constituents requires additional information on reaction rate coefficients. Disinfectant residuals (chlorine, chloramines) decay due to reactions in the bulk water and reactions that take place at the pipe wall. Disinfection by-products (DBP) grow over time in the distribution system, and so a formation reaction rate is required by a model. Bulk reaction coefficients are required for all nonconservative substances, and wall reaction coefficients are required for disinfectant modeling. Boundary conditions and initial conditions are needed for all substances. Determining bulk and wall reaction coefficients involves laboratory analysis and field studies, as discussed in the following section. The determination of boundary and initial conditions is simpler and is addressed in Section 7.5.

Laboratory Testing For constituent analysis, reaction dynamics can be specified using bulk and wall reaction coefficients. Bulk reaction coefficients can be associated with individual pipes and storage tanks or applied globally. Wall reaction coefficients can be associated with individual pipes, applied globally, or assigned to groups of pipes with similar characteristics. Unlike bulk reaction coefficients, which can be determined through laboratory testing, wall reaction coefficients must be measured using field tests or determined as part of the calibration process, as discussed later in this section and in Section 7.5. Bulk Reaction Coefficients. Recall that the parameter used to express the rate of the reaction occurring within the bulk fluid is called the bulk reaction coefficient. Bulk reaction coefficients can be determined using a simple experimental procedure called a bottle test. A bottle test allows the bulk reactions to be separated from other processes that affect water quality, and thus the bulk reaction can be evaluated solely as a function of time. Conceptually, the volume of water in a bottle can be thought of as a water parcel being transported down a pipe (see page 52). A bottle test allows for the evaluation of the impact of transport time on water quality and for an experimental determination of the parameters necessary to model this process accurately. Determining the length of the bottle test and the frequency of sampling is the first and most critical decision. The duration and frequency of sampling will influence the error associated with the experimental determination of the rate coefficient. The duration of the experiment should reflect the transport times occurring in the network. If, for example, a water age analysis using the calibrated hydraulic model indicates that residence times range from 5 to 7 days, conducting a 7-day test would provide bulk reaction data over the entire range.

Section 5.6

Water Quality Sampling

Bottle Test Procedure 1. Preparation -Plan the length of the experiment. -Collect materials needed for the experiment. -Wash bottles and prepare them using the chlorine demand-free procedure. -Prepare reagents for experimental methods and work area. -Prepare laboratory notebook for recording experimental conditions and results.

2. Sample Collection -Collect water from the clearwell as it enters the distribution system. -Fill and cap bottles headspace-free. -Start the master clock.

3. Sample Testing -Store samples in complete darkness with the temperature held constant (a water bath or BOD incubator may be used). -Pull samples at designated times and measure using experimental procedure. -Record time and result of the experimental procedure.

4. Processing Data -Plot data. -Process data to determine rate coefficient. (Summers, Hooper, Shukairy, Solarik, and Owen, 1996; Rossman, Clark, and Grayman, 1994; and Vasconcelos, Rossman, Grayman, Boulos, and Clark, 1996)

The frequency of the sampling should be proportional to the rate of the reaction. Typically, the sampling frequency should be more rapid at the start of the experiment (every 30 minutes for a fast reaction and once every two hours for a slow one) and can gradually decrease to a lower level (once or twice a day). After a schedule of samples is determined, bottles, reagents, and other experimental equipment can be gathered. Bottle tests can be used to determine bulk reaction rates for different types of reactions (for example, disinfectant decay or DBP formation). The size of the bottles depends on the volume of water required by the experimental procedure. Methods for determining disinfectant concentrations can require anywhere from 20 to 100 ml. Methods for determining DBP formation typically require a smaller sample volume. In either case, the volume and number of bottles should also include any duplicates taken. It is important for the modeler to appreciate the precision (or lack thereof) when measuring disinfectant residual concentrations. Each analytical method has its own minimum and maximum detection limits, and each person performing a method may have a bias or error associated with them as well. For example, attempting to measure concentrations of 0.08 mg/l when the analytical method is only accurate to 0.20 mg/l can produce misleading data. Duplicates and replicates can be used to quantify these types of errors. Bottles should be washed prior to the experiment in accordance with the experimental procedure. Frequently, bottles are prepared improperly and the experiment yields worthless data. For example, if disinfectant decay is being measured, the bottle should be prepared so that it does not contribute to the decay reaction. This can be accomplished by soaking the bottles for 24 hours in a strong solution of the disinfectant

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(10 mg/l) and then rinsing with laboratory-clean water (Summers, Hooper, Shukairy, Solarik, and Owen, 1996). Reagents should be gathered and prepared in accordance with the experimental procedure specific to the constituent being measured. Once the experiment has been planned and the laboratory prepared, the test can begin. For the purposes of determining rates of reaction in the distribution system, water is typically collected as it leaves the clearwell and enters the network, though this need not always be the case. The water should be gathered and the bottles quickly filled and capped with no airspace in the bottle. The experiment starts when the last bottle is capped. At scheduled times, samples should be pulled and tested using the constituent-specific experimental procedure. Between sampling times, samples should be stored in complete darkness and at a constant temperature because reaction rates (and thus reaction coefficients) are temperature dependent, and some reactions are influenced by ambient light.

„ Example — Bottle Test Data Analysis. When all measurements have been taken and the experiment is over, the data will describe the constituent concentration for each of the samples as a function of time. The data can then be graphed. The constituent concentrations are charted along the y-axis (the dependent variable), and the time is charted along the x-axis (the independent variable). Figure 5.13 and Table 5.3 show an example of data collected from a bottle test for which the constituent was chlorine.

Figure 5.13 A best-fit straight line drawn through the charted results where the slope of the line is the bulk reaction coefficient

Concentration, mg/L

10

1

0.1 0

12

24

36

48 Time, hr

60

72

84

96

Section 5.6

Water Quality Sampling

Table 5.3 Bottle test results Time (hours)

Observed Concentration (mg/l)

Time (hours)

Observed Concentration (mg/l)

2.2

54

0.9

6

2.1

60

0.9

12

2.0

66

0.8

18

1.7

72

0.7

24

1.4

78

0.6

30

1.3

84

0.5

36

1.2

90

0.5

42

1.0

96

0.5

48

1.0

If the substance in the bulk fluid exhibits a first-order reaction, then the reaction rate coefficient can be found using linear regression techniques. A best-fit straight line is drawn through the data collected from the bottle test, with concentration plotted on a log axis as illustrated in Figure 5.13. The slope of the line for the data in Table 5.3, 0.0165 hr-1, becomes the bulk reaction coefficient. Note that the reaction coefficient is negative since the constituent concentration decays over time. The straight line shown in Figure 5.13 produces a very nice fit with the observed data. A more likely scenario is that the data will not fit as well as that shown. In fact, there may be a few data points that are widely scattered. Outliers, as these points are called, should be carefully examined and possibly discarded if they are found to negatively influence the results of the data analysis. If there is a large amount of scatter, another bottle test may be performed in an attempt to collect more reliable data. Bottle tests can be performed on any water sample, regardless of where the sample is collected. Samples from treatment plants and other entry points to the distribution system are particularly important because these facilities act as water sources and therefore, have a strong influence on water quality. Raw water quality influences finished water quality as well. Therefore, if a system has multiple treatment facilities each with a different raw water source, the bulk reaction rates for each of the finished waters are likely to differ. Although storage tanks are not sources of finished water, under some circumstances, the bulk decay rate can be different in tanks than in the distribution system. As a result, a separate bulk reaction coefficient should be considered for tanks and reservoirs. Booster disinfection (when disinfectant is reapplied to previously disinfected water) is another circumstance in which bulk reaction coefficients are likely to change. Bulk reaction coefficients are associated with pipes for purposes of a simulation, and are assumed to remain constant throughout the simulation for a particular pipe. Since the bulk reaction coefficient is, in reality, associated with the fluid itself, the bulk reaction rate can change throughout the actual system as water from different sources

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becomes mixed at nodes. When assigning bulk reaction coefficients for pipes, the mixing can be considered by designing and conducting bottle tests with representative source mixtures. A source tracing analysis can assist in determining the degree of mixing in a system. Source blending can change over the course of the day for a particular pipe, thus the predominant source or mix of sources should be used in assigning the bulk reaction coefficient. For example, suppose that a tracing analysis is performed on a system that has two treatment plants. Through the bottle tests, a bulk reaction coefficient is established for each treatment facility and each storage tank. Through a source tracing analysis of a junction node, it is found that 90 percent of the water for that node comes from a specific treatment plant. Accordingly, the bulk reaction rate coefficient for those pipes that make up the path between the plant and the node would be equal to, or nearly equal to, the rate coefficient for the plant. For a single-source network, it is useful to remember that the bulk reaction coefficient is really a function of the water passing through a pipe or stored in a tank, and not a function of the pipe or tank itself. Thus, specifying a global bulk reaction coefficient is frequently the simplest and the best method for modeling bulk reactions occurring in such networks.

Field Studies Several different types of field studies may be performed to collect data used in calibrating a water quality model. The sections that follow describe three types of studies. The first type of study is aimed at determining actual pipe diameters — an important factor in water quality modeling. The second type of field study can be performed to determine pipe wall reaction coefficients. Determining Actual Pipe Diameters. In the United States, friction head loss is usually predicted in network models by using the Hazen-Williams head loss equation: 1.852

Cf ( Q ) (L) h L = --------------------------------1.852 4.87 C D

where

hL Cf Q L C D

= = = = = =

(5.19)

head loss due to friction (ft, m) unit coversion factor (4.73 English, 10.7 SI) flow (cfs, m3/s) length (ft, m) Hazen-Williams C-factor diameter (ft, m)

Most water distribution system models use pipe diameters based on the originally stated nominal diameters (see page 255). Even for new pipes these values are only approximations, and for older pipes these values can seriously overstate the effective diameter due to tuberculation. For example, a new Class 50 ductile iron pipe with a nominal diameter of 6 in. has an actual internal diameter of 6.4 in. Tuberculation is most common in older metallic pipes and can result in significant reductions in the effective pipe diameter.

Section 5.6

Water Quality Sampling

For most hydraulic applications, the use of the nominal diameter is acceptable. This is especially the case if C-factor tests were performed, and the nominal diameter was used in the process of estimating C-factors. In effect, errors in both the true diameter and the C-factor offset each other and, as a result, head loss and flows are calculated to a generally accepted level of accuracy. This can be illustrated by examining the denominator in Equation 5.19 and observing that any combination of C-factor and diameter that result in the same value of the denominator will result in the same value for head loss. For example, a C-factor of 83 and a pipe diameter of 12 in.(305 mm) results in the same head loss as a C-factor of 134 and a pipe diameter of 10 in. (254 mm). However, use of an incorrect pipe diameter can result in significant errors in predicting velocity. Because velocity is a major factor in water quality modeling both in terms of its effect on travel times and on calculation of chlorine wall demand, a premium exists on correctly estimating velocity. Therefore, one should ensure that the diameters used in a hydraulic model when used as part of water quality modeling more closely reflect actual values. Several methods are available that can be used to estimate the true diameter of a pipe: • In-situ direct measurement of diameters: A specially designed set of calipers can be used to directly measure the diameter of a pipe at a particular location. Figure 5.14 depicts a particular design for these calipers. The calipers are inserted into a pipe at a corporation stop and adjusted so that they directly measure the inside diameter of the pipe. It should be noted that this method can provide relatively accurate point measurements. However, if the diameter varies significantly along the pipe due to irregular tuberculation, the point measurements may or may not be representative of the true diameter for a pipe segment. • Measurement of flow and velocity and calculation of diameters: Flow can be calculated as the product of velocity and cross-sectional area. Therefore, if the flow and velocity in a pipe are known, the actual pipe diameter can be calculated. Various methods are available for measuring flow and velocity. In order to use these measurements to calculate true diameter, however, the measurements must be independent. Thus, if a flow meter is measuring velocity and using an assumed diameter to convert to flow, this measurement can be used only as a single measurement, and a second independent measurement is needed. A Pitot gage is frequently used as part of a hydrant test to determine flow. Injection of a pulsed slug of tracer at an upstream corporation stop and measurement at a downstream hydrant can provide an accurate travel time and velocity calculation (Wright and Nevins, 2002). • Development and use of an inventory of actual pipe diameters: It is good practice to keep a database on pipes that have been taken out of service. The database should include the pipe material, date of installation, pipe location, nominal diameter, and notes on the condition of the pipe including the effective diameter of the pipe. This information can be used to define representative effective diameters for pipes of a particular age and material and entered into the model as an alternative to the original, nominal diameter. Also, this information can be used as a basis for analyzing pipe breaks in a system.

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Figure 5.14 Calipers for measuring pipe diameter

Measuring Chlorine Wall Demand. Wall demand can be indirectly measured in the field in a manner that is analogous to C-factor tests (Grayman, Rossman, Li, and Guastella, 2002). A homogeneous pipe segment (constant diameter, material, and age) with a length of at least 1,000 ft (305 m) is selected for analysis. The pipe segment is isolated by valving off major laterals and at the downstream end, as shown in Figure 5.15. Figure 5.15 Setup for performing field chlorine wall demand tests

The downstream hydrant is then flowed at a constant rate and chlorine measurements are taken at an upstream hydrant (C1) and at the flowed hydrant (C2). The chlorine measurement at the downstream hydrant should be taken TT minutes after the measurement at the upstream hydrant where TT is the travel time between the two hydrants. The process can be repeated at different flow rates. After accounting for the bulk decay of chlorine (usually negligible in a short pipe segment), the wall demand coefficient can be calculated based on the field data in a spreadsheet or by iteratively running a water quality model of the pipe segment until the model results match the

Section 5.6

Water Quality Sampling

field data. This method is most appropriate for pipes that are expected to have relatively higher wall demands such as smaller diameter, unlined cast iron pipes. Larger pipes and nonferrous pipe materials, such as PVC or cement, generally have relatively low wall demands. It is likely that little or no chlorine loss would be measured in short segments. Intensive Water Quality Surveys. Intensive hydraulic and water quality surveys that extend over a multiday period can be conducted to calibrate or validate an extended-period hydraulic and/or water quality model. In such a survey, information on how the system was operated is compiled along with time-series data collected in the field or through remote telemetry. Surveys of this type can be quite expensive and involve significant personnel, equipment, and laboratory analyses. Therefore, they should be carefully planned and executed. A properly conducted survey can yield a wealth of information that is invaluable in understanding the movement of water through the study area and for calibrating and validating a model. Clark and Grayman (1998) provide a detailed description of how to prepare for and conduct an intensive water quality field survey. The information in this section draws heavily upon the description provided in their book, Modeling Water Quality in Drinking Water Distribution Systems. Within the modeling context, the purpose of an intensive field survey is to collect sufficient information in order to adjust model parameters or validate model parameters by mimicking the results observed in the field. Operational information that is not collected during the study becomes unknowns, introducing uncertainty in the modeling process. Ideally, a detailed model of the study area is available prior to planning a field study. If that is the case (and even if it is not a well-calibrated model), the model can be used to predict how the system will behave and thus to determine what data to collect, and when and where, in order to make the best use of the study results to calibrate or validate the model. In the ideal case, it is best to predefine how the distribution system should be operated during the field study in order to design an experiment that best serves the purpose of the work. For example, one objective may be to operate the system in a manner that is typical for that season. Another objective could be to operate the system in a streamlined manner (for example, avoid turning pumps on for a few minutes at a time) in order to simplify the modeling process. Intensive surveys conducted as part of a water quality modeling effort generally focus on collection of data related to the hydraulic nature of the system, field data on disinfection residuals, and other water quality constituents such as temperature, pH, and disinfection by-products (DBP). In some studies, a tracer is used to determine the travel times and the patterns of movement of water through the distribution system. The mixing patterns within storage facilities may also be studied during an intensive survey. A field study is divided into three phases: designing the field study, executing the field study, and analyzing and using the resulting set of data. Arguably, the most important phase is the preplanning stage. Prior to performing a sampling study, a detailed written sampling plan should be prepared. Clark and Grayman (1998) provide a list of issues that should be addressed in a sampling plan and specific actions that should be taken prior to a sampling study:

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• Sampling location: Selection of sampling sites is typically a compromise between selecting sites that provide the greatest amount of information and sites that are most amenable to sampling. Sites should be spread throughout the study area and should reflect a variety of situations of interest, such as transmission mains and local lines, areas served directly from a source, and areas under the influence of tanks. Because sampling is usually performed around the clock, the sites must be accessible at all times. Also, sampling taps should be placed close to mains so that the samples reflect the water quality in the mains. If automatic samplers are used, the sites may need to be secure (automatic sampling equipment is expensive), and electric power and a method for disposing of waste flow may be required. For manual sampling, the travel time for crews between sampling sites is a consideration. Dedicated sampling taps; water utility and public buildings, such as firehouses; and hydrants are frequently used as sampling sites. Pump stations and valve vaults are also good locations because it is possible to directly sample the main. Care must be taken when sampling through a hydrant or service line to minimize or account for the lag between the sample time and the time the water left the main. • Sampling frequency: For automated samplers, such as chlorine monitors, pH meters, and pressure gages, the sampling frequency can generally be set and is usually performed every few minutes. In the case of manual sampling, a circuit is usually defined for a sampling crew to follow. The crew takes samples at one site, analyzes them, and then moves to the next site, and continues this circuit for their entire shift. These practical constraints and the project budget result in trade-offs between the number of samplers, the number of sites, and the sampling frequency. Sampling frequency is usually on the order of once per hour to once every several hours. The rate at which characteristics change at a site is an important factor in choosing a sampling frequency. Thus, if the chlorine residual is expected to change graduallyover the course of a day, less frequent sampling is

Section 5.6

Water Quality Sampling

needed than if the residual is expected to vary rapidly over time. Dress rehearsals in which a crew drives a circuit to determine driving times and tests the sampling process to define the amount of time that must be spent at a site provides important information when designing the sampling program. In following a front through the systems (when the fluoride feed is turned off, for example), it is desirable to sample more frequently at the time that the front is expected to arrive. • System operation: The sampling plan should specify the general system operation that is expected to occur during the sampling study and discuss the methodology for capturing the information on system operation. For example, the plan should indicate if any unusual operations are planned during the study period. • Tracer study: If a tracer study is to be performed, details on the tracer study should be discussed. This includes the type of tracer to be used, regulatory requirements to use the tracer, the quantity of tracer needed, where the tracer will be purchased, how and at what rate the tracer will be injected, how the tracer will be measured in the field, and equipment. A meeting with the regulatory agency may be required. • Preparation of sampling sites: Various activities should be planned to prepare sampling sites prior to the sampling study. These may include testing and flushing hydrants, installing sampling appurtenances, determining required flushing times, and notifying personnel located at sampling sites in buildings. Automated monitoring devices should be installed and thoroughly tested several days before the actual sampling commences. • Sample collection procedures: The sampling plan should include specific procedures to be followed during the sampling program. Topics to be discussed include the flow rate and length of time that the tap should be flowed before each sample is taken, the filling and sealing of the sampling containers, preservation of samples and required reagents, labeling of sampling containers, data recording, and delivery of samples to laboratories. • Analytical procedures: Specific analytical procedures should be determined and described for any analyses that are conducted in the field. This includes chlorine measurements and measurements of other water quality constituents. Procedures to be used in the laboratory should be specified. It is important for the modeler to know the accuracy and minimum detection limits for each test so that he or she can correctly assess the field results. • Personnel organization and schedule: Intensive sampling surveys can involve a large number of personnel working around the clock in shifts for several days. Work schedules should be determined for each member of the survey team. This discussion should include logistical arrangements (where to meet, who will bring what equipment, emergency phone numbers, and so on).

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• Safety issues: The safety of the survey team is of paramount importance when planning a study. Potential for accidents is very high due to the aroundthe-clock effort, possible bad weather, unusual surroundings, sampling locations in close proximity to traffic, and countless other factors. Crews should be clearly identified and carry proper identification cards, should wear reflective vests or other paraphernalia to make them more visible, use marked vehicles (if possible), carry flashlights, and be advised how to respond to various emergency or unusual situations. The police department and other government agencies should be notified prior to the sampling study, and public notification through newspapers and television should be considered. • Data recording: The information being collected is very valuable, and a procedure for recording and safeguarding the information should be developed in the study plan. Data forms should be prepared that include the sampling location, sampling time (consider using military time to avoid ambiguity), sampler’s name, field measurements, samples taken for laboratory analysis, and any comments or observations. Forms should be filled in ink and safeguarded until they are delivered to a central location. • Equipment and supply needs: A complete list of equipment and supplies should be developed along with a schedule and plan for obtaining the materials well before the start of the sampling survey. • Calibration and review of analytical instruments: All instruments should be properly calibrated and thoroughly checked out prior to the study. The study plan should specify the methodology and schedule for performing this task. • Training requirements: Before the start of the survey, all survey personnel should observe the sampling sites and receive hands-on training in the use of the equipment and protocols. • Contingency plans: Over the course of the several-day survey, some aspect of the survey will most likely not go according to plan. The purpose of contingency planning is to be prepared for such events. The contingency plan should address equipment malfunction, severe weather, illness, changes in the operation of the system, and other potential events. • Communications: During the sampling survey, it is important that sampling crews, personnel at the operations center, and the overall supervisor for the study be in communication in case of questions or changes. Using cell phones and two-way radios is recommended. The study plan serves as a blueprint for conducting the water quality survey. During the actual survey, data and information are assembled and assessed at a central location on a near real-time basis. If some aspect of the study is not proceeding as originally intended (the tracer is spreading at a quicker rate through the system then expected, for example), modifications can be made in real-time. All aspects of the

Section 5.7

Sampling Distribution System Tanks and Reservoirs

survey should be documented during the survey and following the completion of the field work. Although intensive water quality sampling studies can be expensive, they are valuable in developing and validating water quality parameters and ensuring that the hydraulic calibration is adequate for water quality modeling tasks.

5.7

SAMPLING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TANKS AND RESERVOIRS

The primary water quality issues in distribution system tanks and reservoirs are contamination entering the facility, long residence times, and poor mixing conditions. Monitoring can be an effective mechanism for identifying contaminants and studying the mixing and water quality behavior in existing tanks or reservoirs. There are three categories of sampling and monitoring studies: • Water quality studies provide data on the temporal and spatial variation of water quality parameters within the storage facility and in the inflow and outflow. • Tracer studies provide information on the mixing behavior in the tank. • Temperature studies gather information on how the temperature may vary at different locations and depths within the tank over time. These studies can be performed as part of an integrated study to develop a better understanding of how reservoirs and tanks behave. The sampling results can also be used to help calibrate or validate a mathematical or scale model of the storage facility. The design and implementation of monitoring programs for distribution system tanks and reservoirs was examined in a recent AWWA Research Foundation sponsored study (Grayman et al., 2000).

Water Quality Studies Water quality monitoring studies of tanks and reservoirs can provide data on the temporal and spatial variation of water quality parameters within the facility and in the inflow and outflow. Information on the state of the reservoir (is it filling or draining, for example) should be collected during a water quality study in order to interpret the water quality monitoring data. Internal sampling of a tank or reservoir provides information on the actual spatial variation of water quality parameters inside the facility. Water quality data in combination with information on the inflow and outflow history furthers the understanding of the water quality behavior of the tank. Water quality studies in tanks and reservoirs can be conducted to meet many different goals. Routine and regulatory sampling is performed at storage facilities throughout a distribution system to satisfy regulatory requirements, define the general water quality in the facilities, and identify potential problems. Water quality sampling studies can also be designed specifically to identify the variations in water quality over time and location within the facility, the water quality transformations that occur during storage, or the mixing processes that occur during inflow and outflow.

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In addition to sampling at the inlet and outlet, samples taken at different locations within the storage facility and at different depths provide information on spatial variability. Grab samples can be supplemented with automated monitors that perform and log analyses at a pre-set sampling frequency. Chlorine residual and temperature are typically measured. Bulk chlorine decay tests are usually performed in order to understand the kinetics of chlorine decay within the facility. The effects of wall demand in a tank are usually minimal because of the large ratio of volume to wall surface. Other water quality constituents may be sampled to meet regulatory requirements or in response to specific water quality concerns. Internal samples are frequently taken through hatches located on the top of a tank. When sampling elevated tanks or standpipes, tank climbing and sampling issues become more substantial, and safety concerns become more of an issue.

Tracer Studies Tracer studies in tanks serve a similar purpose as tracer studies in a distribution system: to define the movement of water through the vessel. In a tank tracer study, a chemical tracer is added to the inflow and its movement is monitored through analysis of the tracer within the facility or in the outflow. Water quality sampling studies are usually performed in conjunction with tracer studies. Tracer studies of distribution system tanks and reservoirs can provide information regarding the detention time of water in the storage facility, as well as the mixing conditions as it fills and drains. The objective is to determine how influent water entering the reservoir mixes and subsequently leaves the facility. In addition, tracer study data can be used to develop, calibrate, or validate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models (see page 358) or physical scale models. When these models exist for a given reservoir, modifications in design or operation can be tested before implementing a costly change at full scale. Grayman et al. (2000) describe the procedures involved in planning a tracer study. They include selection and injection of the tracer chemical, logistical considerations in performing the study, and the collection of various ancillary hydraulic and water quality data. The following sections discuss these topics. Tracer Chemicals. The most frequently used tracer chemicals include fluoride and salt solutions (calcium chloride, sodium chloride, lithium chloride, and potassium chloride). In the United States, acceptable chemicals for a potable water supply are usually limited to National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) approved chemicals or food grade chemicals that have been approved by the state regulatory agency. It is important to make sure that the tracer does not affect the density of the inflow water because this occurrence can give misleading results. Tracer Injection. The step dose method of injection is generally used in distribution system storage facilities in which the tracer is fed into the influent over one or more fill periods at a relatively constant concentration. The injection point should be located far enough from the reservoir inlet so that the tracer has fully mixed with the influent prior to its entry into the reservoir but close enough so that the tracer does not

Section 5.7

Sampling Distribution System Tanks and Reservoirs

enter the distribution system directly. A sample tap downstream of the injection point before the water enters the reservoir is desirable so that the actual tracer concentrations entering the storage facility can be monitored. Tracer Dosage. The tracer dosage should be calculated so that variations in concentration can be clearly measured in the tank. It should not result in concentrations exceeding regulatory requirements. Monitoring Locations and Frequency. Monitors or grab samples should be taken at the inlet and outlet of the tank and, ideally, at locations within the facility. If stratification is suspected, sampling at varying depths is important. Internal sampling is generally limited by access points and the location of permanent sampling ports. If grab samples are taken, a sampling frequency of approximately once per hour is generally sufficient with more frequent sampling at the inlet sample tap during the fill period and less frequently during the draw period. With automated monitors, more frequent sampling is recommended. Samples should be collected over several fill and draw cycles or until the water exiting the reservoir approaches the background concentration of the tracer chemical. Regulatory Approval. Policies of state agencies concerning the addition of tracers varies significantly around the country. For example, some may not allow the addition of fluoride while others may not allow normal fluoridation to be turned off. It is good practice to obtain written approval from the state regulatory agency before performing the tracer study. Flow Measurements. Inflow and outflow rates are required to assess the behavior of the reservoir and to interpret the tracer results. If the reservoir operates in a fill and draw mode (as opposed to simultaneous inflow-outflow), inflow and outflow rates can be estimated from water level measurements during the study. For simultaneous fill and draw, and in situations where more accurate flow rates are needed, flow meters on the inlet and/or outlet can be used.

Temperature Monitoring Temperature variations in a tank or reservoir can affect the mixing characteristics in the facility and, in extreme cases, lead to stratification. Spatial and temporal variations in temperature can result from changes in inflow temperatures, differential heating in the tank, and insufficient mixing. Flow patterns in a tank or reservoir can sometimes be affected by temperature differences of less than 1.0oC. Temperature can vary in both the vertical and horizontal directions and may change over the course of a fill and draw period, over a few days, or between seasons. Temperature can be measured manually with a thermometer or probe, or automatically by a thermistor and data logger. Measuring temperature manually is inexpensive and easy to implement but labor intensive for longer sampling periods. Measuring temperature automatically requires equipment that costs a few thousand dollars. For either method, temperature measurements should be quite accurate (to the nearest 0.1oC, if possible) because small variations in temperature are generally observed.

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With manual sampling, samples can be collected from a sampling tap or can be drawn from different locations by using a pump or sampling apparatus. Collection of samples from different depths by using a pump or depth sampler requires access from above the reservoir or tank through access hatches. Long-term temperature measurements can be taken using an apparatus composed of a series of thermistors and a data logger. The thermistors are positioned to the required depth and attached to a data logger which can be set to take a reading at a preset frequency (generally every 15 minutes to 60 minutes is adequate). Figure 5.16 is a schematic representation of a set of thermistors and a data logger. In this case, thermistors are attached to a chain and set at specific depths. Additional thermistors are attached to floats to measure temperatures at fixed preset depths below the water surface as the water level varies. Internal sampling equipment should be removed before the winter in areas where ice can form in tanks.

5.8

QUALITY OF CALIBRATION DATA

Users will sometimes try to calibrate models where the velocity and head loss are very low, and thus the hydraulic grade line is essentially flat. Under such conditions, the heads in the system are essentially the same as those at the boundary conditions and virtually any value of the roughness coefficient or demand can be used to produce similar results (Walski, 2000). McBean, Al-Nassari, and Clarke (1983) used firstorder analysis to determine the accuracy of pressure measurements needed for field data to be useful for model calibration. Referring to the head loss equations presented in Chapter 2 (see page 34), the head loss depends heavily on the flow and the C-factor. Most model calibration eventually comes down to adjustments in a parameter like the C-factor, according to the equation: k ( Q ± ∆Q ) C = ---------------------------------0.54 ( h L ± ∆h L )

where

(5.20)

C = Hazen-Williams C-factor k = factor depending on units and distribution system Q = estimated flow (gpm, m3/s) ∆Q = error in measuring Q (gpm, m3/s)

hL = estimated head loss due to friction (ft, m) ∆ hL = error in measuring head loss due to friction (ft, m)

If the flows and heads are small, errors in measuring these quantities will be on the same order of magnitude as the quantities themselves, making them of little use in the calibration process. If such data are used, the value of parameters found by calibration will be poor.

Section 5.8

Quality of Calibration Data

219

Figure 5.16 Typcial thermistor: data logger configuration for temperature measurements

Based on Grayman et al., 2000.

The key to successful calibration is to increase the flows and the head losses such that these values are significantly greater than errors in measurement. The best way to do this is by conducting hydrant flow tests as described in Section 5.2. If the model can match conditions under normal demands and fire flow tests, then the user can feel confident that the model can be applied to other conditions. In larger pipes [for example, greater than 16 in. (400 mm)], hydrant flow tests will not generate significant velocities. For these larger pipes, the engineer needs to create head loss either by measuring it over very long lengths of pipe, or by artificially increasing flow by allowing tank water levels to drop significantly and then filling the tank quickly. Figure 5.17 shows a hydrant flow test. Figure 5.17 Hydrant flow test

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Impact on Optimized Calibration. With the availability of powerful optimization software (see page 268) that can accurately and automatically calibrate a water distribution model, it is more important than ever to have high quality field data. This is because the optimization software is guided by the field measurements. With perfect field measurements of head loss, optimization programs can give excellent calibration results for pipe roughness, water demand, and element statuses. However, with error in the head loss measurements, the optimization programs will deliver misleading calibration results because they do not distinguish between good and bad field measurements. The denominator in Equation 5.20 serves as the key to the basic rule for acceptance of data for use in calibration as shown in Equation 5.21. As the error in head loss approaches the actual head loss, the usefulness of an observation for calculating head loss is diminished. h L >>∆h L

(5.21)

This rule is applicable for evaluating data for either manual or automated calibration but is especially critical for automated calibration. For manual calibration, HGL values are used as a check of results, and odd data can be discounted. However, with automated calibration optimization, every HGL observation is treated as if it is exactly true and can drive the solution to erroneous values, which the program would claim are optimal. Therefore, only HGL observations that meet the criterion stated in Equation 5.21 should be used in the calibration. Data collected when head loss is small can be used to check if the roughness and demand are wrong but cannot be used to determine what values are correct. For example, if the measured pressure is 65 psi (448 kPa) and the model predicts 75 psi (517 kPa) during low demand, the user can be certain there is something wrong with the model (most likely not roughness or demand). But when the model predicts 65 psi (448 kPa) and the measured pressure is 65 psi (448 kPa), the user cannot conclude the model is correct because even incorrect roughness or demand may yield that result. Compounding the problem is the fact that although model users have an appreciation for pressures or HGL values throughout the system, they usually do not think in terms of head loss between two points. For example, a modeler may know that the pressure in one part of the system is 50 psi (340 kPa) and that the HGL in that area is 960 ft (293 m), but will have very little intuitive feel for how much head loss there is between that point and the nearby tank. „ Example — C-Factor Sensitivity. For a given distribution system, error in flow is usually not larger than flow measurements so Equation 5.20 can be simplified and the head loss can be related to C-factor by:

k C = ---------------------------------0.54 ( h L ± ∆h L ) Obviously, as the error term becomes large with respect to the actual head loss, the confidence bound on any calculated C-factor becomes large. For example, Figure 5.18 shows that for a system with an actual C-factor of 100 and a 10 ft (or m) head loss between the boundary node and the measurement

Section 5.8

Quality of Calibration Data

221

point, the confidence bounds are wide, and it does not take a very small error in measuring head loss to make a huge difference in C-factor. For example, if the head loss is 10 ft and the error in measurement is 5 ft, one can only conclude that the C-factor is somewhere between 124 and 69. On the other hand if the head loss is 40 ft and the error in measurement is 2 ft, then the C-factor is between 103 and 97.

Figure 5.18 Impact of error in head measurement

160 140

Upper

head s when bound

120

Upper bounds when

C-factor

100

0 ft loss = 1

head loss = 40 ft

Lower bounds when hea

d loss = 40 ft

80

Low er b oun ds whe n

60 40

he ad

lo ss

20

=

10

ft

0 0

2

4

6

8

10

Error in Head Measurement, ft

Sources of Error in Calibration Data. The inequality provided in Equation 5.21 can be viewed as the basic law for screening data for use in automated calibration and can be satisfied by increasing the left side or decreasing the right side. Errors in the right side can be due to inaccuracies in pressure readings, elevations, or boundary conditions, as discussed in the following. • Pressure readings: Pressure gages must be accurate and readable to +/- 1 psi (6.8 kPa) and preferably should have an accuracy better than that. Even good quality gages can drift out of calibration by several psi (kPa), rendering the entire calibration effort in doubt, so they must be calibrated frequently. • Elevation: Elevation data are usually the largest source of error; however, unlike pressure data, once an elevation is accurately established, it does not change over time. Elevations used for normal model nodes can have a fair amount of error and still be useful; however, for calibration, elevations should be known to within 1 ft (0.3 m). This means that elevations of the pressure gage (not the ground) should be determined by surveying, using a high quality global positioning system, or using contour maps from digital

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orthophotogrammetry with an accuracy on the order of 1 ft (0.3 m) (Walski, 1998). Other possible sources for elevation data are elevations surveyed from sewer manhole lids if their elevations are considered accurate and readings from a high quality altimeter that is regularly calibrated and sufficiently accurate. • SCADA data during flow tests: Some engineers trust data from SCADA systems without question. However, SCADA data may be taken from inaccurate sensors at inaccurate elevations. Concerning SCADA data, Akel (2001) notes that even though they were digitally generated, they are not precluded as sources of error. SCADA data may also pick up errors in transmission and polling intervals. Most SCADA systems are not continuously wired into a sensor; they poll the sensor periodically (interval of minutes to seconds). Therefore, the pressures being displayed on the SCADA may not correspond to the pressure in the system at that time. (See Chapter 6 for more information on sources of error in SCADA data.) • Chart recorders during flow tests: Chart recorders have similar problems in capturing flow test data. Because the chart speed is slow, hydrant flow tests usually show up as a vertical line. Unless the test was run for a long time, it is impossible to get an accurate flow test pressure reading from a chart recorder. Human operators viewing a gage at the hydrant, pump station, or control valve of interest are the safest means of obtaining pressure data during flow tests. If personnel are available, it is best to station an individual at a key pressure control valve or pump station to read the gages during the test. Data loggers with a fairly high speed of data capture may also be used to capture pressure and flow readings during a flow test. It is essential during flow tests to run hydrants long enough so that all transient effects have dissipated, otherwise they may mask the actual values. It may also take a while for a pressure-regulating valve to fully adjust itself during a flow test. • Tank water levels: Operators are usually more interested in the fluctuations of tank water levels than the accuracy of the level. As a result, it is not uncommon to find tank level readouts off by several feet. Tank water level sensors need to be checked before calibration data are collected. In addition, the water level and pump status must be taken at exactly the moment when pressure readings are taken. Using the average level of the tank during the afternoon when data were collected can lead to errors in calibration. If the benefits of optimal calibration are to be realized, the modeler needs to carefully plan the data collection effort and recognize instances where optimal calibration may not be the best alternative. For example, in some situations, such as larger transmission mains, it may be better to run a C-factor test on the pipe and use that value, rather than perform optimal calibration. While optimal calibration programs can greatly simplify the adjustments needed for calibration, the software does not have the capability to judge and ignore/discount questionable data. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that the model is fed accurate and useful data.

References

REFERENCES Akel, T. (2001). “Best Practices for Calibrating Water Distribution Hydraulic Models.” Proceedings of the AWWA Annual Conference, American Water Works Association, Washington, D.C. American Water Works Association (1989). “Installation, Field Testing, and Maintenance of Fire Hydrants.” AWWA Manual M-17, Denver, Colorado. Clark R. M., and Grayman, W. M. (1998). Modeling Water Quality in Drinking Water Distribution Systems. AWWA. Denver, Colorado. Clark, R. M., Grayman, W. M., Goodrich, R. A., Deininger, P. A., and Hess, A. F. (1991). “Field Testing Distribution Water Quality Models.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 84(7), 67. Grayman, W. M. (2001). “Use of Tracer Studies and Water Quality Models to Calibrate a Network Hydraulic Model.” Current Methods, 1(1), Haestad Methods, Inc. Waterbury, Connecticut. Grayman, W. M., Rossman, L. A., Arnold, C., Deininger, R. A., Smith, C., Smith, J. F., and Schnipke, R. (2000). “Water Quality Modeling of Distribution System Storage Facilities,” AWWA and AWWA Research Foundation, Denver, Colorado. Grayman, W. M., Rossman, L. A., Li, Y., and Guastella, D. (2002). “Measuring and Modeling Disinfectant Wall Demand in Metallic Pipes.” Proceedings of the ASCE Environmental Water Resources Institute Conference, American Society of Civil Engineers, Roanoke, Virginia. Hudson, W. D. (1966). “Studies of Distribution System Capacity in Seven Cities.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 58(2), 157. Insurance Service Office (ISO) (1963). Fire Flow Tests. New York, New York. Lamont, P. A. (1981). “Common Pipe Flow Formulas Compared with the Theory of Roughness.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 73(5), 274. McBean, E. A., Al-Nassari, S., and Clarke, D. (1983). “Some Probabilistic Elements of Field Testing in Water Distribution Systems.” Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers, Part 2, 75-143. McEnroe, B. M., Chase, D. V., and Sharp, W. W. (1989). “Field Testing Water Mains to Determine Carrying Capacity.” Miscellaneous Paper EL-89, U.S., Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Morin, M., and Rajaratnam, I. V. (2000). Testing and Calibration of Pitot Diffusers. University of Alberta Hydraulics Laboratory, Alberta, Canada. Ormsbee, L. E., and Lingireddy, S. (1997). “Calibrating Hydraulic Network Models.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 89(2), 44. Rossman, L. A., Clark, R. M., and Grayman, W. M. (1994). “Modeling Chlorine Residuals in DrinkingWater Distribution Systems.” Journal of Environmental Engineering, ASCE, 120(4), 803. Sharp, W. W., and Walski, T. M. (1988). “Predicting Internal Roughness in Water Mains.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 80(11), 34. Summers, R. S., Hooper, S. M., Shukairy, H. M., Solarik, G., and Owen, D. (1996). “Assessing DBP Yield: Uniform Formation Conditions.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 88(6), 80. Vasconcelos, J. J., Rossman, L. A., Grayman, W. M., Boulos, P. F., and Clark, R. M. (1996). Characterization and Modeling of Chlorine Decay in Distribution Systems. AWWA Research Foundation, Denver, Colorado. Walski, T. M. (1984a). Analysis of Water Distribution Systems. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, New York. Walski, T. M. (1984b). “Hydrant Flow Test Results.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 110(6), 847. Walski, T. M. (1985). “Correction of Head Loss Measurements in Water Mains.” Journal of Transportation Engineering, ASCE, 111(1), 75.

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Walski, T. M. (1988). “Conducting and Reporting Hydrant Flow Tests.” WES Video Report, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Walski, T.M. (1998). “Importance and Accuracy of Node Elevation Data.” Essential Hydraulics and Hydrology, Haestad Press, Inc., Waterbury, Connecticut. Walski, T. M. (2000). “Model Calibration Data: The Good, The Bad and The Useless.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 92(1), 94. Walski, T. M., Edwards, J. D., and Hearne, V. M. (1989). “Loss of Carrying Capacity in Pipes Transporting Softened Water with High pH.” Proceedings of the National Conference on Environmental Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, Austin, Texas. Walski, T. M., Gangemi, Kaufman, and Malos. (2001). "Establishing a System Submetering Project." Proceedings of the AWWA Annual Conference, Washington, DC. Walski, T. M., and Lutes, T. L. (1990). “Accuracy of Hydrant Flow Tests Using a Pitot Diffuser.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 82(7), 58. Walski, T. M., and O’Farrell, S. J. (1994). “Head Loss Testing in Transmission Mains.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 86(7), 62. Water and Environment Federation (WEF). (1997). “Energy Conservation in Wastewater Treatment Facilities.” WEF Manual of Practice MFD-2, Alexandria, Virginia. Wright, C., and Nevins, T. (2002). “In-situ Tracer Testing for Determining Effective Inside Pipe Diameters.” Proceedings of the ASCE Environmental Water Resources Institute Conference, American Society of Civil Engineers, Roanoke, Virginia.

Discussion Topics and Problems

DISCUSSION TOPICS AND PROBLEMS Read the chapter and complete the problems. Submit your work to Haestad Methods and earn up to 11.0 CEUs. See Continuing Education Units on page xxix for more information, or visit www.haestad.com/awdm-ceus/.

5.1 English Units: Compute the HGL at each of the fire hydrants for the pressure readings presented below and complete the table. Location

Elevation (ft)

Pressure Reading (psi)

FH-1

235

57

FH-5

321

42

FH-34

415

15

FH-10

295

68

FH-19

333

45

FH-39

412

27

HGL (ft)

SI Units: Compute the HGL at each of the fire hydrants for the pressure readings presented below and complete the table. Location

Elevation (m)

Pressure Reading (kPa)

FH-1

71.6

393

FH-5

97.8

290

FH-34

126.5

103

FH-10

89.9

469

FH-19

101.5

310

FH-39

125.6

186

HGL (m)

225

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5.2 English Units: A tank is used to capture the flow from a fire hydrant as illustrated in the figure. The tank is 50 ft long, 30 ft wide, and 12 ft high. What is the average discharge from the fire hydrant if the container is filled to a depth of 10 ft in 90 minutes?

Q

12 ft (3.7 m)

30 ft (9.1 m) 50 ft (15.2 m)

SI Units: A tank is used to capture the flow from a fire hydrant as illustrated in the figure. The tank is 15.2 m long, 9.1 m wide, and 3.7 m high. What is the average discharge from the fire hydrant if the container is filled to a depth of 3.0 m in 90 minutes?

5.3 English Units: A fire flow test was conducted using the four fire hydrants shown in the following figure. Before flowing the hydrants, the static pressure at the residual hydrant was recorded as 93 psi. Given the data for the flow test in the following tables, find the discharges from each hydrant and finish filling out the tables. Flow was directed out of the 2 ½-in. nozzle, and each hydrant has a rounded entrance where the nozzle meets the hydrant barrel.

Residual Hydrant

FH-1

FH-2

Q1

//=//=

//=//=

FH-3

Q2

Q3

//=//=

a) Would you consider the data collected for this fire flow test to be acceptable for use with a hydraulic simulation model? Why or why not? b) Based on the results of the fire flow tests, do you think that the hydrants are located on a transmission line or a distribution line? c) Would these results typically be more consistent with a test conducted near a water source (such as a storage tank) or at some distance away from a source? d) If the needed fire flow is 3,500 gpm with a minimum residual pressure of 20 psi, is this system capable of delivering sufficient fire flows at this location?

Discussion Topics and Problems

Flowed Hydrant

Residual Pressure (psi)

Pitot Reading (psi)

Residual Hydrant

88

N/A

FH-1

N/A

58

FH-2

N/A

52

FH-3

N/A

Closed

Flowed Hydrant

Residual Pressure (psi)

Pitot Reading (psi)

Residual Hydrant

91

N/A

FH-1

N/A

65

FH-2

N/A

Closed

FH-3

N/A

Closed

Flowed Hydrant

Residual Pressure (psi)

Pitot Reading (psi)

Residual Hydrant

83

N/A

FH-1

N/A

53

FH-2

N/A

51

FH-3

N/A

48

Hydrant Discharge (gpm)

Hydrant Discharge (gpm)

Hydrant Discharge (gpm)

SI Units: A fire flow test was conducted using the four fire hydrants shown in the figure. Before flowing the hydrants, the static pressure at the residual hydrant was recorded as 641 kPa. Given the data for the flow test in the following tables, find the discharges from each hydrant and finish filling out the tables. Flow was directed out of the 64 mm nozzle, and each hydrant has a rounded entrance where the nozzle meets the hydrant barrel. a) Would you consider the data collected for this fire flow test to be acceptable for use with a hydraulic simulation model? Why or why not? b) Based on the results of the fire flow tests, do you think that the hydrants are located on a transmission line or a distribution line? c) Would these results typically be more consistent with a test conducted near a water source (such as a storage tank), or at some distance away from a source? d) If the needed fire flow is 220 l/s with a minimum residual pressure of 138 kPa, is this system capable of delivering sufficient fire flows at this location? Flowed Hydrant

Residual Pressure (kPa)

Pitot Reading (kPa)

Residual Hydrant

627

N/A

FH-1

N/A

448

FH-2

N/A

Closed

FH-3

N/A

Closed

Hydrant Discharge (l/s)

227

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Flowed Hydrant

Residual Pressure (kPa)

Pitot Reading (kPa)

Residual Hydrant

607

N/A

FH-1

N/A

400

FH-2

N/A

359

FH-3

N/A

Closed

Flowed Hydrant

Residual Pressure (kPa)

Pitot Reading (kPa)

Residual Hydrant

572

N/A

FH-1

N/A

365

FH-2

N/A

352

FH-3

N/A

331

Hydrant Discharge (l/s)

Hydrant Discharge (l/s)

5.4 English Units: A two-gage head loss test was conducted over 650 ft of 8-in. PVC pipe, as shown in the figure. The pipe was installed in 1981. The discharge from the flowed hydrant was 1,050 gpm. The data obtained from the test are presented in the following table. Elevation (ft)

Pressure (psi)

Fire Hydrant 1

500

62

Fire Hydrant 2

520

57

a) Can the results of the head loss test be used to determine the internal roughness of the pipe? Why or why not? b) If the test results cannot be used, what is most likely causing the problem?

Hydrant 2

Hydrant 1

//=//=

//=//=

Flowed Hydrant

//=//=

Q

Closed Valve

Discussion Topics and Problems

SI Units: A two-gage head loss test was conducted over 198 m of 203-mm PVC pipe, as shown in the figure. The pipe was installed in 1981. The discharge from the flowed hydrant was 66.2 l/s. The data obtained from the test are presented in the following table. Elevation (m)

Pressure (kPa)

Fire Hydrant 1

152

428

Fire Hydrant 2

158

393

a) Can the results of the head loss test be used to determine the internal roughness of the pipe? Why or why not? b) If the test results cannot be used, what is most likely causing the problem?

5.5 English Units: A different two-gage head loss test was conducted over the same 650 ft of 8-in. PVC pipe shown in Problem 5.4. In this test, the pressure at Fire Hydrant 1 was 65 psi, and the pressure at Fire Hydrant 2 was 40 psi. The discharge through the flowed hydrant was 1,350 gpm. a) Can the results of the head loss test be used to determine the internal roughness of the pipe? Why or why not? b) What is the Hazen-Williams C-factor for this line? c) How can the results of this test be used to help calibrate the water distribution system? d) Is this a realistic roughness value for PVC? SI Units: A different two-gage head loss test was conducted over the same 198 m of 203-mm PVC pipe shown in Problem 5.4. In this test, the pressure at Fire Hydrant 1 was 448 kPa, and the pressure at Fire Hydrant 2 was 276 kPa. The discharge through the flowed hydrant was 85.2 l/s. a) Can the results of the head loss test be used to determine the internal roughness of the pipe? Why or why not? b) What is the Hazen-Williams C-factor for this line? c) How can the results of this test be used to help calibrate the water distribution system? d) Is this a realistic roughness value for PVC?

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5.6 The table below presents the results of a chlorine decay bottle test. Compute the bulk reaction rate coefficient for this water sample. Time (hr)

Concentration (mg/l)

1.5

3

1.4

6

1.2

9

1.0

12

1.0

15

0.9

18

0.7

21

0.7

24

0.6

27

0.5

30

0.5

33

0.5

36

0.4

39

0.4

42

0.3

45

0.3

48

0.3

51

0.3

54

0.2

57

0.2

60

0.2

Discussion Topics and Problems

5.7 English Units: Data from a pump test are presented in the following table. Fortunately, this pump had a pressure tap available on both the suction and discharge sides. The diameter of the suction line is 12 in. and the diameter of the discharge line is 8 in. Plot the pump head-discharge curve for this unit. Suction Pressure (psi)

Discharge Pressure (psi)

Pump Discharge (gpm)

10.5

117

10.1

116

260

9.3

114

500

8.7

111

725

7.2

101

1,250

5.7

93

1,500

4.4

85

1,725

3.0

76

2,000

1.6

65

2,300

-0.2

53

2,500

-2.0

41

2,700

SI Units: Data from a pump test are presented in the following table. Fortunately, this pump had a pressure tap available on both the suction and discharge sides. The diameter of the suction line is 300 mm, and the diameter of the discharge line is 200 mm. Plot the pump head-discharge curve for this unit. Suction Pressure (kPa)

Discharge Pressure (kPa)

Pump Discharge (l/s)

72.4

803

69.6

798

16.4

64.1

784

31.5

60.0

764

45.7

49.6

694

78.9

39.3

644

94.6

30.3

586

108.8

20.7

522

126.2

11.0

451

145.1

-1.4

366

157.7

-13.8

283

170.3

5.8 A C-factor test is conducted in a 350 ft length of 12-in. pipe. The upstream pressure gage is at elevation 520 ft, and the downstream gage is at 524 ft. a) The Hazen-Williams equation can be rearranged to solve for C as C =KQ/hL0.54 where

C = Hazen-Williams roughness coefficient K = constant Q = flow (gpm) hL = head loss due to friction (ft)

What is the expression for K if length (L) is in feet and diameter (D) is in inches? All of the terms in K are constant for this problem, so determine the numerical value for K.

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b) What is the expression for head loss between the upstream and downstream pressure gages if the head loss (h) and elevations (z1 and z2) are in feet, and the pressures (P1 and P2) are in psi? c) The elevations are surveyed to the nearest 0.01 ft and the pressure gage is accurate to +/- 1 psi. Opening a downstream hydrant resulted in a flow of 800 gpm (accurate to +/- 50 gpm) with a measured upstream pressure of 60 psi and a measured downstream pressure of 57 psi. Determine the possible range of actual Hazen-Williams C-factors and fill in the following table. Hint: For the roughest possible C-factor, use 800 – 50 gpm for flow and h + 5 ft for head loss. For the smoothest possible C-factor, use 800 + 50 gpm for flow and h – 5 ft for head loss. Measured Values

Roughest Possible C

Smoothest Possible C

Q (gpm) h (ft) C

d) What can you conclude about the C-factor from this test? e) Which measurement contributed more to the error in this problem, head loss or flow? f) What could you do to improve the results if you ran the test over again?

5.9 English Units: A hydrant flow test was performed on a main line where a new industrial park is to tie in. The following hydrant flow test values were obtained from a 2 ½-in. nozzle in the field. First, use Equation 5.1 to determine the hydrant discharge for a discharge coefficient of 0.90. Determine if the existing system is able to handle 1,200 gpm of fire flow demand for the new industrial park by using the equation given in the sidebar on page 189 entitled Evaluating Distribution Capacity with Hydrant Tests. Fire Hydrant Number

Static Pressure

Residual Pressure

Pitot Pressure

200

48 psi

33 psi

12 psi

SI Units: A hydrant flow test was performed on a main line where a new industrial park is to tie in. The following hydrant flow test values were obtained from 64-mm nozzle in the field. First, use Equation 5.1 to determine the hydrant discharge for a discharge coefficient of 0.90. Determine if the existing system is able to handle 75.7 l/s of fire flow demand for the new industrial park by using the equation given in the sidebar on page 189 entitled Evaluating Distribution Capacity with Hydrant Tests. Fire Hydrant Number

Static Pressure

Residual Pressure

Pitot Pressure

200

331 kPa

227.5 kPa

82.7 kPa

5.10 A utility performed a C-factor test on a pipe with a nominal diameter of 8 in. and calculated the Cfactor as 40. Later, tests showed that the true diameter was 6 in. due to severe tuberculation. Using the correct diameter, what would the corrected C-factor be? If the flow in the pipe is 200 gpm (0.446 cfs), what would the velocity be using the 8-in. nominal diameter and the 6-in. actual diameter?

Discussion Topics and Problems

5.11 A chlorine field test is conducted to estimate the wall demand for a 6-in. diameter (actual diameter) 1500-ft length of pipe. The flow rate during the test is 300 gpm. The chlorine bulk decay rate was determined to be –0.2/day based on a bottle test. Chlorine residual at the upstream and downstream ends of the segment during the test was measured as 0.80 mg/l and 0.55 mg/l respectively. Calculate the following values: velocity, travel time, chlorine loss due solely to bulk demand, and chlorine loss due to wall demand (that is, the difference between observed chlorine loss and loss due to bulk decay). Then set up a model of this link as shown in the figure and iteratively run the model to find the wall demand coefficient that results in the observed chlorine loss. Assume a water temperature of 15oC.

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6 Using SCADA Data for Hydraulic Modeling

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems enable an operator to remotely view real-time measurements, such as the level of water in a tank, and remotely initiate the operation of network elements such as pumps and valves. SCADA systems can be set up to sound alarms at the central host computer when a fault within a water supply system is identified. They can also be used to keep a historical record of the temporal behavior of various variables in the system such as tank and reservoir levels. Appendix E provides an in-depth introduction to SCADA systems and their components. When working with SCADA data, the modeler often has access to more data than can be easily processed. For example, the modeler may have several weeks of data from which to calibrate an extended-period simulation (EPS) model and must pick a representative day or days to use as the basis for calibration. Selecting the best modeling analysis period from these thousands of numbers, which may be in several sources, is extremely difficult. Usually, there is no day when all of the instrumentation is functioning properly, so selecting that day is often based on finding the day with the fewest problems. Another challenge of working with SCADA data is that incorrect readings, time-scale errors, or missing values may not be readily apparent in the mass of raw data. Fortunately, the modeler can use any of several procedures to compile and organize SCADA information into a more usable format, usually in the form of a spreadsheet. The tables and graphs developed using these procedures can then be used directly for a range of applications, including EPS model calibration, forecasting of system operations, and estimating water loss during main breaks.

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This chapter provides guidance for addressing these challenges and discusses the types of SCADA data, different data collection techniques and formats, interpretation and correction of errors in SCADA data, verification of the validity of SCADA data, and other general procedures for the handling and managing of SCADA data for the purpose of hydraulic modeling.

6.1

TYPES OF SCADA DATA

Data received from SCADA systems fall into one of the following categories: • Analog data (real numbers): Analog data are usually represented by integers or IEEE floating-point numbers (these are numbers that have no fixed number of digits before and after the decimal point and that follow the popular Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standard). It may be trended (placed in charts that show variation over time) or used to generate alarms should the data indicate an abnormal condition. • Digital data (on/off or open/closed): Digital data may be used to sound alarms, depending on the state (on/off or open/closed) reflected by the data. • Pulse data: Pulse data, such as the number of revolutions of a meter, are accumulated at either the site collection point or at the SCADA central host computer. They are typically converted to the same number format as analog data; however, they are physically derived in a different manner from pure, real-number analog data obtained from field instrumentation. • Status bits (or flags): Status bits are usually ancillary to analog data. For example, a data flag can accompany an analog input if the SCADA system determines that a value is possibly invalid. Although SCADA data are useful for many hydraulic modeling applications, the general composition of SCADA data — time-based records of flows, pressures, levels, and equipment status — is especially well-suited for EPS analyses. However, steadystate modeling investigations also can benefit from SCADA data. For example, the data can be useful for setting model boundary conditions. As with any information used for hydraulic modeling, SCADA data require careful handling and processing to maintain their usefulness and should not be accepted blindly.

6.2

POLLING INTERVALS AND UNSOLICITED DATA

SCADA systems are typically deployed over large geographic areas using communications links such as radio or telephone lines. In comparison with local, hard-wired computer links, such communication channels can be relatively slow. Therefore, many SCADA systems employ some form of data acquisition scheduling to conserve bandwidth. Consequently, data are often not collected continuously from all devices in the field, and thus it is not uncommon for a SCADA system to display analog data as some form of average values rather than continuous instantaneous values. There are two major ways that data are obtained from the field:

Section 6.2

Polling Intervals and Unsolicited Data

Using Hydraulic Models to Assist in SCADA Setup For the most part, this book considers SCADA as a source of data to help support hydraulic modeling efforts. However, a hydraulic model can also be used to assist SCADA operators with setting up controls for an existing SCADA system or for entirely new SCADA installations. Rather than experimenting with the real system, the operator can test out different control strategies in the model and determine if the new controls are an improvement or if there are adverse impacts.

Before a SCADA system comes on line, it is usually tested by simulating events such as tank levels and valve statuses using EPS model runs. Results from these tests can be used to determine control set points, levels, and variable-frequency-drive settings. With model output linked to the man-machine interface of the SCADA system, it becomes possible to simulate much more realistic sequences of events to better test the SCADA system.

• The central host computer “polls” the field devices • The field devices send “unsolicited” data to the central host In a polled system, the SCADA central host sequentially polls the remote terminal units (RTUs) (see Appendix E for more information on RTUs), each of which respond in order, reporting the latest analog data values, alarms, and equipment status (whether pumps are off or on, whether valves are open or closed, and so on). If no change of state has occurred, polled RTUs can report by exception, in which case they respond with “nothing to report.” If a change of state has occurred, however, the RTU reports the appropriate information. This approach reduces the bandwidth requirements of the system; however, because each RTU must wait for its turn to be polled, the duration of each polling cycle may vary depending on the number of RTUs that have something to report. Many systems can be configured to poll selected RTUs at fixed intervals, allowing enough time for the system to collect all information from each RTU. In an unsolicited response system, the RTUs generate all reporting messages as required in a “random” fashion. Typically, such messages report a change of state or a fault, or simply pass data to the SCADA central host. The information itself is termed unsolicited data because the central host has not called for the information. In such systems, the RTUs download a collection of analog data values and past equipment statuses that were being held in local memory but did not warrant an unsolicited response to the central host. RTUs may also be configured to generate an unsolicited data transfer when the data memory has reached full capacity. Some SCADA systems use a combination of the polled and unsolicited response mechanisms. They use periodic polling to ascertain the health of the field devices and rely on unsolicited messages to be the vehicle by which field alarms are sent to the central host and displayed. These systems are known as hybrid systems. The practical result of hybrid systems is that data are often compressed in the field collection

237

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devices before it is transmitted to the central host. This minimizes data traffic, making optimum use of the restricted bandwidth associated with the communication channels, and allows greater amounts of data to be held in memory in the field RTUs.

6.3

SCADA DATA FORMAT

SCADA systems generally allow some form of data transfer to external applications. For example, data may be exported as ASCII text, as a spreadsheet file, or to a proprietary “data historian” software package. Table 6.1 illustrates flow meter and valve position data that have been collected from a SCADA system and fed directly into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet using a standard ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) link. Once the data are in tabular format within a spreadsheet, it is possible to manipulate the data to investigate the behavior of the instrument or the associated plant being monitored. In Table 6.1, the flow measurements over time are being used to assess the performance of a valve used to throttle the flow through the pipe. Table 6.1 Flow meter data imported directly into a spreadsheet Time

Flow (ML/day)

Valve Position (% Open)

8/22/01 21:56

8.52

10.00

8/22/01 21:57

8.70

10.00

8/22/01 21:59

8.70

10.00

8/22/01 22:00

8.76

10.00

8/22/01 22:01

8.76

10.00

8/22/01 22:02

8.52

10.00

8/22/01 22:14

8.52

18.40

8/22/01 22:15

10.26

19.24

8/22/01 22:16

13.20

20.08

8/22/01 22:17

13.26

20.92

8/22/01 22:19

13.26

22.61

8/22/01 22:20

16.74

23.45

8/22/01 22:21

17.58

24.29

8/22/01 22:22

19.32

25.13

8/22/01 22:23

19.92

25.97

8/22/01 22:24

19.68

26.81

8/22/01 22:25

19.68

27.65

8/22/01 22:26

22.62

28.49

8/22/01 22:27

22.50

29.33

8/22/01 22:29

22.50

31.01

Section 6.4

6.4

Managing SCADA Data

MANAGING SCADA DATA

To process SCADA data, the modeler must perform an overview of the records, organize the information into hydraulically related groups, review the data in detail to identify and resolve potential problems (such as timing problems, missing data, and so on), and develop a model time-step scale for EPS analyses. The first step in using SCADA records is to perform an initial review of the information downloaded from the SCADA system(s) and any other data sources. The beginning and ending times and dates for each parameter must be identified to determine the maximum common period of record for all of the parameters. Obvious errors in the records, such as blanks or default values, should be factored into the decision regarding the extent of the period of record. At this point, it is also sensible to classify data into two groups: (1) measurements averaged over the SCADA time increment, and (2) values reported on the SCADA time stamp. An example of averaged SCADA data are pump station flows determined from totalizing flow meters (devices that measure the total quantity of flow). Examples of time stamp SCADA data are tank levels or system pressures. The difference in these two categories of data is evident in several modeling applications, in particular when preparing diurnal demand curves. For example, a pressure of 61.2 psi from a sensor at 10:15:23 a.m. may be the pressure at that instant or the average pressure since the last reading. The modeler needs to check which type of value is being displayed. In large complex systems, the SCADA information should be organized into groups corresponding to distribution gradients that usually corresponds to pressure zones in the hydraulic model. In some cases, it may be necessary to combine several model pressure zones into one SCADA data group where SCADA information is not collected at pumps or valves between the zones. After the SCADA groups are established, the modeler should identify the records that should match, such as certain pump station flows, pressures, and tank levels, in order to check and confirm the SCADA records. Note that it is generally necessary to place some system facilities in more than one SCADA group. For example, a flow meter record can represent an outflow from one zone and an inflow to a second zone.

6.5

SCADA DATA ERRORS

Errors in data obtained from SCADA systems can be caused by system failure or scheduled downtime in the system and can include gaps in trended data or missing digital event or alarm points. The following sections concentrate on errors in analog data collected from the field during normal operation of a SCADA system. Such errors may not impact the creation and tuning of a water distribution system model, but the modeler should be aware of any data inaccuracies and take them into account when comparing the model results with the data obtained from the SCADA system.

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Data Compression Problems Errors in SCADA data are commonly caused when data in the RTUs are compressed. The data are compressed in order to reduce the amount of data that are transferred between field-based devices and the SCADA central host, thereby making best use of the available bandwidth associated with the communication links. The effect of this compression is that trended analog data received from the field may not consistently reproduce the behavior of an actual field variable. In particular, data received via SCADA may not vary as quickly as the actual field variable. It is important that users of the data understand the magnitude of error inherent in the data obtained from the particular SCADA system in use. When using SCADA data for model validation, for example, it is important that the quality of the collected data is understood before a model is tuned to adequately reflect the field variable in question. Common compression techniques use various transmission methods, but they transmit information only when there is significant variation in the behavior of the variable. For example, one such technique tracks the gradient of a trended variable over time and transmits information to the central host only when the gradient has changed by greater than a preset amount. Other techniques involve transmitting a new value only when the variable has altered by a certain preset percentage of the total span of the variable. Analog data obtained from a SCADA system may therefore exhibit “step” behavior, which does not correspond precisely with the variation of the variable in the field. This behavior can occur whether information is accessed from a poll to the field or from unsolicited data transfer. Other SCADA systems may average the field data between polls or between the opportunities for unsolicited data transfers. In each of these cases, the resolution of the data on display at the SCADA operator’s terminal is of a lesser quality than the actual variation of the field variable. Users of the data should therefore understand whether a value is instantaneous, and therefore at what time it was collected, or an average value over the polling interval. It is important that users of the data understand the particular mechanisms by which the data have been collected and take this into account when analyzing the data.

Timing Problems Other sources of error in SCADA trends may be temporary. When data are held in the field memory and then transferred to the central host, such as is the case for an unsolicited data transfer, the SCADA system may employ a “back-filling” mechanism. When this happens, data are collected from the RTUs and then past values in the trend display on the SCADA central host computer are updated to indicate the values uploaded from the field. Therefore, there is a period when the values in the displayed trend may not represent a complete record from the field, and the most recent data on display is yet to be updated from the latest field information. Operators and modelers viewing the data should be aware of how far in the past a back-filling mechanism may affect trended data. Practically, data may appear as constant until updated. The time period during which the displayed trend is inaccurate is set by the configuration of the SCADA system, which is intended to optimize the use of communication bandwidth and field-based data memory.

Section 6.5

SCADA Data Errors

Integrating SCADA Systems and Hydraulic Models: Two Sample Applications ESTIMATING PARAMETERS AT NON-SCADA LOCATIONS SCADA systems monitor the water distribution system performance at discrete stations scattered throughout the service area. However, there may be locations in the distribution system, such as meter pits, that lack the power or communication connections required for a functional SCADA station. For these situations, the flows and pressures can be estimated from SCADA information at nearby stations. When these calculations are not complicated, they can be performed within the SCADA software (for example, by offsetting pressure readings from other stations based on differences in elevation). However, when the situation is more complex, a hydraulic model interfaced with the SCADA software is required to obtain parameter estimates. The steps involved in calculating information for non-SCADA sites include the following: • Export data on boundary conditions from SCADA. • Configure the hydraulic model to match those specific conditions. • Execute the model.

This type of procedure is typically automated and accomplished with some form of dynamic data linkage between the SCADA system and modeling software. ESTIMATING WATER LOSS DURING MAIN BREAKS Tracking the water discharged from the system during main breaks can help quantify losses. Generally, a significant main break will show up in SCADA records as low pressures readings, an unexplained decline in tank levels, excessive pump flow, or other unexplained data inconsistencies. SCADA information for the time period surrounding the break can be downloaded to a hydraulic model and the model can then be executed to simulate system conditions at the time of the break. By adjusting the demands (or emitter coefficients) at the break location and trying different start and finish times for the break, the modeler should be able to match modeling results to the SCADA records during the break and thus determine the quantity of water lost. These results can then be used in estimates of unaccounted-for water.

• View the results or import results from the model back into SCADA.

The data back-filling mechanism is a useful function that allows optimization of a SCADA system, but it can cause difficulties for utility data collection. Therefore, when an organization employs an automatic data historian database product to facilitate deployment of SCADA data into the utility-wide computing environment, it is important that the software be compatible with the data back-filling mechanism of the SCADA system. This ensures that trend data is not lost to other users of the data. In addition, a temporal error can occur in the SCADA data itself. Some data may be time-stamped with the time at which it was received by the central SCADA host computer as opposed to the time at which it was collected in the field. As a result, events and trend time stamps may not correspond with the times of the actual event occurrences in the field. If a SCADA system is configured to behave in this manner, the user must be aware of the time lag inherent in the communication channels and various data collection mechanisms. For many SCADA systems, this time lag may only be several seconds or less, but for systems incorporating large remote data storage, it

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is conceivable that under extreme circumstances, the time stamp may be substantially incorrect. This latter situation is most inconvenient for event and alarm data. For example, consider a system that is configured to time-stamp events and alarms when they are received at the SCADA central host computer and that has remote outstations that are configured to buffer alarms and events if communications links to the central host are lost or the central host is out of service. This is desirable, because operational staff must know about alarms that have occurred during an outage, and the exact time at which they occurred may not be considered relevant, as long as the alarm is received. When the system is restored to normal operation and the alarm or event is received, it is time-stamped by the central computer. A user viewing the historical data obtained from the SCADA system would then see that the alarm or event occurred at a time that did not correspond to evidence gathered from other observations, such as site-based data loggers or back-filled trend data. Users of the data must understand the mechanism by which the data under review are time-stamped and know whether system outages occurred that might have caused a substantial error in the time stamp. This information should be considered when the data are analyzed. Authenticating SCADA information to confirm that it is usable and sufficiently accurate for modeling purposes is greatly assisted by preparing plots of each data record over the previously determined common time period. The time scale, plotted on the horizontal axis, should use the time stamp placed on the records by the SCADA system. Reviewing and comparing these plots, individually and in groups, helps determine whether there are missing records, instrumentation problems, or time-stamp inaccuracies. These conditions are much easier to identify from the plotted data than from reading columns of numbers in a database. Certain system operations should coincide, such as a pump start at a booster station that supplies a zone and an increase in the water level in a tank in that same zone. If interrelated operations do not agree, such as if the tank level begins to rise prior to the time of the pump start, then the time scale of the SCADA data needs to be checked. A thorough examination for time-related problems is especially important if SCADA and system information were derived from more than one source. Figure 6.1 shows an example of SCADA timing problems.

Missing Data Missing data in SCADA information can be caused by many factors, such as power failures, communication failures between the RTU and the central host computer, or a variety of temporary SCADA software glitches. Regardless of the reason, periods during which system data are incomplete must be identified. In many SCADA systems, missing data are flagged. Typically, either an RTU or the central host computer will set a questionable data flag if it determines that an input or sensor is not performing properly. The most common cause is an over-range or under-range value. Also, if the central host computer cannot communicate with an RTU, it will set flags for all the database entries, which would otherwise be supplied by that RTU. If a back-filling feature is not available, the modeler can rely on the flag to indicate that data are not available.

Section 6.5

SCADA Data Errors

Figure 6.1 Timing problems

TIMING PROBLEMS 36

Discharge Tank Level, ft

34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 0

3

6

9

12

15

18

21

24

Time, hours

350 DATA FROM SCADA SYSTEM

Pump Station Flow, gpm

300 250 200 150 100 50

PUMP OPERATIONS SHOULD CORRESPOND TO TANK LEVEL PLOTS

SHIFT SCADA RECORDS 2 HOURS

0 -50 0

3

6

9

3

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9

12 15 Time, hours

18

21

24

18

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24

36

Suction Tank Level, ft

34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 12 Time, hours

15

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If no status flags are used, the modeler can look for other signs of missing data. A rapid drop to zero or a negative value at the beginning of the problem period serves as evidence that data is missing. Similarly, a rapid increase at the end of the problem period can serve as evidence. Some RTUs use “rate of change” alarms to highlight such conditions. Note that not all zero values indicate incorrect SCADA data; however, because of zero drift (a shift in the zero point of sensors usually over the long term), some sensors may give a nonzero reading even when the true value is zero. Pumps that are off may show a flow rate of 2 gpm, for example, which should be converted to zero. Another sign that records are missing from the SCADA information is the occurrence of horizontal sections on the SCADA data plots. SCADA software can be programmed to “latch” data, such that the last reported parameter value is held in memory until a new, updated value is received. In this situation, the data record plot will not exhibit a drop to zero when data is missing. Instead, the SCADA data plot will “flat-line” during the missing record period and resume its normal appearance at the end of the problem period. Figure 6.2 shows examples of missing data periods in a SCADA data plot. Missing data is typically converted to all zeroes or flat lines, but some systems initiate corrective actions to replace missing data, such as linear interpolation and use of averages of a number of known good data points. Systems using such techniques often include flags to indicate that the original data was missing or questionable. In addition, some SCADA systems use editing packages, which allow the user to determine how to address missing data.

Instrumentation Instrumentation-related problems include inaccurate data, extreme fluctuations in readings, and inadequate instrument range. Inaccurate readings from field instruments may occur as a result of uncalibrated equipment, signal interference in the input cabling to the RTU, misinterpretation by SCADA software, or other factors. Inaccurate data may be difficult to ascertain from downloaded SCADA information, in particular when a station is located in an isolated site in the system and there are no nearby stations to correlate data to check accuracy. If it is suspected that a certain field instrument is inaccurate, the first step should be to calibrate it. If there are further concerns, a chart recorder or data logger can be used to document instrument operations. Extreme fluctuations in readings, called data spikes, can result from hydraulic transients produced at pump starts/stops or valve open/close. (See Chapter 13 for a detailed discussion of hydraulic transients.) Data spikes also can occur as a result of power surges or intermittent interference from improperly shielded signal cables. Some smart field instruments also use extreme values to show that internal diagnostics have determined that the input value is questionable. Generally, spikes show as a single extreme value or smaller, constantly repeating variations in the SCADA records. These fluctuations do not usually reflect actual system operations and will not be reproduced by hydraulic model simulation. Therefore, the modeler should filter SCADA records, as appropriate, to moderate spikes in the data.

Section 6.5

SCADA Data Errors

245

Figure 6.2 Missing SCADA data

MISSING DATA PERIODS IN A SCADA RECORD DATA PLOT DROPS TO ZERO 200

Missing Data

175

Pressure, psi

150 125 100 75 50 25 0

3

6

9

12 15 Time, hours

18

21

24

MISSING DATA PERIODS IN A SCADA RECORD LATCHED VALUES 200 MISSING DATA

175

Pressure, psi

150 125 100 75 50 25 0

3

6

9

12 15 Time, hours

18

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Field instruments typically are set to operate over a certain range or span. If the span is insufficient, there may be times when the system is performing at a point higher or lower than the capability of the instrument. During those periods, the SCADA data plot usually will “flat-line” until the system variable returns to a value within the instrument range. Such behavior could also indicate that the instrument has failed or is out of calibration, or that the signal is bad. If it is determined that a field instrument has inadequate range, the span should be increased or a replacement instrument with the appropriate range should be installed. Estimating values during a “flat-line” period may be difficult. Correlating with data from nearby stations or installing temporary chart recorders or data loggers may help fill in the “flat-line” records. Figure 6.3 shows SCADA data plots that reflect instrument-related problems. Figure 6.3 Instrumentation problems

INSTRUMENTATION PROBLEMS 200 DATA SPIKE

175

MAXIMUM INSTRUMENT RANGE

Pressure, psi

150 125 100 MINIMUM INSTRUMENT RANGE

75 50 25 0

DATA SPIKE 0

3

6

9

12

15

18

21

24

Time, hours

Unknown Elevations The sensors in a SCADA system may be very accurate, but the elevation of the sensor (not the elevation of the RTU or the ground) may be unknown (or only roughly known). For data from that sensor to be useful, the exact elevation must be determined. For example, the zero reading of a water level sensor may be referenced to the elevation of the transducer in a valve vault and not the floor of the tank.

Other Error Sources Other sources of error in SCADA systems include the following: • Failure of the communication system, central host, or RTU. This error may be identified by physical gaps in the data recorded by the SCADA sys-

Section 6.6

Responding to Data Problems

tem. Normally, status flags would also indicate that there was a communication problem. • Noise in the communication system. This error is not obvious from the data recorded by SCADA but can be identified through a long-term comparison with data collected directly from field-based data loggers or by complex statistical filtering techniques. However, most substantial noise errors typically result in no information being received at the central host computer. • Failure with the field instrumentation that may go undetected for a long period of time. Such errors are usually caused by a drift in the calibration of the field instrument and can be identified through model comparison or through long-term comparison with data collected directly from field-based data loggers. • Insufficient resolution of the field data collection device. Many RTUs employ only 16- or 32-bit resolution. If the instrument being used to measure the field variable allows a higher data word length, then the resolution of the data from that instrument is lost in the communication of that data. This error can also be identified through long-term comparison with data collected directly from field-based data loggers. Most new RTUs avoid this problem by using IEEE floating point format; however, the problem is valid for older RTUs or for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) (see Appendix E for more information on PLCs), which use integer representations of analog data.

6.6

RESPONDING TO DATA PROBLEMS

When incorrect SCADA readings are found, the modeler typically examines another time period and set of data where the problems do not occur. However, if a unique distribution system event is to be analyzed or if collecting the SCADA data requires a special effort by SCADA operators, the modeler may not have the option of selecting another problem-free period. In these cases, many of the previously described problems can be resolved in order to improve the SCADA information and arrange it in a format sufficient for hydraulic modeling applications. Discussions with SCADA operators can provide insight into the causes of inconsistencies in the data and permit the modeler to make appropriate allowances. Completing the data series with information from chart recorders, data loggers, or other monitoring devices, and shifting time scales where justified also can address SCADA data issues sufficiently to support modeling applications. EPS modeling analyses require SCADA information to be divided into model time steps. The duration of the model time step depends on the type of analysis being performed and is usually based on separating the total analysis time period into a reasonable and manageable number of steps. However, it may be difficult to download SCADA data at time increments that directly correspond to model time steps. A general guideline is Model time step length ≥ SCADA time increment length

(6.1)

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SCADA information listed at a higher frequency than the model time step may exhibit minor oscillations, or signal flutter. Some type of averaging (or smoothing) method (for example, three-point moving average) can be used to smooth the flutter, as shown in Figure 6.4. Usually, it is suitable to interpolate between SCADA values to calculate parameters at the model time step. For example, a SCADA database with a time increment of 15 minutes may list a tank level of 25 feet at 10:50 a.m. and 31 feet at 11:05 a.m. The model time steps are each one hour in length and begin on the hour. A tank level of 29 feet at 11:00 a.m. can be interpolated from these SCADA readings for use in model applications. However, averaging or interpolating information that involves a change in status may not produce acceptable results. For example, a pump start/stop or valve open/close may require an individual model time step to pinpoint its occurrence, as shown in Figure 6.5. Figure 6.4 Smoothing data fluctuations

6.7

VERIFYING DATA VALIDITY

Along with the convenience of remote monitoring via SCADA comes the drawback of data consumers becoming overly reliant on the data received from the SCADA system. A user of data may mistakenly assume the correctness of data received from a SCADA system when in fact the only way to be assured of its integrity is through critical analysis. Software for the central host is available that offers automatic detection of sensor data errors through continuous automatic analysis of data using such techniques as neural network analysis. However, more conventional data techniques are typically used to verify the validity of critical sensors and systems associated with a SCADA system.

Section 6.7

Verifying Data Validity

Figure 6.5 Data averaging problems

Important flow meters and other such sensing devices used in a SCADA system can be checked for data integrity by using locally housed data recorders, such as paper chart recorders, or, more recently, electronic data loggers. This equipment is physically connected to the data signal from the sensor device under investigation and then left to accumulate data from that device. Such data recording techniques frequently provide a better source of data than that offered by a SCADA system mainly because the sources of communication error mentioned in the preceding sections do not exist. Of course, the sensor itself may require calibration. Data obtained from a SCADA system can be used to indicate when a sensor is not operating correctly. This is done by comparing data from that sensor against an expected value derived through calculations incorporating data from other sensors in the system. Such comparisons can aid in scheduling sensor maintenance. Correct calibration of the sensor may then be achieved through comparison with temporary sensing equipment, maintained to a high standard of accuracy and placed on site to mirror the performance of the sensor under review. Many water utilities employing SCADA systems have found that such temporary sensors used in conjunction with local data recording systems are useful in the calibration of sensors as well as SCADA system equipment. A regular maintenance program involving such temporary site-based sensing equipment is one method by which a water utility can be assured of the reliability of the field data received from a SCADA system. Local data recording systems are not hindered by the restrictions of a limited bandwidth communication channel. They are therefore particularly appropriate when collecting a high rate of change detail, such as rapidly changing signal level transients on a radio link or fast pressure changes due to hydraulic transients. To capture the same level of detail from a digitized input to a SCADA system, a high sampling rate would be required, which would probably not be appropriate for the available bandwidth used on the SCADA communications system.

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REFERENCES Barnes, M., and Mackay, S. (1992). Data Communications for Instrumentation and Control. Instrument Data Communications (IDC), Australia. Haime, A. L. (1998). “Practical Guide to SCADA Communications.” SCADA at the Crossroads Conference Workshop, The Institution of Engineers Australia, Perth, Western Australia. Williams, R. I. (1992). Handbook of SCADA Systems for the Oil and Gas Industries. Elsevier Advanced Technology Limited, 1st Edition, Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom.

C H A P T E R

7 Calibrating Hydraulic Network Models

Even though the required data have been collected and entered into a hydraulic simulation software package, the modeler cannot assume that the model is an accurate mathematical representation of the system. The hydraulic simulation software simply solves the equations of continuity and energy using the supplied data; thus, the quality of the data will dictate the quality of the results. The accuracy of a hydraulic model depends on how well it has been calibrated, so a calibration analysis should always be performed before a model is used for decision-making purposes. Calibration is the process of comparing the model results to field observations and, if necessary, adjusting the data describing the system until model-predicted performance reasonably agrees with measured system performance over a wide range of operating conditions. The process of calibration may include changing system demands, fine-tuning the roughness of pipes, altering pump operating characteristics, and adjusting other model attributes that affect simulation results. The calibration process is necessary for the following reasons: • Confidence: Results provided by a computer model are frequently used to aid in making decisions regarding the operation or improvement of a hydraulic system. Calibration demonstrates the model’s capability to reproduce existing conditions, thereby increasing the confidence the engineer will have in the model to predict system behavior. • Understanding: The process of calibrating a hydraulic model provides excellent insight into the behavior and performance of the hydraulic system. In particular, it can show which input values the model is most sensitive to, so the modeler knows to be more careful in determining those values. With a better understanding of the system, the modeler will have an idea of the possible impact of various capital improvements or operational changes.

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• Troubleshooting: One area of calibration that is often overlooked is the capability to uncover missing or incorrect data describing the system, such as incorrect pipe diameters, missing pipes, or closed valves. Thus, another benefit of calibration is that it will help in identifying errors caused by mistakes made during the model-building process. This chapter begins with a discussion of data requirements and the reasons for discrepancies between computer-predicted behavior and actual field performance of a water distribution system. Variations can stem from the cumulative effects of errors, approximations, and simplifications in the way the system is modeled; site-specific reasons such as outdated system maps; and causes that are more difficult to quantify such as the inherent variability of water consumption. Next, the chapter addresses some of the specific methods used to calibrate models, including manual and automated approaches such as genetic algorithms. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the limits of calibration and how to know when the model is sufficiently calibrated.

7.1

MODEL-PREDICTED VERSUS FIELD-MEASURED PERFORMANCE

In making comparisons between model results and field observations, the user must ensure that the field data are correct and useful. The details of field-testing were explained in Chapter 5; this section focuses on identifying data useful for calibration.

Comparisons Based on Head When comparisons are made between field and model results, there is no mathematical reason to use pressures instead of hydraulic grades, or vice versa. Because pressure is just a converted representation of the height of the HGL relative to the ground elevation datum, the two are essentially equivalent for comparison purposes. For calibration purposes, however, there are several compelling arguments for working with hydraulic grades rather than pressures (Herrin, 1997): • Hydraulic grades provide the modeler with a sense of the accuracy and reliability of the data. If computed and measured hydraulic grade values are drastically different from one another, it should immediately signal the modeler that a particular value may be in error. For example, an elevation may have been entered incorrectly. • Hydraulic grades give an indication of the direction of flow—insight that pressures do not provide. • Working with hydraulic grades makes it easier to work with pressure measurements not taken exactly at node locations within the model, because it is the elevation of the pressure gage, not the node, that is used to convert measured pressure into HGL.

Section 7.2

Sources of Error in Modeling

Although both HGL and pressure comparisons will lead to the same results if all other factors are equal, pressure comparisons make it much easier to overlook errors and much harder to track down inconsistencies between real-world observations and the model results. Accordingly, the first step the modeler should complete upon collection of field data is to convert pressure and tank water level data into the equivalent HGLs. Subsequent comparisons should be made between observed and modeled HGLs.

Location of Data Collection Errors in roughness coefficients and demands affect the slope of the hydraulic grade line. If data are collected near the boundary nodes, the differences between the model and the field data may appear to be small because of the short distance even though the slope of the HGLs (and hence the roughness coefficient and demand) are significantly in error. Head data for model calibration should generally be collected at a significant distance from known boundary heads. Data should also be collected for pipes that have not been removed from the model during skeletonization. There should be at least one flow test conducted in each pressure zone, and the number of flow tests should be roughly proportional to the size of the pressure zone. In general, more tests will increase the confidence the user will have in the model. One approach to selecting sampling locations uses a special procedure to select locations that minimize the uncertainty of the model’s predictions (Bush and Uber, 1998). Another uses genetic algorithms to determine the best locations to conduct fire hydrant flow tests to maximize the coverage of the pipe network (Meier and Barkdoll, 2000). Data collection can be classified as either point reading (grab samples) or continuous monitoring. Point reading involves collecting data for a single location at a specific point in time, and continuous monitoring involves collecting data at a single location over time. For point readings, samples should be collected at locations where the parameter being measured is steady so that the sample measurement is representative of the location over a fairly long period of time. To get the most out of continuous monitoring, the data should be collected from locations where the parameter being measured is dynamic. In situations where a point reading must be made at a dynamic location, it is critical to carefully note the time and boundary conditions corresponding to the data point.

7.2

SOURCES OF ERROR IN MODELING

The primary objective of a simulation is to reproduce the behavior of a real system and its spatial and dynamic characteristics in a useful way. To accomplish this goal, data are supplied that depict the physical characteristics of the system, the loads placed on the system, and the boundary conditions in effect. Even if all the data gathered describing the model match the real system exactly, it is unlikely that the pressures and flows computed by the simulation model will absolutely agree with observed pressures and flows. Significant mathematical assumptions are employed by

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the simulation software to make the simulation computationally tractable, yet allow the simulated results to be meaningful and useful. Thus, modeling is essentially a balance between reality, a simulated reality, and the effort necessary to make the two agree. This section explores some of the sources of error in input data, as well as the causes for discrepancies between field conditions and modeling results. Some may assume that calibration can be accomplished by adjusting only internal pipe roughness values or estimates of nodal demands until an agreement between observed and computed pressures and flows is obtained. Generally speaking, the basis for this claim is that unlike pipe lengths, diameters, and tank levels, which are directly measured, pipe roughness values and nodal demands are typically estimated, and thus have room for adjustment. Numerous factors, however, can contribute to disagreement between model and field observations (Walski, 1990). Any and all input data that have uncertainty associated with them are candidates for adjustment during calibration to obtain reasonable agreement between model-predicted behavior and actual field behavior. A discrepancy found during the calibration process can also mean that the system itself has problems. A review of the system should be done before any changes are made to rationally developed model data. Possible system problems are large leaks, unchartered services, previously undetected errors in the metered consumption, errors in recorded pipe sizes, unknown throttled or closed valves, worn pump impellers, or old construction debris left in pipes.

Types of Errors Errors in input data can be broken down into two main categories, typographical errors and measurement errors. Typographical errors, although simple to correct, can be very difficult to uncover (for example, a pipe length of 2,250 ft is accidentally entered as 250 ft). Fortunately, some of today’s graphically-based hydraulic network models have tools that can help reduce the potential for typographical errors. For example, some models include automatic validation of input values and/or the ability to determine pipe lengths and vertices automatically by measuring the distance between two nodes based on the drawing scale. Unfortunately, these tools do not completely eliminate the possibility for human error. After data entry is completed, it is recommended that the model be reviewed for possible typographical errors. One tip is to use the sorting and color-coding capabilities available in many models to quickly identify very large or very small values for pipe length, diameter, or internal roughness. At a minimum, such values should be verified as accurate. Compared to typographical errors, measurement errors can be much more difficult to identify and correct. One example of such an error may result from variations in scale on system maps. For instance, if a length of a pipe is measured with an engineering scale from a system map that has a scale of 1 in (2.54 cm) = 1000 ft (304.8 m), the measured length may only be within ± 50 ft (15.24 m) of the actual length. Depending on the application of the model, this level of accuracy may or may not be sufficient for calibration purposes.

Section 7.2

Sources of Error in Modeling

Nominal versus Actual Pipe Diameters As discussed in Chapter 3 (see page 92), the nominal and actual diameters of a pipe typically differ. Determining the actual diameter of a pipe is further complicated by the chemical processes of corrosion and deposition that occur over time after the pipe has been installed. Therefore, for lack of a better value, nominal pipe diameters are generally used for model development, and the roughness coefficient is adjusted to compensate for the change in diameter due to pipe wall build-up. With severe tuberculation, a Hazen-Williams C-factor as low as 20 or 30 may be necessary to obtain a suitable calibration. Conversely, high roughness coefficients may be needed for calibration of new piping. Because the actual diameter of new pipe is usually greater than the nominal diameter, an increased roughness coefficient may be used to account for the difference. The pipe diameter has a much greater influence on the head loss through a pipe than the pipe roughness value does. According to the Hazen-Williams equation, the head loss is a function of the pipe diameter raised to nearly the fifth power, while it is a function of the roughness value raised to only the second power. The result is that a 10 percent increase in the pipe diameter will decrease head loss by nearly 40 percent, while a 10 percent increase in the roughness coefficient will decrease head loss by about 20 percent.

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There is little advantage to be gained in adjusting both the roughness coefficient and diameter in a model. For example, a 6-in. (150-mm) pipe with a roughness coefficient of 100 gives the same head loss as a 5-in. (130-mm) pipe with a coefficient of 161. In calibration, the user wants to minimize the number of variables to adjust, and considering diameter as an unknown would double the number of variables that must be determined for each pipe. Accordingly, making adjustments to roughness coefficients is the preferable means of fine-tuning a model calibration (except for certain situations in water quality calibration, as explained later in this chapter on page 281). Roughness coefficient values can help identify other problems in a model. In general, if C-factors less than 40 or greater than 150 are needed to calibrate the model, then chances are that some other condition, such as a partially closed valve, may be causing the difference between observed and modeled heads. The status of the valve may then be changed within the model, or the valve in the real system may require adjusting. Either alternative is a valuable result of the calibration process.

Internal Pipe Roughness Values A great deal of research has been done in the area of estimating pipe roughness values. Colebrook and White (1937) developed the theory behind the loss of carrying capacity with age. Full-scale testing of pipes was done in several cities to document the effect in real systems (California Section AWWA, 1962; and Hudson, 1966). Later, Lamont (1981) compiled an extensive table documenting pipe C-factors for a wide variety of pipe materials, sizes, and ages. The increase in pipe roughness as a function of water quality was also evaluated (Walski, Edwards, and Hearne, 1989). The research determined that two pipes of the same size, material, and age can have different effective diameters and roughnesses based on the quality of the water historically flowing through the pipe. Compensating Errors. Despite all of these variables, pressure data collected in the field can be used to select appropriate roughness values for the pipes. However, in calibrating a model, it is important to consider the potential for compensating errors; that is, fixing one inaccuracy by introducing another one into the network. When calibrating, the adjustments made to the variables should be appropriate for a range of operating conditions, and not just the individual case being considered.

„ Example — Compensating Errors. Consider the simple parallel pipe system shown in Figure 7.1 for which the internal roughness values of each pipe are unknown. Suppose that pressure measurements have been taken at the nodes on each end of the pipe segments, the total flow through the system is known, and the elevations of the nodes on each end of the pipe loop are the same. Knowing that the head losses through Pipe 1 and Pipe 2 are the same, the expressions for head loss in Pipes 1 and 2 can be equated. (Note that the pressure drop of 7 psi translates into a head loss of 16.2 ft.)

L 1  Q 1 1.852 L 2  Q 2 1.852 ----------- ---------------- -----= 4.87  C  4.87  C  1 2 D1 D2

Section 7.2

where

L D Q C

Sources of Error in Modeling

= = = =

257

pipe length (ft) pipe diameter (ft) pipe discharge (cfs) Hazen-Williams C-factor

Table 7.1 shows the results of a simple analysis performed on this system. Column 1 provides a range of assumed C-factor values for Pipe 1. The flow through Pipe 1 resulting from the assumed C-factor, known head loss, pipe length, and diameter is shown in Column 2. Column 3 provides the flow in Pipe 2 assuming a total system flow of 1,350 gpm. Column 4 shows the C-factor for Pipe 2 back calculated from the head loss, pipe characteristics, and pipe flow.

Figure 7.1 Pipe 1 L = 2,300 ft D = 10 in.

P = 54 psi

Simple parallel pipe system P = 47 psi

1,350 gpm Pipe 2 L = 2,800 ft D = 8 in.

Table 7.1 Flow rate versus pipe roughness values for this parallel pipe system Pipe #1 Roughness

Pipe #1 Flow (gpm)

Pipe #2 Flow (gpm)

Pipe #2 Roughness

80

660

689

166

90

743

606

146

100

825

524

126

110

908

441

106

120

991

358

86

130

1073

276

66

140

1156

193

46

Clearly, there are multiple C-factor choices for Pipes 1 and 2 that will produce the same head loss across the system. Although one set of C-factors may be correct for a particular case, the selection may introduce error into the model for another case, a clue useful in identifying the presence of compensating errors. The question then becomes, which is the correct set of C-factors? The flow in one of the pipes must be measured to answer this question and establish the correct C-factors.

This problem illustrates compensating errors for a simple two-pipe system. Assume, for the same system, that the flow into the system and the pressure at the upstream node are both unknown. The various combinations of flow, pipe roughness values, and upstream pressures that would match the single pressure measurement taken at the downstream node are now essentially infinite. As more parallel paths from point A to point B are added, the problem grows in complexity. This simple example illus-

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trates that compensating errors are often hidden behind seemingly valid data. As the problems get larger and hydraulic measurements become more sparse, they become increasingly more difficult to find. When velocities are low, it is possible to make a model appear to be calibrated even when C-factors contain significant errors (Walski, 1986). The best way to reduce the likelihood of compensating errors in pipe roughness values is to take head measurements under a range of demand conditions. Because the head loss equations are nonlinear, it will be difficult for compensating errors to make the model look calibrated when it is not. Flow measurements provide another way to reduce the likelihood that the wrong parameter is adjusted. For instance, in the preceding example, knowledge of the total flow through the system eliminated one degree of freedom. Obviously, it is not practical to measure flows for each pipe in the field that corresponds to a pipe in the model. Nevertheless, to minimize the potential for compensating errors and to aid in the calibration process, as many flow measurements should be made as possible, particularly at critical locations such as pipelines connected to treatment plants, pump stations, tanks, reservoirs, and other water sources. Tests should also be conducted along major transmission mains that carry a large portion of the total system flow and along distribution lines that are considered to be representative of the overall system (Ormsbee and Lingireddy, 1997). Determining roughness coefficients for a representative sampling of pipes of varying ages and sizes provides a good check on the reasonableness of the coefficients used in calibration. Chapter 5 discusses the measurement of flow and roughness coefficients in greater detail.

Distribution of System Demands The water distribution modeling equations are based on the simplifying assumption that water is withdrawn at a junction node. In reality, however, water usage occurs along the entire length of a pipe, as shown in Figure 7.2. Spatially redistributing water usages that occur along a length of pipe to the junction nodes in the model is known as demand allocation. The demand allocation process is a possible source of error that should be considered when calibrating a model. Another source of error, often more significant with regard to demands, is related to how the demands change over time (an important issue when performing an EPS). Both of these sources of error and their impact on calibration are discussed in this section. In addition, Chapter 4 discusses them more generally. It is conceivable that a model could incorporate all of the locations where water is withdrawn from the system by placing junction nodes where the service lines are connected to the water main. This approach, however, would significantly increase the number of pipes required in the model, thereby increasing its complexity. Model simplification is achieved through spatial demand allocation (see the example on page 140). For example, in Figure 7.2, the sum of the water use associated with the eight homes closest to J-23 can be assigned to J-23, and the sum of the water use for the 10 homes closest to J-24 can be assigned to J-24. By placing the demands properly, they

Section 7.2

Sources of Error in Modeling

will be accounted for in the model even if the pipe between nodes J-23 and J-24 is removed during skeletonization. However, the modeler must realize that the simulated pressures at the model nodes are only an approximation of the actual pressures at the homes. Figure 7.2 Demands Assigned To J-23

Spatial demand allocation

Demands Assigned To J-24

QJ-24

Q J-23 Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

J-23

J-24

Several expressions have been developed that equate uniform water withdrawal along a pipe to point loads at junction nodes. In the early stages of modeling, a method was developed for correcting head loss equations with multiple service lines when performing manual calculations (Muss, 1960). Another method uses a stepwise combination of elements and a nonlinear representation of the entire network (Shamir and Hamberg, 1988). Grouping water usage at the junction nodes instead of at the actual locations where water is withdrawn from the system produces relatively minor differences between computer-predicted and actual field performance if the actual location of the customer demand is in close proximity to the assigned node. Incorrect spatial demand allocation usually becomes problematic when demands from large customers are missed or assigned to nodes in the wrong pressure zones. In most cases, however, errors in allocating demands to exactly the right node are insignificant, especially when fire flows used in design are significantly greater than normal demands. When making comparisons between the model and field measurements, it is important that the demands in the model correspond to the time that the field measurements were taken. A common mistake is to compare model HGL for an average day demand with a field HGL taken at an hour when the demand is actually larger. Just as a modeler should be skeptical of needing to assign unrealistic pipe roughness values to obtain a calibrated model, he or she should also be skeptical of needing to use unrealistically high or low nodal demands to achieve calibration. If demand values that are significantly different from historical records are needed to calibrate the model, then a logical explanation for this deviation should be provided. For example, maybe the community swimming pool was being filled on the day pressures were measured or a large water-using industry was temporarily shut down by a strike during pressure testing. In conclusion, demands should be adjusted within reason to match actual field conditions.

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System Maps As discussed in Chapter 3, water system maps (shown in Figure 7.3) are the primary source of data for the physical characteristics of the distribution network. Network topology, pipe/node connectivity, pipeline lengths, nominal diameters, and information on fittings and appurtenances can all be determined from water system maps. As new pipelines are installed and new connections are made, the maps of a system should be updated to reflect the changes. The quality and format of water system maps, however, can range from highly detailed and regularly updated CAD or GIS systems, to sets of rolled-up plans that have not been maintained in years. In some cases, the full extent of system mapping actually resides in the head of the system caretaker. Regardless of the medium on which they are available, it is important to realize that system maps do not necessarily reflect real-world conditions. Portion of as-built system map

FO R D T U

Figure 7.3

RNPIKE HARTFOR E D TURNPIK

If the differences in pressures and flows between actual conditions and predicted conditions are so great that unrealistic and unexplainable pipe roughness values (less than 30 or more than 150) or major adjustments in demands must be used to achieve calibration, then chances are good that the discrepancy is the result of a closed or partially closed valve or errors in system mapping. For example, suppose that during calibration the observed pressure at a location is consistently about 20 psi (138 kPa) higher than simulated pressure, regardless of the pipe roughness values used. This result is an indication that there are problems with the model. A pipeline in the service area where the pressure measurement was taken may not be included in the model, or a junction elevation may be incorrect.

Section 7.2

Sources of Error in Modeling

If errors in the connectivity of the model are suspected, then it may be necessary to look at detailed intersection maps to determine how pipes are connected, or to talk with system operators and maintenance personnel to determine the location and status of valves in the system. It may even be necessary to locate the original as-built drawings or field construction notes.

Temporal Boundary Condition Changes The effect of time can have a significant impact on calibration efforts because many of the parameters describing a water system, such as demands and boundary conditions, are time-dependent. As was the case with demands, synchronizing times at which field measurements are taken and the calculation time step used for simulations will improve the accuracy of the calibration. When a simulation is conducted for the purpose of calibration, it is critical that the model’s loading and boundary conditions reflect the actual conditions at the time that pressure measurements were taken, and that the boundary condition measurements are known with the same accuracy as the pressure measurements. Results from calibration will be misleading if the boundary heads are not known exactly. For example, consider that on a particular day, pressure measurements were taken throughout the system at 6:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. Because the demands, tank levels, control valve settings, and pump and pipe statuses can change over time, a unique set of boundary conditions reflecting system conditions for each point in time that measurements are taken needs to be created. For this example, five separate steady-state simulations must be performed, with each set of system conditions corresponding to a time when pressures were measured. Information on how tank water levels change over time is often collected from chart recorders (refer to Figure 4.1) or a SCADA system (see Figure 7.4). This type of information is frequently used for steady-state calibration and is particularly useful for extended period simulation (EPS) calibration (see page 279). Based on data from these sources, the flow rate to or from the tank can be determined using Equation 7.1. Hi + 1 – Hi Q i = A ------------------------∆t

where

(7.1)

Qi = flow into tank in i-th time step (cfs, m3/s) A = cross-sectional area of tank (ft2, m2) Hi = water level in tank at beginning of i-th time step (ft, m) ∆t = length of i-th time step (s)

When conducting fire flow tests for collecting calibration data, it is highly desirable to have someone actually recording suction and discharge pressures at pumps and inlet and outlet pressures at pressure reducing valves (PRVs). In this way, it is possible to determine if the pressure drop is due to pipe roughness, pumps moving along the pump curves, or head drop through a PRV. Relying on the SCADA system for these data may not be accurate because the system may not have polled the pump.

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Figure 7.4 SCADA data showing tank water levels

Model Skeletonization When a computer model of an existing system is constructed, a skeletonized version of the system will often be analyzed. As discussed in Chapter 3 (see page 114), a skeletonized model may remove certain types of fittings and appurtenances, and typically does not include small-diameter pipes nor those lines that do not have a significant influence on the system hydraulics. Ideally, a skeletonized model should provide a simplified but accurate representation of the system. Accordingly, it is very important that the integrity of the network connectivity (or topology) be maintained during skeletonization. The level to which a model is skeletonized can have a significant impact on calibration. It is possible to over-skeletonize a model, leaving out critical links in the system. In these cases, details that have been removed may need to be added back to the skeletonized model to improve accuracy, especially in the vicinity of fire flow tests. Consider a system that includes a dense grid of small-diameter mains. Excluding those mains from a model based solely on diameter may be inappropriate if, as a group, they have a significant hydraulic impact on the system. This specific type of condition can be identified by the unrealistically large C-factors required in the remaining pipes to achieve calibration, especially during high flows.

Geometric Anomalies Even if the modeler supplies high-quality information on the physical attributes of the system and provides good estimates of nodal demands, the degree of calibration still may not be satisfactory. In these cases, anomalies in the geometry of the system are usually to blame.

Section 7.3

Calibration Approaches

Placing a node at the intersection of two pipes in the model when they are not hydraulically connected would obviously have the potential to cause problems with calibration because the model would not match the actual system. The modeler should pay particular attention to this type of situation when extracting data from CAD and GIS systems (see page 84 for additional information).

Pump Characteristic Curves Recall that hydraulic simulation models require data concerning the pump head versus discharge relationship. Generally, these models use some type of interpolation routine that fits a curve through selected points from the manufacturer’s pump head characteristic curve. Because a curve-fitting method is used, the true head and discharge of the pump may differ somewhat from the curve, and error is introduced into the model. Numerical curve-fitting errors can be identified by comparing the manufacturer’s curve with the curve produced by the hydraulic model. A more likely cause of error when modeling pumps results from the use of old or outdated pump curves. For instance, suppose that you are modeling a system that uses 25-year-old centrifugal pumps, but the head versus discharge relationship shown on the manufacturer’s pump curves reflects the performance of the pump when it was new. Normal wear and tear on a pump as it ages can cause the field performance to deviate from the performance illustrated on the pump characteristic curve. In fact, the pump impellers may have been changed several times since the pumps were originally installed. If so, the original pump curves will have little value because the head/discharge relationship of a pump is dependent on the characteristics of the pump impeller. In such cases, new curves should be determined based on field tests. Hydraulic network model calibration involves more than just adjusting pipe roughness values and nodal demands until suitable simulation results are obtained. Model calibration can involve a significant amount of detective work (such as locating closed and partially closed valves) as clues are tracked down and errors between field and simulation results are investigated (Walski, 1990). Some leads may yield results, and others may not.

7.3

CALIBRATION APPROACHES

Identifying and addressing large discrepancies between predicted and observed behavior is critical in the calibration effort. This step, referred to as rough-tuning or macrocalibration, is necessary to bring predicted and observed system parameters into closer agreement with one another. After larger discrepancies are corrected, efforts can be focused on fine-tuning or microcalibration. Fine-tuning involves adjusting the pipe roughness values and nodal demand estimates, and is the final step in the calibration process. The most challenging part of calibrating a model is making judgments regarding the adjustments that must be made to the model to bring it into agreement with field results. This section introduces methods for making these calibration judgments.

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The following is a seven-step approach that can be used as a guide to model calibration (Ormsbee and Lingireddy, 1997). 1. Identify the intended use of the model. 2. Determine estimates of model parameters. 3. Collect calibration data. 4. Evaluate model results based on initial estimates of model parameters. 5. Perform a rough-tuning or macrocalibration analysis. 6. Perform a sensitivity analysis. 7. Perform a fine-tuning or microcalibration analysis. Identifying the intended use of the model is the first and most important step because it helps the designer establish the level of detail needed in the model, the nature of the data collection, and the acceptable level of tolerance for errors between field measurements and simulation results. After the intended use of the model is established, the modeler can begin estimating model parameters and collecting calibration data as discussed in the previous sections. The model can then be evaluated, and large discrepancies can be addressed simply by looking at the nature and location of differences between the model results and the field data. Next, a sensitivity analysis can be conducted to judge how performance of the calibration changes with respect to parameter adjustments. For example, if pipe roughness values are globally adjusted by 10 percent, the modeler may notice that pressures do not change much in the system, thus indicating that the system is insensitive to roughness for that demand pattern. Alternatively, nodal demands may be changed by 15 percent for the same system, causing pressures and flows to change significantly. In this case, time may be more wisely spent focusing on establishing good estimates of system demands. If neither roughness coefficients nor demands have a significant impact on system heads, then the velocity in the system may be too low for the data to be useful for this purpose. The final step in the calibration process, fine-tuning, can be time-consuming, particularly if there are a large number of pipes or nodes that are candidates for adjustment. Compensating errors, as discussed on page 256, can further complicate the finetuning stage.

Manual Calibration Approaches The trial-and-error or manual process generally involves the modeler’s supplying estimates of pipe roughness values and nodal demands, conducting the simulation, and comparing predicted performance to observed performance. If the agreement is unacceptable, then a hypothesis explaining the cause of the problem should be developed, modifications made to the model, and the process repeated.

Section 7.3

Calibration Approaches

The process is conducted iteratively until a satisfactory match is obtained between modeled and observed values. If no satisfactory match can be obtained, then the model is not a true representation of the part of the real system where discrepancies remain. In such cases, further site investigations are usually made to identify discrepancies between the model and the real system, such as incorrectly modeled valve settings and unrecorded connections. The overlay of computed values on a contour map can provide insight into this process. Models can be calibrated using one steady-state simulation, but the more steady-state simulations for which calibration is achieved, the more closely the model will represent the behavior of the real system. At a minimum, a steady-state calibration should be performed for a range of demand conditions. To improve results further, the model should be calibrated for time-varying conditions using an extended period simulation. In an EPS, calibration is performed until there is a reasonable agreement between modeled and observed pressures, flows, and tank water levels. EPS calibration is discussed later in this chapter on page 279. What Should Be Adjusted. Depending on the flow conditions being simulated, the model will have different reactions to different types of data changes. The following provides some general guidelines. • Average and low flows: For most water distribution systems, the HGL throughout the system (also referred to as the piezometric surface) is fairly flat during average-day demand conditions. The reason for these small head losses is that most systems are designed to operate at an acceptable level of service during maximum day demands while accommodating fire flows. As a result, the pipe sizes are usually large enough that average-day head losses are small. For this reason, calibration during average conditions does not provide much information on roughness coefficients and water use. Average conditions do, however, provide insights into boundary conditions and node elevations. • High flows: During periods when flows through the system are high, such as fire flow conditions or peak hour flows, pipe roughness and demand values play a much larger role in determining system-wide pressures. Therefore, pipe roughness values, and to a lesser extent demands, should be adjusted during periods of high flow to achieve model calibration. Relatively speaking, when pipe flow or roughness is greater, there will be more head loss. Based on this relationship, the following are some recommendations for making adjustments to models (Herrin, 1997). • If the model HGLs are higher than field-recorded values (as shown in Figure 7.5), then the model is not predicting enough head loss. To produce larger head losses, try reducing the Hazen-Williams C-factor, increasing the junction demands in the area of the measurements, or both. • If the model HGLs are lower than field-recorded values (see Figure 7.6), then the model is probably predicting too much head loss. To produce smaller head losses, try increasing the Hazen-Williams C-factor and/or decreasing the junction demands in the area of the measurements.

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Figure 7.5 Model HGLs are higher than field values

Model

Actual //=//= //=//=

//=

//= //=

//=

Figure 7.6 Model HGLs are lower than field values

Actual

Model //=//= //=//=

//=

//= //=

//=

Occasionally, an agreement in head is obtained for all but one node in the model. In that case, the elevation for that location should be questioned and verified. During high-flow conditions, the system’s increased head loss can mask pressure discrepancies caused by poor elevation data. Thus, inaccurate elevations are more easily identified during low-flow conditions, when the system’s head losses are smaller. Adjusting Roughness Coefficients. In trying to determine whether to adjust roughness or water use, the following procedure can be helpful (Walski, 1983). Using the pressure and flow results from a fire flow test, the modeler can simulate the hydrant flow test with the model and develop estimates of head loss during the static and test conditions. The user can then calculate correction factors A and B as follows: F A = -----------------------------------------------( b ⁄ a ) ( Qe + F ) – Qe

(7.2)

F B = ---------------------------------------b ( Q e + F ) – aQ e

(7.3)

Section 7.3

where

Calibration Approaches

A = correction factor B = correction factor F = fire flow (gpm, m3/s) h

0.54

h

0.54

b =  ----2- h4 a =  ----1- h3 Qe h1 h2 h3 h4

= = = = =

estimate of demand in area of test (gpm, m3/s) measured head loss over test section, static conditions (ft, m) measured head loss over test section, flowed conditions (ft, m) modeled head loss over test section, static conditions (ft, m) modeled head loss over test section, flowed conditions (ft, m)

The correction factors are then applied to the estimated Hazen-Williams C-factor and water use to develop better estimates.

where

Q c = AQ e

(7.4)

C c = BC e

(7.5)

Qc = corrected value for demands (gpm, m3/s) Cc = corrected value for C-factors Ce = initial estimated value for C-factors

Note that the above equations are true for any units as long as the flows and heads are kept in consistent units. „ Example — Corrected Demand and Roughness. Given that the head at the nearest tank is 970 ft, the demands in the vicinity of the fire flow test are 200 gpm, the test flow is 750 gpm, and the C-factors in the vicinity of the test are estimated as 85, find the corrected values for demand and C-factor based on the fire flow test observation shown in the following table. Field Test HGL (ft)

Model-Predicted HGL (ft)

Static condition

962

958

Fire flow test

927

910

Computing the correction factors introduced above results in:

970 – 962 a =  ------------------------ 970 – 958

0.54

= 0.80

970 – 927 0.54 b =  ------------------------ = 0.83  970 – 910 750 A = ------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 0.95 ( 0.83 ⁄ 0.80 ) ( 200 + 750 ) – 200

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750 B = ---------------------------------------------------------------------= 1.20 0.83 ( 200 + 750 ) – 0.80 ( 200 ) Q c = 0.95 ( 200 ) = 190 C c = 1.20 ( 85 ) = 101 Accordingly, the user would decrease the demands to 190 gpm and increase the C-factors to 101 for the next model run. Evaluating the previous table, these computed adjustments are consistent with what would be intuitively expected.

Automated Calibration Approaches Traditionally, model calibration has been a manual task where the modeler makes changes to pipe roughness values or demands on a trial-and-error basis to achieve convergence between model and field values. Because many potential combinations of calibration parameters exist, finding the best set of parameters presents a challenge to the engineer. Therefore, the modeler can calibrate the system much more efficiently and consistently by using a computer-based, numerical optimization technique that is able to identify the optimal or near-optimal combination of calibration parameters to achieve as close a match as possible to the field data. Table 7.2 provides an overview of the many calibration approaches for water distribution network models that have been developed since the 1970s (Kapelan, Savic, and Walters, 2000). Generally, calibration approaches can be grouped into three categories: • Iterative procedure models • Explicit models (or hydraulic simulation models) • Implicit models (or optimization models) The first group of models is based on some specifically developed, iterative, trial-anderror procedures (shown as IP in Table 7.2). In these calibration procedures, unknown parameters are updated at each trial, or iteration, using heads and/or flows obtained by running a simulation model. Without discussing the details of these models, the following can be observed about them: • Simplifying the water distribution model (by skeletonization, for example) is typically necessary (see page 114). • Only small calibration problems (problems that have a small number of calibration parameters) can be effectively handled. • Convergence rate of the iterative models is rather slow (Bhave, 1988). The main benefit of having developed these iterative procedures is that fundamental principles and guidelines regarding water distribution model calibration were established as a result (Ormsbee, 1989, and Walski, 1995). These principles were used to develop more sophisticated explicit and implicit calibration approaches.

Section 7.3

Calibration Approaches

Table 7.2 Water distribution calibration models Model Type1

Hydraulic Model2 (number of LC)

Decision Variables3

Optimization Method

Objective Function4 (OF)

No.

Model Reference

1

Rahal, Sterling, and Coulbeck (1980)

IP

SS(1)

RC

-

-

2

Walski (1983), Walski (1986)

IP

SS(2)

FC DEM

-

-

3

Bhave (1988)

IP

SS(2)

FC DEM

-

-

4

Ormsbee and Wood (1986)

EX

SS(M)

FC

-

-

5

Ormsbee and Lingireddy (1997)

IM

SS(M) or EPS

FC DEM

Extended complex method of Box

WSAE(NS)

6

Boulos and Wood (1990), Boulos and Wood (1991)

EX

SS(1)

Any parameter excluding state variables

-

-

7

Boulos and Ormsbee (1991)

EX

SS(M)

Any parameter excluding state variables

-

-

8

Lansey and Basnet (1991)

IM

SS(M) or EPS

FC DEM VS

Gradientbased GRG2

WSSE(H,Q,T)

9

Datta and Sridharan (1994)

IM

SS(M)

FC

Sensitivity Analysis Technique

WSSE(H,RD)

10

Ferreri, Napoli, and Tumbiolo (1994)

EX

SS(1)

FC

-

-

11

Savic and Walters (1995)

IM

SS(M)

FC

GAs

WSSE(H,Q)

12

Reddy, Sridharan, and Rao (1996)

IM

SS(M)

RC DEM

GaussNewton

WSSE (H,h,Q,D)

13

Walters, Savic, Morley, de Schaetzen, and Atkinson (1998)

IM

SS(M)

RC

GAs

WSSE(H,Q)

1) IP – iterative procedure (trial and error), IM – implicit procedure, EX – explicit procedure 2) SS – steady-state, EPS – extended period simulation, TS – transient simulation, 1 – Single LC, 2 – two LC, M – multiple LC, LC – loading condition, BC – boundary condition, TBC – tank BC, VBC – valve BC, PBC – pump BC 3) FC – friction coefficient, DEM – nodal demand, RC – generalized pipe resistance coefficient, VS – valve setting, PS – pipe status, LLC – lumped leak coefficient, AV – acoustic velocity 4) SSE – sum of squared errors, WSSE – weighted SSE, ASSE – average SSE, SAE – sum of absolute errors, WSAE – weighted SAE, ASAE – average SAE, MMD – minimize maximum error, WMME – weighted MME (H – nodal head error, h – link head loss error, Q – link flow error, T – tank levels error, D – nodal demand error, RD – reservoir demand error, FC – friction coefficient error)

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Table 7.2 (cont.) Water distribution calibration models Model Type1

Hydraulic Model2 (number of LC)

Decision Variables3

Optimization Method

Objective Function4 (OF)

No.

Model Reference

14

Greco and Del Guidice (1999)

IM

SS(M)

FC

LINDO GINO

SSE(FC) (subject to limited H)

15

Todini (1999)

IM

SS(M)

FC

Kalman filter

SSE(H,D)

16

Pudar and Liggett (1992)

IM

SS(1)

LLC

LevenbergMarquardt

WSSE(H)

17

Liggett and Chen (1994)

IM

SS(1)

FC LLC

LevenbergMarquardt

SSE(H)

18

Chen (1995)

IM

TS

FC LLC AV

LevenbergMarquardt

SSE(H)

19

Vitkovsky and Simpson (1997), Simpson and Vitkovsky (1997), Vikovsky, Simpson, and Lambert (2000)

IM

TS

FC LLC

GA

SAE(H)

20

Tang, Karney, Pendlebury, and Zhang (1999)

IM

TS

FC DEM

GA

Not specified

21

Wu, Boulos, Orr, and Ro (2000)

IM

SS(1)

FC

GAs

ASSE(H) ASAE(H) MMD(H)

22

Wu et al. (2002a), Wu et al. (2002b)

IM, IP

SS(M) TBC(M) VBC(M) PBC(M)

FC DEM VS PS

fmGA

WSSE(H,Q) WSAE(H,Q) WMME(H,Q)

1) IP – iterative procedure (trial and error), IM – implicit procedure, EX – explicit procedure 2) SS – steady-state, EPS – extended period simulation, TS – transient simulation, 1 – Single LC, 2 – two LC, M – multiple LC, LC – loading condition, BC – boundary condition, TBC – tank BC, VBC – valve BC, PBC – pump BC 3) FC – friction coefficient, DEM – nodal demand, RC – generalized pipe resistance coefficient, VS – valve setting, PS – pipe status, LLC – lumped leak coefficient, AV – acoustic velocity 4) SSE – sum of squared errors, WSSE – weighted SSE, ASSE – average SSE, SAE – sum of absolute errors, WSAE – weighted SAE, ASAE – average SAE, MMD – minimize maximum error, WMME – weighted MME (H – nodal head error, h – link head loss error, Q – link flow error, T – tank levels error, D – nodal demand error, RD – reservoir demand error, FC – friction coefficient error)

The second group of calibration models, called explicit models, is based on solving an extended set of steady-state, mass-balance, and energy equations (shown as EX in Table 7.2). These models are essentially pipe network models that solve for roughness or demand as well as pressure and flow. Shamir and Howard advanced the first explicit solutions during the 1960s while at MIT (Shamir and Howard, 1968). The extended set consists of the initial set of equations (those normally used in network simulation models) augmented by a set of equations derived from available head and flow measurements (one additional equation per measurement), and it is solved numerically. The number of unknown calibration parameters is limited by the number of available measurements, so when the number of unknown calibration parameters is

Section 7.3

Calibration Approaches

larger than the number of available measurements (underdetermined problem), the number of calibration parameters must be reduced by grouping (see page 274). Explicit calibration methods have several disadvantages and limitations (Kapelan, Savic, and Walters, 2000): • The calibration problem must be even-determined; that is, the number of calibration parameters must be equal to the number of measurements. • Measurement errors are not taken into account; it is assumed that measured heads/flows are completely accurate. • It is difficult to quantify the uncertainty of the estimated calibration parameters. The third group of calibration models, implicit models, consists of optimization-based models (see Table 7.2 for a list of references). In this case, the calibration problem is represented as an optimization problem by introducing an objective function. The problem is solved implicitly, usually by minimizing the objective function. Three commonly used types of objective functions are (1) sum of squared errors, (2) sum of absolute errors, and (3) maximum absolute error. Errors (residuals) are calculated as differences between measured (observed) and output variables computed by the hydraulic model. Head and flow errors are typically used, although other types of errors may be used as well, such as tank level, head loss, or chlorine residual errors. Hydraulic models linked to optimization methods are steady-state models (single- or multiple-loading condition), extended-period simulation models, or unsteady (transient) models. Optimization Problem Formulation. The optimization methods search for a solution describing the unknown calibration parameters that minimizes an objective function, while simultaneously satisfying constraints that describe the feasible solution region. The objective function usually minimizes the sum of the squares of differences between observed and model-predicted heads and flows. If the vector of those unknown parameters is given as x (roughness, demand, control status), the objective function may be given as

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N

min f ( x ) = x

where

f x N wi

= = = =

*

∑ wi [ yi – yi ( x ) ]

2

(7.6)

i=1

objective function to be minimized vector of unknowns number of observations weighting factors

*

y i = observation (head, flow)

yi(x) = model predicted system variable (head, flow) As an example, the y vector of observations and predictions would consist of a set of values such as “517 m, 34 l/s, and 510 m” where those values would be the measured head at node J-11, the flow in pipe P-131, and the head on the discharge side of PMP4, respectively. The x vector of unknowns would consist of values such as “121, 98, 5 l/s, and open” where those values would be the C-factors at pipes P-22 and P-23, the demand at node J-14, and the status of pipe P-224, respectively. The values for x will vary from one iteration to another, but the values for y are constant for a given run. Weightings are applied to reduce the influence of observations that are less accurate, to increase the influence of observations that are more accurate, and to enforce unit consistency in the working equation. In vector notation, the preceding objective function becomes *

T

*

min f ( x ) = [ y – y ( x ) ] W [ y – y ( x ) ] x

where

y* y(x) T W

= = = =

(7.7)

vector of observations (head, flow) vector of model predicted values (head, flow) transpose operator weighting matrix

The set of constraints associated with this problem are implicit hydraulic constraints (continuity and energy loss relationships), known initial conditions (device statuses and tank levels), and boundary conditions (reservoir levels). Rather than explicitly incorporating the equations of conservation of mass and energy into the optimization routine, later approaches have simply called out to a standard hydraulic simulation program to evaluate the hydraulics of the solution (Ormsbee, 1989; and Lansey and Basnet, 1991). Then the solution is passed back to the optimization routine, where the algorithm computes the objective function, evaluates the constraints, and, if necessary, updates the decision variables. New values of the decision variables are then passed to the simulation routine, and the process is repeated until an acceptable calibration is obtained. The stochastic search procedures, more commonly referred to as genetic algorithms (GAs), also work by closely coupling an optimization routine with the hydraulic solver (see page 673 in Appendix D for more information). GA optimization, based on the theory of genetics, works by generating successive populations of trial solutions, the “fittest” of which survive to breed and evolve into increasingly desirable

Section 7.3

Calibration Approaches

offspring solutions (Savic and Walters, 1995, 1997; and Walters, Savic, Morley, de Schaetzen, and Atkinson, 1998). Genetic algorithms work by evaluating the fitness of each potential solution consisting of values for the set of unknown network calibration parameters. Fitness is determined by comparing how well the simulated flows and pressures resulting from the candidate solution match the measured values collected in the field. Several steadystate simulations are run to simulate a variety of demand conditions, including the operating conditions for minimum, maximum, and average demands. At each measurement point and for each steady-state run, the differences between simulated and observed data (head and/or flow) are calculated, and the objective function (an overall error value for the network) is computed. Objective functions can be formulated in many different ways to achieve different goals. Usually, a squared error or root mean square error criterion is adopted. Different weightings between head and flow measurements can also be incorporated within the objective function. The GA continues to spawn generations of potential solutions until comparison of solutions from successive generations no longer produces a significant improvement. In addition to eliminating most of the routine and tedious aspects of the calibration process, GA will generally achieve a better fit to the available data if the user can select the correct set of variables to be included in the solution and can establish the correct range of possible solutions. Issues with Calibration. The modeler should assess uncertainty in field observations before using the observations in any calibration, even when using optimization. It is not uncommon for errors in measurement of head loss to be on the same order of magnitude or larger than the actual head loss (Walski, 2000). Such values should not be used in calibration because the calibration algorithm will dutifully try to match the field observations even if they are erroneous (see page 218). To ensure that head loss adequately exceeds measurement error, it is helpful to collect data when pipe velocities are appreciable. In some systems sized for fire protection, demands (and velocities and head losses) are so low most of the time that head loss measurements are meaningless other than to check pressure gage elevations. This leads to a typical case in which calibrated parameters are uncertain and can result in uncertain model predictions. The calibration parameters need additional observed information to be determined more accurately. However, the necessary information is only obtained if field-testing is done when the demand is significantly higher than that normally observed in the system. Another problem that occurs when calibrating a model is that some of the parameters determined, such as roughness and valve status, are fixed and knowable at the time the data are taken, and others, such as water use, are merely random observations from a stochastic process. If a C-factor is determined to be 90, then that value will be true in the not-too-distant future. However, if water use during a pressure observation is determined to be 100 gpm (6.3 l/s), it is not necessarily the demand that should be used in calibration. A problem common to all calibration approaches (even trial-and-error ones) deals with identifiability, which means that different vectors of calibration parameters x

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may lead to (almost) the same vector of model predictions y(x) that are close to field observations y* (Kapelan, Savic, and Walters, 2001). The problem of identifiability occurs when an underdetermined calibration problem is being solved. An undetermined calibration problem is when the number of calibration parameters x is larger than the total number of independent observations. In such a case, there are many combinations of input parameters (for example, C-factors) that result in good agreement between observed and modeled behavior (for example, pressures and flows) of the system. Because of this fact, little confidence can be placed in the calibrated model. Similar difficulties may occur even for even-determined or over-determined problems (that is, when there are at least as many observations as calibration parameters). Difficulties occur because the set of available observations simply fails to provide sufficient information for determination of one or more calibration parameters (for example, pressure monitoring points may not be properly located to enable identification of all or some of the parameters). Calibrated parameters are either insensitive to field test data or their values are quite uncertain, though they may appear to be precisely determined by the calibration procedure. Problems associated with identifiability can be overcome by grouping unknown parameters (for example, pipe roughness coefficients for all pipes that share the same material, diameter, age, and location), or by increasing the quantity of observed information through additional field measurements. Grouping is based on the assumption

Section 7.3

Calibration Approaches

that pipes laid in roughly the same time period with the same material will have the same roughness properties. Grouping greatly reduces the identifiability problem, but it may introduce errors if the pipes and nodes in a given group should not have the same adjustments applied. Grouping and collecting additional observed information are not always possible. Kapelan, Savic, and Walters (2001) introduced another approach to improving the identifiability based on prior estimates on parameters. The phrase prior estimates on parameters refers to information that can be directly or indirectly obtained about a calibration parameter before beginning the calibration adjustments. Possible sources of prior estimates on parameters are data from existing, typically isolated, field tests/measurements/inspections. (Note that data collected in these tests should be independent of the data collected during field tests conducted to measure and record heads and flows for model calibration.) Additional sources of prior estimates include data resulting from specific analyses such as prior estimates of demands based on demand allocation analysis, data from engineering knowledge/literature (for example, hydraulic tables for pipe roughness coefficients as a function of pipe material, age, diameter, condition, and so on), results of C-factor tests or pump curve tests, and experts’ knowledge and experience. This approach is not conceptually unusual since engineers have traditionally used this additional knowledge when manually calibrating models. However, the development of a framework to utilize this information in the optimization process is something that can significantly improve the chances of identifying the appropriate set of calibration parameters through optimization. In order to introduce prior estimates on parameters to the optimization problem, the range of adjustments for parameter values can be constrained to a narrow band. In a more rigorous approach, the calibration objective function needs to be augmented by adding the sum of weighted-squared prior estimate residuals to the classic sum of weighted-squared observed information residuals: *

T

*

*

T

*

min f ( x ) = [ y – y ( x ) ] W [ y – y ( x ) ] + [ x o – x o ] V [ x o – x o ] x

where

(7.8)

*

x o = vector of prior parameter estimates (pseudo measurements)

xo = vector of actual parameter values V = weighting matrix The principal difference between observed heads and flows and prior estimates is that, in the vast majority of cases, observed information is more reliable. Starting from this fundamental fact, a procedure for effective incorporation of prior estimates on parameters to the calibration of water distribution models is suggested by Kapelan, Savic, and Walters (2001). The basic steps are as follows: 1. Solve the optimization problem with observed data only (that is, without use of prior estimates).

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2. Evaluate optimized parameter values for sensitivity and the uncertainty with which each parameter value was determined. 3. Identify insensitive or uncertain parameters. These parameters need extra observed information in order to be determined more accurately and therefore are possible candidates for the use of prior estimates. It is not advisable to use prior estimates for parameters that are considered sensitive yet possess unreasonable values. The existence of such parameters usually indicates that there is something wrong with either the model (a valve is modeled as completely open although it is partially closed, for example) or observed information (incorrect or insufficient data). 4. In order to reduce uncertainty and improve values of previously identified insensitive model parameters, one can either collect additional field data, use prior estimates, or both. The optimization problem needs to be solved again — this time with incorporated prior estimates on parameters. Prior estimates should be used carefully; weights should reflect the level of confidence in each prior estimate. The best strategy is to start with small weights and increase them gradually. Also, instead of fixing a parameter value in the optimization model, it is often useful to define that parameter as an additional decision variable (see page 644) with associated prior estimates and their weights. Uncertainties in computed calibration parameter values will typically improve as a result of incorporated prior estimates. However, the use of prior estimates on parameters may not always lead to computed parameter values that are closer to the true values. Improvement will depend primarily on quality and quantity of prior estimates. An erroneous prior estimate will lead to erroneous results. Sampling Design for Calibration. Data collection plays an important role in managing water distribution systems. The main aim of the field data collection planning exercise is to determine what, when, under what conditions, and where to observe the behavior of the system and collect data that, when used for calibration, will yield the best results. This is what is known as a sampling design problem. The answers to what, when, and under what conditions are usually known and are described in Chapter 5, but the last question, where to locate measuring devices, has been the subject of numerous research studies. Walski (1983) suggests that pressuremeasuring devices should be located near points of high demand, near the perimeter of the skeletonized network, and generally distant from water sources. Multiple fireflow tests should be performed with fire flows that are as large as practical at test hydrants, and both head and flow measurement data should be collected. The relationship between calibration and sampling location selection is a typical chicken-and-egg relationship. To calibrate a model, one needs field test data; that is, sampling locations need to be defined. On the other hand, to judge the success of calibration, one would like to calculate sensitivities for all potential measurement locations with respect to all possible calibration parameters. To calculate those sensitivities, the number, structure, and value of calibration parameters should be known. However, parameters can be obtained only if the calibration problem is solved. Therefore, there is a difficulty in that to solve the calibration problem, the sampling design problem must be solved first, but, to solve the sampling design prob-

Section 7.3

Calibration Approaches

lem, the calibration problem must be solved beforehand. An obvious way around this difficulty is to perform sampling design and calibration in iterations. Many research studies have been done to devise optimization procedures that automate the process of selecting locations for data collection (Lee and Deininger, 1992; Yu and Powell, 1994; Ferreri, Napoli, and Tumbiolo, 1994; Bush and Uber, 1998; Piller, Bremond, and Morel, 1999; Ahmed, Lansey, and Araujo, 1999; de Schaetzen, Randall-Smith, Savic, and Walters, 1999; de Schaetzen, 2000; Meier and Barkdoll, 2000; and Lansey, El-Shorbagy, Ahmed, Araujo, and Haan, 2001). One common characteristic of these studies is that a single criterion (such as minimization of the uncertainty of the model’s predictions or maximization of the coverage) is considered. Kapelan, Savic, and Walters (2001a), however, formulated sampling design as a multiobjective optimization problem with relevant constraints. Two main objectives were identified as (1) maximization of the accuracy of calibration parameter estimates or minimization of the model prediction uncertainties and (2) minimization of total sampling design costs. It is important to note that optimization may not be the best tool for determining sampling locations for several reasons: • Many factors that are difficult to quantify with the precision needed in optimization are involved. • The objectives are very different if one is determining permanent sampling locations versus locations to be used for one-time sampling. • The criteria for hydraulic monitoring are different from the criteria for water quality monitoring. • Locations used to collect data for EPS calibration need to be locations with dynamic behavior of the parameter or interest. Because of these obstacles, Walski (2002) proposed an approach for sampling design that relies on thematic mapping with a GIS. Using Optimized Calibration. Regardless of the type of algorithm used, similar steps are involved in all calibration optimization methods. 1. Given an uncalibrated model, the user makes runs to ensure that the results are reasonable and that there are no gross errors. 2. Field data are collected in accordance with the accuracy criteria described in Chapter 5 and all boundary conditions known. 3. The field observations are entered into the optimization model, and the parameters to be adjusted are identified and grouped to the extent possible. Limits for the parameter values should be set rather broadly at first. For example, if the C-factor is expected to be on the order of 80, a range of 40 to 120 may be tried initially by increments of 10 (that is, possible values are 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120). 4. The user identifies the objective function to be used (for example, minimize least squares, minimize absolute value of differences) and assigns any weighting

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between different objectives or field measurements. The user has some control over the way that the optimization is run. For example, in GA calibration, the GA tries a large number of solutions until it can’t make improvements or until it reaches a preset maximum number of steps. (The user can specify the maximum number of trials the GA can perform or the number of trials without improvement.) Because the GA can run for a very long period of time, it is best to start with a relatively small (for GA) number of trials (say 10,000) until good results are achieved. As one nears a final solution, it may be possible to use a higher number of possible trials to ensure that the GA gets as close to the best solution as possible. 5. The user runs the calibration and reviews the results. These results should be fairly reasonable. If the results are not reasonable, the user should check whether the right parameters are being adjusted, the data were sufficiently accurate, or enough data were supplied. If the parameters are at the upper or lower limit of their ranges, it may be an indication that the range needs to be increased. 6. The user should repeat the optimization until the results are reasonable. When reasonable results are obtained, the user may want to narrow the search range to obtain more precision. For example, if the optimization determines the C-factor to be 90, but the increment in the initial calibration is 10, the user may want to make a repeat run with possible values of 80, 85, 90, 95, and 100 to more precisely define the C-factor. The modeler may also want to fix the values of some parameters once they are known reasonably well and divide some groups into two or more groups. 7. After an acceptable set of roughness and demand adjustments have been determined, the user can transfer those results to the model. The values determined correspond to the roughness and demands at the time the data were collected. In particular in the case of demands, which change significantly over time, the user then needs to determine the extent to which those calibrated values need to be adjusted to represent average day, max hour, or some other demands. The overall calibration process is summarized in Figure 7.7.

Model Validation After a model is calibrated to match a given set of test data, the modeler can gain confidence in the model and/or identify its shortcomings by validating it with test data obtained under different conditions. In performing validation, system demands, initial conditions, and operational rules are adjusted to match the conditions at the time the test data were collected. For example, a model that was calibrated for a peak day may be validated by its capability to accurately predict average day conditions as well. Although it is desirable to validate every model, most utilities do not have the time or money required to perform a thorough verification of the entire system. Consequently, a modeler may want to perform a quick validation before applying the model to a new problem. For example, before a three-year-old model is applied to the study of a proposed water main on the east side of town, the utility may want to conduct a handful

Section 7.4

EPS Model Calibration

279

of fire flow tests or place some pressure recorders in the study area for use in validating the model in that portion of the system. Figure 7.7

Construct Model

Identify Parameters to Adjust

Collect Field Data

Identify Objective Function

Identify Grouping

Screen Data

Set Optimization Controls

Set Ranges

Run Optimization

Repeat Until Satisfied

7.4

Apply to Model

EPS MODEL CALIBRATION

Before beginning the calibration of an EPS model, the user needs to be confident that the steady-state model is calibrated correctly in terms of elevation, spatial demand distribution, and pipe roughness. Once calibration on that level is achieved, the EPS calibration procedure can begin and will consist primarily of the temporal adjustment of demands. Depending on the intended use of the model, the focus of the EPS calibration may vary. For example, for hydraulic studies, the comparison between field and model conditions will be centered around the prediction of tank water levels and flows at system meters. On the other hand, for an energy analysis, the capability of the model to predict pump station cycling and energy consumption will be the focus.

Parameters for Adjustment Most EPS calibration deals with the examination of plots of observed versus modeled tank water levels. As a general rule of thumb, if the observed and modeled water levels are both heading in the same direction but at slightly different rates, then the water use in that pressure zone needs to be corrected. However, if the water levels are going in opposite directions, then the on/off status at pumps or valves is usually the culprit.

The calibration optimization process

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Data from chart recorders placed at key locations in the system can provide insights into what to adjust. The magnitude of the demand adjustment required can be approximated by the difference in tank storage volumes between modeled and observed conditions. For example, if the modeled tank and the observed tank both contain 1.24 MG (46,939 m3), but at the end of a one-hour time step the modeled tank contains 1.63 MG (61,702 m3) while the real tank contains 1.57 MG (59,431 m3), then the demands in the model may need to be increased by 0.06 MG (2,271 m3) during that hour (1,000 gpm, 63 l/s). As always with calibration, such adjustments need to be logical and justifiable, and the calibration should result in a fairly smooth curve in agreement with the observed data.

Calibration Problems Discrepancies between the model and observed values are not always a sign of model inaccuracies. Even though data may have come from a SCADA system (see Chapter 6 for more information) with several digits of precision, it should not be assumed that the data are accurate to that level. A study done in Vancouver, Canada (Howie, 1999) documents difficulties in using SCADA data ranging from inconsistent data to problems involving time-logging. An EPS calibration done for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania, system documents additional problems, including improperly located tank level sensors, inaccurate logging of pump switches, and differences between instantaneous observations and time-averaged data (Walski, Lowry, and Rhee, 2000). In most modeling, it has been assumed that once an EPS model has been calibrated, the diurnal curve can be used on other days with minor adjustments to the base demand. Walski, Lowry, and Rhee (2000) showed that demands in a given hour vary by up to 20 percent between days in which one would expect to have virtually identical demand patterns.

Calibration Using Tracers Although tracers are generally thought of as a tool used in calibrating water quality models, they are helpful in calibrating EPS hydraulic models as well. For example, if a conservative tracer is used, the only parameters that a modeler has to adjust are those affecting the hydraulics of the system. Before conducting a tracer study, it is best to use a model to simulate tracer movement in the system. The simulation helps to locate areas in which the tracer is sensitive to input parameters such as demand. These locations can then be used for monitoring the tracer. The tracer selected should be inexpensive, safe, and easy to detect. In the case of a system with multiple sources, a water quality constituent present in one source at a concentration different from that of other sources may be a good tracer. For example, if one well contains water with a higher conductivity than other sources, conductivity (which is related to the concentration of total dissolved solids) could be used as the tracer. In other cases, turning off or adjusting the fluoride feed at a plant can create a disturbance that can be traced through the system.

Section 7.5

Calibration of Water Quality Models

The study is conducted by changing the tracer concentration and determining if the model can reproduce the fluctuations in concentration measured in the system. This type of analysis provides a great deal of information about the way that water moves through the system. It is very helpful in spatially allocating demands, identifying closed valves, and finding pipes with incorrect diameters. (It is not quite as helpful in identifying pipe roughness errors or pump curve errors, because these parameters do not significantly affect flow patterns.) More information on using tracer studies can be found in Grayman (1998).

Energy Studies In calibrating models to be used for energy consumption studies, it is important to understand the nature of the data being used. Pump stations not only require energy for pumping, but also for nonpumping functions such as lighting, SCADA, HVAC, and so on. Because pump stations may have one power meter for all energy usage associated with the pump station, it may be necessary to subtract the nonpumping uses of energy from the total usage to get an accurate field estimate of power used by the pump. For situations in which electrical power rather than energy is measured, it is important to understand whether actual power (in kW) or apparent power (in kVA) is being measured. The difference between the two is the reactive power used to induce the magnetic field within the motor (WEF, 1997). The ratio of the actual to apparent power is called the power factor. PF = (actual power) / (apparent power) where

(7.9)

PF = power factor

If only apparent power is measured, then this value must be converted to the actual power for a comparison with the pump energy predicted by models. Because of the complicated tariffs involved with converting power usage into power charges, comparisons between the model and the observed power usage should be made in terms of kilowatt-hours, not dollars.

7.5

CALIBRATION OF WATER QUALITY MODELS

Calibration is the process of adjusting a model so that the simulation reasonably predicts system behavior. The underlying philosophy of water quality calibration is the same as that of hydraulic calibration, though some methodological details of the approach differ. The goal of a water quality calibration is to capture the transient, dynamic behavior of the network, making water quality calibration a more ill-defined problem than the notoriously ill-defined hydraulic calibration problem. As a result, expectations for agreement between simulations and real-world systems are considerably lower.

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Source Concentrations Constituent sources define boundary conditions for water quality simulations, just as tank and reservoir levels define boundary conditions for hydraulic simulations. For the purpose of water quality modeling, sources describe how a constituent enters the distribution system. For example, chlorine and fluoride typically enter a network from a water treatment plant or other source of finished water, such as an interconnection with an adjacent system. In the case of system contamination, a substance may be introduced at any point in the network, such as at a cross-connection or a contaminated storage tank. Water quality models typically allow reservoirs, tanks, or junction nodes to act as constituent sources for flexible modeling of different source types and scenarios. Constituent sources can be modeled as a constant influx into the distribution system, or they can exhibit variation over time. Patterns can be provided to model the dynamic behavior of constituent sources. Concentrations at sources can also behave like different simple feedback controllers (e.g., flow pacing or concentration set point controllers).

Initial Conditions Unlike initial conditions in hydraulic simulations that dissipate quickly, initial conditions in water quality simulations can persist for the entire duration of a reasonably long simulation. Thus, when calibrating water quality models, the dynamics that result are always a function of the initial conditions. This increases both the importance and the difficulty of predicting initial conditions. Initial conditions reflect the state of the network at the beginning of a water quality simulation. To model the dynamics of a real system that has been running continuously, events that have occurred prior to the start of the simulation must be accounted for. For example, consider a scenario in which disinfectant additions made at a treatment plant 72 hours ago are just arriving at a node in the network periphery. The modeler could account for the effect of these historical additions by measuring and assigning an initial condition at the node. Initial conditions are a mathematical way of incorporating the historical chain of events that determines the state of the network at the beginning of a simulation. Every pipe, junction, tank, and reservoir in the network can be assigned an initial condition related to the analysis being conducted. For constituent analyses, network components are assigned an initial concentration. For source trace and water age analyses, network components are assigned an initial percentage of water arriving from the source and an initial water age, respectively. Initial conditions are assigned at nodes, tanks, and reservoirs, and an interpolation method is typically applied to assign them to pipes. Predicting Initial Conditions. Assigning initial conditions using values determined in the field is extremely problematic for a number of reasons. For constituent analyses, measuring the disinfectant concentration at every node, tank, reservoir, and pipe is logistically impractical. In addition, measuring all of these concentrations at a single instant in time (the instant before the simulation is scheduled to start) is impos-

Section 7.5

Calibration of Water Quality Models

sible. The same problem exists when determining initial conditions for hydraulic simulations. However, it is not as severe because hydraulic initial conditions are typically only measured to establish network boundary conditions. The smaller number of measurements greatly simplifies the logistical considerations associated with collecting them. Predicting initial conditions for water age analyses is also difficult because age is not a parameter that is easily measured in the field. The dynamic behavior of the water quality model, however, can be used to eliminate the problems associated with assigning initial conditions. As water quality processes are modeled, they form a dissipative system. For example, disinfectant residuals assigned as an initial condition are present at the beginning of a simulation. As the simulation progresses, the effects of the initial conditions dissipate as disinfectant reacts and is removed from the network as hydraulic demands. The disinfectant initially present is gradually replaced by disinfectant entering from source locations. Disinfectant concentrations in the network will eventually reach a dynamic equilibrium for which concentrations are independent of initial conditions. Thus, if the simulation is allowed to run for a sufficiently long period of time, the values of the initial conditions assigned become irrelevant. Setting Initial Conditions. This dissipative behavior of water quality models can be used to the modeler’s advantage, eliminating the need to predict initial conditions by specifying long simulation times. The exact simulation time depends on network topology and hydraulics but can run anywhere from 3 to 10 times the length of the diurnal demand pattern. (Typically, a 24-hour diurnal cycle is used.) Essentially, the hydraulic scenario being modeled is assumed to repeat for all times into the future. To conduct a long simulation, it is necessary to balance the network hydraulics so that inflows equal outflows over the length of the demand pattern. Otherwise, tanks may drain empty or overfill as the simulation progresses, or disturbances may develop in what should appear as periodic pipe flows. Once a model has been modified for a long-duration simulation, the initial conditions (at pipes and nodes) can then be set to any value, including 0.00 mg/l. The time it takes for concentrations in the distribution system to achieve equilibrium is influenced by the initial conditions set at tanks and reservoirs. Initial conditions within the tanks and reservoirs adjust very slowly. Conversely, initial conditions at junction nodes dissipate quickly, and thus initial conditions at junction nodes can safely be set to zero. Familiarity with a specific source operation scenario may allow the initial conditions within tanks and reservoirs to be set closer to their equilibrium values, significantly decreasing simulation times. If source operation or hydraulics change as alternative scenarios are evaluated, however, the equilibrium concentrations within the storage tanks are also likely to change.

Wall Reaction Coefficients Finding wall reaction coefficients is much more difficult than establishing bulk reaction coefficients (discussed in Chapter 5, page 204). Wall reaction coefficients are similar to pipe roughness coefficients in that they can and do vary from pipe to pipe. Like the C-factor (head loss) test for pipe roughness values (see page 191), wall reaction coefficients cannot be directly measured but must be deduced by measuring val-

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ues in the field—in this case chlorine residuals and other factors—and then calculating the wall reaction coefficient that would result in the observed behavior. The ideal experiment is to isolate a pipe of homogeneous characteristics (diameter, material, age, flow) and measure chlorine residuals and other factors for that pipe. As discussed on page 210, for metallic pipes with diameters less than 12 in., a pipe segment of 1,000 to 2,000 ft is frequently adequate to produce a measurable drop in chlorine residual due to wall demand. However, for larger diameter pipes and pipes made of materials that are less reactive, it may be necessary to study much longer pipes (of maybe a mile or more). Because finding homogeneous pipes of that length that can be isolated to perform a field test is difficult, other methods of calibrating the chlorine model are needed. Calibration/Validation Using Time-Series Data. An important step in calibrating and validating an extended-period simulation hydraulic and/or water quality model is to compare time-series field data (data collected at intervals over a period of a day or more) to model results. If the field data and model results are acceptably close, the model is calibrated. If significant variations exist, adjustments can be made to various model parameters in order to improve the match. Ideally, one set of data should be available for calibration, and another set of data should be available to validate that the model is properly calibrated. A combination of three types of field time-series data can be used in the EPS calibration/validation process: hydraulic measurements, water quality data, and tracer data. Chapter 5 describes methods of collecting these types of data. In this chapter, the use of this data in the calibration/validation process is illustrated. Figure 7.8 illustrates an example of time-series data collected in a small distribution system. In this example, a combined field study was performed over a period of 24 hours in which data were collected on the water level in the tank, a tracer study was conducted, and chlorine measurements were taken at stations in the distribution system. The results of the tracer study and the water level measurements were first used in the hydraulic calibration of the model. After the hydraulic calibration was completed, the chlorine data was used to calibrate the water quality model (that is, adjust chlorine decay rates) for chlorine residual. In both phases of the calibration, the field data were plotted for selected stations, along with the initial model results and the model results after calibration. As illustrated in Figure 7.8, tracer measurements were taken at three stations at approximately three-hour intervals, and water levels were taken at the tank (Station D) at about 1.5-hour intervals. Referring first to the water level measurements, the initially predicted pattern is not adequately reflecting the true water levels in the tank. Because the flow leaving the water treatment plant is well-defined by flow measurements at the plant, the incorrectly predicted water levels suggest that the overall temporal pattern of demands throughout the system is not correct. After the temporal pattern is adjusted globally throughout the system, the model produces a much better prediction of tank water levels. Tracer concentrations are initially predicted quite well at Station A, but some notable discrepancies exist at Stations B and C. The close agreement at Station A is expected because the travel time from the plant (where the

Section 7.5

Calibration of Water Quality Models

285

tracer concentrations are known) to Station A is quite short, leaving little opportunity to introduce errors in prediction. Figure 7.8 Collection of timeseries data for model calibration

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At Station B, the lower predicted concentrations indicate that the model is initially predicting travel times to Station B that are longer than the observed travel times. Because flow in dead-end pipes is controlled primarily by demand, a moderate change in the demand pattern at Station B led to improved results in the model. At Station C, the model was initially predicting that the tracer would reach the node much more quickly than the observed results. Because the distance from the plant to this station is relatively short, the significant difference between the observed and predicted results suggests that there may be an inadvertent fully or partially closed valve on the direct path to Station C. A change in the model resulted in much better agreement, and a crew dispatched to the field confirmed that the valve was closed. The calibration process resulted in a hydraulic model that was considered to be acceptably calibrated. Because some significant changes were made in the model, the utility may want to consider collecting a second set of data to validate the model parameters. After the hydraulic model was acceptably calibrated, the chlorine measurements were used to calibrate the water quality model. Chlorine measurements had been taken at approximately three-hour intervals at the three distribution system sampling stations and in the combined inlet/outlet line of the tank. The predicted chlorine concentration was uniformly slightly low at Station A throughout the day — a surprise because the travel time from the plant to Station A through a large-diameter pipe was quite short. The systematic difference suggested that this discrepancy might be due to measurement error. A check of the instruments showed that the meter that was used to measure chlorine at the plant was not properly calibrated with the meter used in the field. After adjusting the chlorine concentrations leaving the plant, the model results accurately reflected the field results. At Stations B and C, the predicted chlorine concentrations were uniformly higher than the observed results. This suggested that reaction rates used in the model might not have been correct. Because the bulk decay rate was carefully determined using bottle tests, adjustments were made in the wall demand coefficient with resulting improvements in the model predictions as compared to field results. At the tank, the model was predicting very wide swings in chlorine residual in the inlet/ outlet line between the fill and draw cycles. Long residence times in the tank can cause this behavior. The fact that the observed chlorine residuals did not display such wide variations led the modeler to surmise either that the true residence time was shorter than the model suggested or that the tank was stratified and displaying a lastin-first-out (LIFO) behavior. Additional field-testing of chlorine at different levels in the tank confirmed that the tank was stratified. By utilizing the LIFO tank representation in the model, the predicted chlorine concentrations matched the field results. The utility also took steps to modify the tank operation in order to reduce or eliminate the stratification problem. The calibration example illustrated in the preceding paragraph shows many of the typical calibration problems that are found in the EPS water quality calibration process. In most cases, parameter adjustment based on field measurements at only a few sta-

Section 7.6

Acceptable Levels of Calibration

tions is a difficult and iterative process. Automated calibration using advanced tools such as genetic algorithms (see page 268) holds significant promise in this area. Reported values for wall reaction coefficients are in the range of 0 to 5 ft/day (0 to 1.5 m/day). Because these values are difficult to measure, estimates can be based upon field concentration measurements and water quality simulation results as part of a calibration analysis. Vasconcelos, Rossman, Grayman, Boulos, and Clark (1997) postulated that the wall reaction coefficient is related to pipe roughness according to the following equation: kw = α ⁄ C

where

(7.10)

kw = wall reaction coefficient (ft/day) α = fitting coefficient C = Hazen-Williams C-factor

The fitting coefficient is determined for a given system by trial and error during calibration. Assuming that a sufficient number of observed constituent concentrations have been collected at various locations throughout the system, initial values of wall reaction coefficients for each pipe can be estimated and the simulation performed. The observed constituent concentrations can then be compared to concentrations provided by the computer model. If the two values do not agree within reason, then the wall reaction coefficients should be adjusted until a suitable match is obtained.

7.6

ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF CALIBRATION

Regardless of which approach to calibration is adopted, a realistic model should achieve some level of performance criteria. In the United Kingdom, certain performance criteria have been established, and designers strive to meet these standards (Hydraulic Research, 1983). Table 7.3 outlines the criteria for flow and pressure. Additional criteria exist, including those for extended-period simulations (WRc, 1989). For an EPS, in addition to pressures and flows, the volumetric difference between measured and predicted tank storage between two consecutive time steps should be ± 5 percent of the total tank turnover for significantly large tanks (tank turnover is taken to be total volume in plus total volume out between two time intervals). No such guidelines exist in the United States; however, many modelers agree that the level of effort required to calibrate a hydraulic network model and the desired level of calibration accuracy will depend upon the intended use of the model (Ormsbee and Lingireddy, 1997; Cesario, Kroon, Grayman, and Wright, 1996; and Walski, 1995). The true test of model calibration is that the end user (for example, the pipe design engineer or chief system operator) of the model results feels comfortable using the model to assist in decision-making. To that end, calibration should be continued until the cost of performing additional calibration exceeds the value of the extra calibration work.

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Table 7.3 Calibration criteria for flow and pressure Flow Criteria (1) Modeled trunk main flows (where the flow is more than 10% of the total demand) should be within ± 5 % of the measured flows. (2) Modeled trunk main flows (where the flow is less than 10% of the total demand) should be within ± 10 % of the measured flows. Pressure Criteria (1) 85% of field test measurements should be within ± 0.5 m or ± 5 % of the maximum head loss across the system, whichever is greater. (2) 95% of field test measurements should be within ± 0.75 m or ± 7.5 % of the maximum head loss across the system, whichever is greater. (3) 100% of field test measurements should be within ± 2 m or ± 15 % of the maximum head loss across the system, whichever is greater.

Each application of a model is unique, and thus it is impossible to derive a single set of guidelines to evaluate calibration. The guidelines presented below give some numerical guidelines for calibration accuracy; however, they are in no way meant to be definitive. A range of values is given for most of the guidelines to reflect the differences among water systems and the needs of model users. The higher numbers generally correspond to larger, more complicated systems, and the lower end of the range is more relevant to smaller, simpler systems. The words “to the accuracy of elevation and pressure data” mean that the model should be as good as the field data. If the HGL is known to within 8 ft (2.5 m), then the model should agree with field data to within the same tolerance. It is important to remember that these guidelines need to be tempered by site-specific considerations and an understanding of the intended use of the model. • Master planning for smaller systems [24-in. (600-mm) pipe and smaller]: The model should accurately predict hydraulic grade line (HGL) to within 5– 10 ft (1.5–3 m) (depending on size of system) at calibration data points during fire flow tests and to the accuracy of the elevation and pressure data during normal demands. It should also reproduce tank water level fluctuations to within 3–6 ft (1–2 m) for EPS runs and match treatment plant/pump station/ well flows to within 10–20 percent. • Master planning for larger systems [24-in. (600-mm) and larger]: The model should accurately predict HGL to within 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) during times of peak velocities and to the accuracy of the elevation and pressure data during normal demands. It should also reproduce tank water level fluctuations to within 3 to 6 ft (1–2 m) for EPS runs and match treatment plant/ well/pump station flows to within 10–20 percent. • Pipeline sizing: The model should accurately predict HGL to within 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) at the terminal point of the proposed pipe for fire flow conditions, and to the accuracy of the elevation data during normal demands. If the new pipe impacts the operation of a water tank, the model should also reproduce the fluctuation of the tank to within 3–6 ft (1–2 m).

Section 7.6

Acceptable Levels of Calibration

• Fire flow analysis: The model should accurately predict static and residual HGL to within 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) at representative points in each pressure zone and neighborhood during fire flow conditions and to the accuracy of the elevation data during normal demands. If fire flow is near maximum fire flow such that storage tank sizing is important, the model should also predict tank water level fluctuation to within 3–6 ft (1–2 m). • Subdivision design: The model should reproduce HGL to within 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) at the tie-in point for the subdivision during fire flow tests and to the accuracy of the elevation data during normal demands. • Rural water system (no fire protection): The model should reproduce HGL to within 10–20 ft (3–6 m) at remote points in the system during peak demand conditions and to the accuracy of the elevation data during normal demands. • Distribution system rehabilitation study: The model should reproduce static and residual HGL in the area being studied to within 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) during fire hydrant flow tests and to the accuracy of the elevation data during normal demands. • Flushing: The model should reproduce the actual discharge from fire hydrants or distribution capability [such as the fire flow delivered at a 20 psi (138 kPa) residual pressure] to within 10–20 percent of observed flow. • Energy use: The model should reproduce total energy use over a 24-hour period to within 5–10 percent, energy consumption on an hourly basis to within 10–20 percent, and peak energy demand to within 5–10 percent. • Operational problems: The model should reproduce problems occurring in the system such that the model can be used for decision-making for that particular problem. • Emergency planning: The model should reproduce HGL to within 10–20 ft (3–6 m) during situations corresponding to emergencies (for example, fire flow, power outage, or pipe out of service). • Disinfectant models: The model should reproduce the pattern of observed disinfectant concentrations over the time samples were taken to an average error of roughly 0.1 to 0.2 mg/l, depending on the complexity of the system. In addition to these standards, the AWWA Engineering Computer Applications Committee (1999) posted some calibration guidelines on its web page. As mentioned previously in this section, however, each modeling application is unique and requires its own unique set of calibration requirements. The AWWA guidelines are merely examples of what could be written; they have not been accepted as standards. In summary, a model can be considered calibrated when the results produced by the model can be used with confidence to make decisions regarding the design, operation, and maintenance of a water distribution system, and the cost to improve the model further cannot be justified.

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REFERENCES Ahmed, I., Lansey, K., and Araujo, J. (1999). “Data Collection for Water Distribution Network Calibration.” Proceedings of Water Industry Systems: Modelling and Optimisation Applications, Savic, D. A., and Walters, G. A., eds., Vol. 1, Exeter, United Kingdom. American Water Works Association Engineering Computer Applications Committee (1999). “Calibration Guidelines for Water Distribution System Modeling.” http://www.awwa.org/unitdocs/592/calibrate.pdf. Bhave, P. R. (1988). “Calibrating Water Distribution Network Models.” Journal of Environmental Engineering, ASCE, 114(1), 120. Boulos, P. F., and Ormsbee, L. E. (1991). “Explicit Network Calibration for Multiple Loading Conditions.” Civil Engineering Systems, 8(3), 153. Boulos, P. F., and Wood, D. J. (1990). “Explicit Calculation of Pipe-Network Parameters.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 116(11), 1329. Boulos, P. F., and Wood, D. J. (1991). “An Explicit Algorithm for Calculating Operating Parameters for Water Networks.” Civil Engineering Systems, 8, 115. Bush, C. A., and Uber, J. G. (1998). “Sampling Design and Methods for Water Distribution Model Calibration.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 124(6), 334. Califonia Section AWWA (1962). “Loss of Carrying Capacity of Water Mains.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 54(10). Cesario, A. L., Kroon, J. R., Grayman, W., and Wright, G. (1996). “New Perspectives on Calibration of Treated Water Distribution System Models.” Proceedings of the AWWA Annual Conference, American Water Works Association, Toronto, Canada. Chen, L. C. (1995). “Pipe Network Transient Analysis—The Forward and Inverse Problems.” Thesis, Faculty of the Graduate School, Cornell University. Colebrook, C. F., and White, C. M. (1937). “The Reduction of Carrying Capacity of Pipes with Age.” Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers, 5137(7), 99. Datta, R. S. N., and Sridharan, K. (1994). “Parameter Estimation in Water Distribution Systems by Least Squares.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 120(4), 405. de Schaetzen, W. (2000). “Optimal Calibration and Sampling Design for Hydraulic Network Models.” Ph.D. Thesis, School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Exeter, United Kingdom. de Schaetzen, W., Randall-Smith, M., Savic, D. A., and Walters, G. A. (1999). “Optimal Logger Density in Water Distribution Network Calibration.” Proceedings of Water Industry Systems: Modelling and Optimisation Applications, Savic, D. A., and Walters, G. A., eds., Vol. 1, Exeter, United Kingdom. Ferreri, G. B., Napoli, E., and Tumbiolo, A. (1994). “Calibration of Roughness in Water Distribution Networks.” Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Water Pipeline Systems, BHR Group, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Grayman, W.M. (1998). “Use of Tracer Studies and Water Quality Models to Calibrate a Network Hydraulic Model,” Essential Hydraulics and Hydrology, Haestad Methods, Inc., Waterbury, Connecticut. Greco, M., and Del Guidice, G. (1999). “New Approach to Water Distribution Network Calibration.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 125(8), 849. Herrin, G. (1997). “Calibrating the Model.” Practical Guide to Hydraulics and Hydrology, Haestad Press, Waterbury, Connecticut. Howie, D. C. (1999). “Problems with SCADA Data for Calibration of Hydraulic Models.” Proceedings of the ASCE Annual Conference of Water Resources Planning and Management, American Society of Civil Engineers, Tempe, Arizona. Hudson, W. D. (1966). “Studies of Distribution System Capacity in Seven Cities.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 58(2), 157.

References

Hydraulic Research (1983). Tables for the Hydraulic Design of Pipes and Sewers. Wallingford, England. Kapelan, Z., Savic, D. A., and Walters, G. A. (2000). “Inverse Transient Analysis in Pipe Networks for Leakage Detection and Roughness Calibration.” Water Network Modelling for Optimal Design and Management, CWS 2000, Centre for Water Systems, Exeter, United Kingdom, 143. Kapelan, Z., Savic, D. A., and Walters, G. A. (2001). “Use of Prior Information on Parameters in Inverse Transient Analysis for Leak Detection and Roughness Calibration.” Proceedings of the World Water and Environmental Resources Congress, Orlando, Florida. Kapelan, Z., Savic, D. A., and Walters, G. A. (2001a). “Optimal Sampling Design Methods for Calibration of Water Supply Network Models.” Water Software Systems: Theory and Applications, Vol. 1, Ulanicki, B., Coulbeck, B. and Rance, J.P., eds., Research Studies Press, Baldock, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Lamont, P. A. (1981). “Common Pipe Flow Formulas Compared With the Theory of Roughness.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 73(5), 274. Lansey, K. E., and Basnet, C. (1991). “Parameter Estimation for Water Distribution Networks.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 117(1), 126. Lansey, K. E., El-Shorbagy, W., Ahmed, I., Araujo, J., and Haan, C. T. (2001). “Calibration Assessment and Data Collection for Water Distribution Networks.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 127(4), 270. Lee, B. H., and Deininger, R. A. (1992). “Optimal Locations of Monitoring Stations in Water Distribution Systems.” Journal of Environmental Engineering, ASCE, 118(1), 4. Liggett, J. A., and Chen, L. C. (1994). “Inverse Transient Analysis in Pipe Networks.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 120(8), 934. Meier, R. W., and Barkdoll, B. D. (2000). “Sampling Design for Network Model Calibration Using Genetic Algorithms.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 126(4), 245. Muss, D. L. (1960). “Friction Losses in Lines with Service Connections.” Journal Hydraulics Division, ASCE, 86(4), 35. Ormsbee, L. E. (1989). “Implicit Pipe Network Calibration.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 115(2), 243. Ormsbee, L. E., and Lingireddy, S. (1997). “Calibrating Hydraulic Network Models.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 89(2), 44. Ormsbee, L. E., and Wood, D. J. (1986). “Explicit Pipe Network Calibration.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 112(2), 166. Piller, O., Bremond, B., and Morel, P. (1999). “A Spatial Sampling Procedure for Physical Diagnosis in a Drinking Water Supply Network.” Proceedings of Water Industry Systems: Modelling and Optimisation Applications, Savic, D. A., and Walters, G. A., eds., Vol. 1, Exeter, United Kingdom. Pudar, R. S., and Liggett, J. A. (1992). “Leaks in Pipe Networks.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 118(7), 1031. Rahal, C. M., Sterling, M. J. H., and Coulbeck, B. (1980). "Parameter Tuning for Simulation Models of Water Distribution Networks.” Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers, Part 269, 751. Reddy, P. V. N., Sridharan, K., and Rao, P. V. (1996). “WLS Method for Parameter Estimation in Water Distribution Networks.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 122(3), 157. Savic, D. A., and Walters, G. A. (1995). “Genetic Algorithm Techniques for Calibrating Network Models.” Report No. 95/12, Centre For Systems And Control Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom, 41. Savic, D. A., and Walters, G. A. (1997). “Evolving Sustainable Water Networks.” Hydrological Sciences, 42(4), 549.

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Shamir, U., and Hamberg, D. (1988). “Schematic Models for Distribution System Design. I: Combination Concept.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 114(2), 129. Shamir, U., and Howard, C. D. D. (1968). “Water Distribution Systems Analysis.” Journal of the Hydraulic Division, ASCE, 94(1), 219. Simpson, A. R., and Vitkovsky, J. P. (1997). "A Review of Pipe Calibration and Leak Detection Methodologies for Water Distribution Networks.” Proceeding of the 17th Federal Convention, Australian Water and Wastewater Association, Australia, 1. Tang, K., Karney, B., Pendlebury, M., and Zhang, F. (1999). "Inverse Transient Calibration of Water Distribution Systems Using Genetic Algorithms.” Water Industry Systems: Modelling and Optimisation Applications, Research Studies Press Ltd., Exeter, United Kingdom, 1. Todini, E. (1999). "Using a Kalman Filter Approach for Looped Water Distribution Network Calibration.” Water Industry Systems: Modelling and Optimisation Applications, Research Studies Press Ltd., Exeter, United Kingdom, 1. Vasconcelos, J. J., Rossman, L. A., Grayman, W. M., Boulos, P. F., and Clark, R. M. (1997). “Kinetics of Chlorine Decay.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 89(7), 54. Vitkovsky, J. P., and Simpson, A. R. (1997). “Calibration and Leak Detection in Pipe Networks Using Inverse Transient Analysis and Genetic Algorithms.” Report No. R 157, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Adelaide, Australia. Vitkovsky, J. P., Simpson, A. R., and Lambert, M. F. (2000). “Leak Detection and Calibration Using Transients and Genetic Algorithms.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 126(4), 262. Walski, T. M. (1983). “Technique for Calibrating Network Models.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 109(4), 360. Walski, T. M. (1986). “Case Study: Pipe Network Model Calibration Issues.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 109(4), 238. Walski, T. M. (1990). “Sherlock Holmes Meets Hardy Cross or Model Calibration in Austin, Texas.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 82(3), 34. Walski, T. M. (1995). “Standards for Model Calibration.” Proceedings of the AWWA Computer Conference, American Water Works Association, Norfolk, Virginia. Walski, T. M. (2000). “Model Calibration Data: The Good, The Bad and The Useless.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 92(1), 94. Walski, T. M. (2002). “Identifying Monitoring Locations in a Water Distribution System Using Simulation and GIS.” Proceedings of the AWWA Information Management and Technology Conference, American Water Works Association, Kansas City, Missouri. Walski, T. M., Edwards, J. D., and Hearne, V. M. (1989). “Loss of Carrying Capacity in Pipes Carrying Softened Water with High pH.” Proceedings of the ASCE National Conference on Environmental Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, Austin, Texas. Walski, T. M., Lowry, S. G., and Rhee, H. (2000). “Pitfalls in Calibrating an EPS Model.” Proceedings of the Environmental and Water Resource Institute Conference, American Society of Civil Engineers, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Walters G.A., Savic, D. A., Morley, M. S., de Schaetzen, W., and Atkinson, R. M. (1998). “Calibration of Water Distribution Network Models Using Genetic Algorithms.” Hydraulic Engineering Software VII, Computational Mechanics Publications, 131. Water and Environment Federation (WEF) (1997). “Energy Conservation in Wastewater Treatment Facilities.” WEF Manual of Practice MFD-2, Alexandria, Virginia. Water Research Center (WRc) (1989). Network Analysis – A Code of Practice. WRc, Swindon, England.

References

Wu, Z. Y., Boulos, P. F., Orr, C. H., and Ro, J. J. (2000). “An Efficient Genetic Algorithms Approach to an Intelligent Decision Support System for Water Distribution Networks.” Proceedings of the Hydroinformatics Conference, Iowa. Wu, Z. Y, Walski, T. M., Mankowski, R., Herrin, G., Gurrieri, R. and Tryby, M. (2002a). “Calibrating Water Distribution Model Via Genetic Algorithms.” Proceedings of the AWWA Information Management and Technology Conference, American Water Works Association, Kansas City, Missouri. Wu, Z. Y. Walski, T. M., Mankowski, R., Herrin, G., Gurrieri, R., Tryby, M., and Hartell, W. (2002b). “Impact of Measurement Errors on Optimal Calibration of Water Distribution Models.” Proceedings of the International Conference on Technology Automation and Control of Wastewater and Drinking Water Systems, Technical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland. Yu, G., and Powell, R. S. (1994). “Optimal Design of Meter Placement in Water Distribution Systems.” International Journal of Systems Science, 25(12), 2155.

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DISCUSSION TOPICS AND PROBLEMS Read the chapter and complete the problems. Submit your work to Haestad Methods and earn up to 11.0 CEUs. See Continuing Education Units on page xxix for more information, or visit www.haestad.com/awdm-ceus/.

7.1 English Units: Calibrate the system shown in Problem 3.3 (see page 131) and given in Prob7-01.wcd so that the observed pressure of 63.0 psi at node J-5 is obtained. Adjust nodal demands by using the same multiplier for all demands (global demand adjustment). a) By what factor must demands be adjusted to obtain the observed pressure? b) Would you say that pressures in this system are sensitive to nodal demands? Why or why not? SI Units: Calibrate the system shown in Problem 3.3 (see page 131) and given in Prob7-01m.wcd so that the observed pressure of 434.4 kPa at node J-5 is obtained. Adjust nodal demands by using the same multiplier for all demands (global demand adjustment). a) By what factor must demands be adjusted to obtain the observed pressure? b) Would you say that pressures in this system are sensitive to nodal demands? Why or why not?

7.2 Calibrate the system shown in Problem 4.1 (see page 171) so that the observed pressure of 54.5 psi is obtained at node J-4. Adjust the internal pipe roughness using the same multiplier for all pipes (global adjustment factor). a) What is the global roughness adjustment factor necessary to obtain the pressure match? b) Are the pressures in this system sensitive to pipe roughness under average day demands? Why or why not? c) Would you say that most water distribution systems are insensitive to pipe roughness values under low flows? d) Is it reasonable to expect that a field pressure can be read with a precision of ±0.5 psi? If not, what would you say is a typical precision for field-measured pressures? e) What can contribute to the imprecision in pressure measurements?

7.3 Use the calibrated system found from Problem 7.2 and place a fire flow demand of 1,500 gpm at node J-4. a) What is the pressure at node J-4? b) Is a pressure of this magnitude possible? Why or why not? c) If a pressure this low is not possible, what will happen to the fire flow demand? d) What is the most likely cause of this low pressure?

Discussion Topics and Problems

7.4 Starting with the original pipe roughness values, calibrate the system presented in Problem 4.3 (see page 177) so that the observed pressure of 14 psi is obtained at node J-11. Close pipes P-6 and P-14 for this simulation. Assume that the area downstream of the PRV is a residential area. Hint: Concentrate on pipe roughness values downstream of the PRV. a) What pipe roughness values were needed to calibrate this system? b) Would you consider these roughness values to be realistic? c) A fire flow of 1,500 gpm is probably more than is needed for a residential area. A flow of 750 gpm is more reasonable. Using the uncalibrated model, determine whether this system can deliver 750 gpm at node J-11 and maintain a minimum system-wide pressure of 30 psi.

7.5 Calibrate the system completed in Problem 4.4 (see page 180) and given in Prob7-05.wcd so that the observed hydraulic grade line elevations in the Central Tank (see the following table) are reproduced. Hint: Focus on changing the multipliers in the diurnal demand pattern. Time (hr)

Central Tank HGL (ft)

0.00

1,525

1.00

1,527

2.00

1,529

3.00

1,531

4.00

1,532

5.00

1,534

6.00

1,536

7.00

1,537

8.00

1,539

9.00

1,540

10.00

1,541

11.00

1,542

12.00

1,540

13.00

1,537

14.00

1,534

15.00

1,532

16.00

1,533

17.00

1,535

18.00

1,536

19.00

1,537

20.00

1,538

21.00

1,539

22.00

1,541

23.00

1,542

24.00

1,544

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Fill in the table below with your revised diurnal demand pattern multipliers. Insert more times if necessary. Time of Day Midnight 3:00 a.m. 6:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Noon 3:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Midnight

Multiplication Factor

C H A P T E R

8 Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

Engineers have designed fully functioning water distribution systems without using computerized hydraulic simulations for many years. Why then, in the last several decades, has the use of computerized simulations become standard practice for designing water distribution systems? First, computerized calculations relieve engineers of tedious, iterative calculations, enabling them to focus on design decisions. Second, because models can account for much more of the complexity of real-world systems than manual calculations, they give the engineer increased confidence that the design will work once it is installed. Finally, the ease and speed with which models can be used gives the engineer the ability to explore many more alternatives under a wide range of conditions, resulting in more cost-effective and robust designs. There is a price to pay for the extra capability that engineers now possess as a result of high-quality hydraulic simulation software. The easiest part of that price to quantify is the cost of the software itself. Another obvious cost is the time required to assemble data and construct a network model. In addition, there are costs associated with training personnel to use a new tool and the time it takes to gain experience using it effectively. The total cost is small, however, compared to the value of the projects being considered and the repercussions of poor decisions. A model that has been assembled properly is an asset to the water utility, much like a pipe or a fire hydrant. The model should therefore be maintained so that it is ready to be put to valuable use. The difficult part of valuing modeling lies in the fact that the costs of modeling are incurred mostly in model development, and the benefits are realized later in the form of quicker calculations and better decisions. Because such a large investment in time and effort is needed to make a model usable, a common mistake is to not leave enough time in a study (whether it is creating a major master plan or checking the location of a proposed tank) to adequately analyze

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the design. To get the most out of a model, it is important to allow sufficient time to try different alternatives and test these alternatives against a wide range of conditions. Although the time spent performing additional analyses may seem to cause a delay, good designs will save both time and money, provide insight into the workings of the system, and improve the performance of a project.

8.1

APPLYING MODELS TO DESIGN APPLICATIONS

Up to this point, the book has addressed how to build and calibrate models. The remainder focuses on using those models and the results they provide to build water systems and to assist in operating them. An overview of model application is shown in Figure 8.1. The sections that follow discuss each item in the figure in more detail. Figure 8.1 Overview of model application

Existing Calibrated Model

Problem Statement

Additional Calibration Data

Model Ready for Problem

Formulate Alternatives

Make Decision

Cost Analysis

Test Alternatives

Extent of Calibration and Skeletonization Anyone who uses models regularly realizes that no model is ever perfectly calibrated (see Chapter 7). Therefore, before using a model to solve a particular problem, the engineer needs to verify that the model is sufficiently calibrated and has a high enough resolution to be useful for the problem under consideration. A single model may not work well for analyzing every problem without additional work. Therefore, it may be necessary to have slightly different versions of the model for performing different analyses. Care should be taken to keep all versions up-to-date. For example, a model may predict peak flow and fire flow behavior in a given part of town very well even though it is somewhat skeletonized. If the problem being considered involves determining what piping or storage must be added to ensure service in the event that the largest pipe supplying that section of town fails, the model may not contain sufficient detail. Numerous smaller pipes may need to be added to the model so that it will more accurately represent the secondary paths that the water can take within the distribution system.

Section 8.1

Applying Models to Design Applications

Depending on the reason for the analysis, it may be worthwhile to install a few portable pressure recorders or run several hydrant flow tests in the area being considered, before getting too far into the analysis. Sometimes a detail important to a specific situation may be left out of a general model, even though the model as a whole appears well-calibrated. In other situations, the model may have far too much detail for the analysis being conducted. For example, a highly detailed model may be more than sufficient for setting control valves or evaluating pump cycling. Also, too much detail may give a false sense that the model will provide more accurate results simply because it contains more information. A similar consideration exists with demands. The model may have been set up for a master planning study, with reasonable projected demands assigned to nodes; however, the question being posed may refer to a particular subdivision or new industrial customer. The previous master plan projections should be replaced by the more precise demand projections for this new customer or land development. When using the model to assess the capability of the distribution system to serve a particular new customer, it is important to remember that the improvements being installed may also be required to serve future customers. Therefore, projected future demands must be accounted for in any sizing calculations. Often, the question then becomes one of how the cost of the new facilities will be divided between the new customer and the utility.

Design Flow Ideally, each pipe, pump, and valve in a system has been sized using some design flow. The design flow used is typically the peak flow that the facility will encounter in the foreseeable future. In any study, the engineer must determine this flow for the facility being designed. The design flow is usually based on a prediction, which is problematic because it is almost always incorrect to some extent. Therefore, facilities should be sized to operate efficiently, accounting for uncertainty in design flow estimates. Oversized facilities have pipes and pumps that are not fully utilized, with the associated inefficiencies and misallocations of capital resources. Oversized facilities may also be plagued with water quality problems due to long residence times. Conversely, undersized facilities are inadequate to meet demands, a situation that must later be corrected by paralleling, replacing, or retrofitting facilities to expand capacity. To some extent, the decision on design flow acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy. If distribution capacity is installed, customers will eventually use that capacity. Today’s “excess capacity” has a way of becoming a valuable resource that is quickly absorbed through development. While design flow is a useful concept for specifying equipment, the model should also be used to simulate a large range of possible conditions and ensure robust designs. EPS runs performed for a range of flows (such as current average day and year 2020 peak day) are particularly useful for evaluating how the system will respond under a variety of conditions.

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Reliability Considerations When designing or improving a system, the possibility that the system needs to function even when components are out of service (such as in the case of a pipe break, power outage, natural disaster, or off-line equipment) should be considered. The distribution system cannot be expected to perform without some degradation of service during an outage. However, when economically feasible, the system should be designed to at least meet appropriate minimum performance standards during reasonable emergencies and other circumstances in which facilities may be out of service. To model the failure of a pipe, removing or closing off a single pipe link in a distribution model would be simple. The number of links and nodes removed, however, depends on the locations of the valves necessary to close off that area or segment (the smallest portion of a system that can be isolated using valves). Seven water distribution segments are shown in the map in Figure 8.2(a). The effect of a break on the topology of the distribution model is shown for segments 1 and 2. For a break in segment 1, only a single pipe link is taken out of service as shown in Figure 8.2(b). For a break in segment 2, several pipe links and junction nodes are removed from the model as shown in Figure 8.2(c). The effect of failures on facility operation is further described in Chapter 10 (see page 433). A reliability analysis of an entire water distribution system has not yet proven to be workable, partly because there are so many different ways of defining reliability (as summarized by Wagner, Shamir, and Marks, 1988a, 1988b). Mays (1989) summarized the state-of-the-art in reliability analysis in an ASCE Committee Report. More recently, Goulter et al. (2000) provided an overview of reliability assessment methods that included 81 references. Walski (1993) pointed out that the problem is not simply one of hydraulic analysis, but is also closely related to operation and maintenance practices.

Section 8.1

Applying Models to Design Applications

301

Figure 8.2 Distribution system segments

2

1

7

6

3 5

4

a.

1

b.

2

c.

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Key Roles in Design Using a Model After the model has been constructed and calibrated, it is ready to be used in design. There are two distinct roles that need to be filled when using a model. The first is that of the modeler who actually runs the program, and the second is that of the design engineer who must make the decisions regarding facility sizing, location, and timing of construction. In most cases, the models are sufficiently easy to use that both roles can be filled by a single individual. When two individuals are involved, the task of the design engineer is to decide on the situations and design alternatives to be modeled. The modeler then runs the desired simulations. To get the most benefit from the model, the designer should examine a broad range of alternatives. Background investigation prior to beginning the modeling process is often very helpful. A brainstorming session with utility employees can generate a consistent understanding of the nature of the problem, a review of the facts surrounding the problem, and, most important, a wide range of alternative solutions. By involving others in this initial meeting, difficulties that can arise later (such as questions about why a particular alternative was not considered) can be prevented. A team approach also facilitates acceptance of designs that are developed using the model.

Types of Modeling Applications There is no single correct way to use models. Walski (1995) described how model application for design purposes differs depending on whether the model is being used for master planning, preliminary design, subdivision development, or system rehabilitation. Each type of model has a specific goal and related characteristics, as summarized in the following list: • Master planning. Master planning models are used to predict what improvements and additions to the distribution system will be necessary to accommodate future customers. Therefore, these models have long planning horizons (on the order of 20 to 40 years). The designs are controlled by future demands, and emphasis is usually placed on larger transmission mains, pump stations, and storage tanks, as opposed to small neighborhood mains. Systems in master planning models can be highly skeletonized, and future pumps may be represented by constant-head nodes (that is, modeled as reservoirs). • Preliminary design. In preliminary design, the engineer models the facilities that will be required to serve a particular area of, or addition to, the distribution system service area. For this type of modeling, the focus is limited to a small portion of the system. Actual pump curves should be included, but detailed calibration is only needed in the section of the model from the source to the project, while the remainder of the system can be highly skeletonized. • Subdivision layout. When designing a subdivision (particularly in the U.S.), the capacity requirements of fire flows usually dominate those of customer demands, and the planning horizon is typically short (perhaps five years to

Section 8.1

Applying Models to Design Applications

subdivision build-out). Calibration is only needed near the points of connection to the existing system, and although detail is required when modeling the pipes in the development, the remainder of the system can be highly skeletonized. • Rehabilitation. In a rehabilitation study of an area of a system, adequate capacity for fire flows is usually the most important consideration. Many more alternative scenarios are needed compared to the number required when designing new pipe because a variety of possible solutions exist (for example, relining, paralleling, or looping). Detail is needed only for the part of the model that represents the study area; the remainder of the system model can be skeletonized. Cesario (1995) reported that the most common application of water distribution modeling is long-range planning (referred to by some utilities as master planning, capital budgeting, or comprehensive planning studies). The next most common uses are fire flow studies and new development design. Models tend to be used more by planning and design personnel, rather than operations personnel. Of course, after a water utility’s personnel become familiar with a model, the application is limited only by the time and imagination of the users.

Pipe Sizing Decisions One of the most common uses of water distribution models is selecting pipe sizes. With the exception of a minimum pipe size of 6 in. (150 mm) for mains providing fire protection, there are few standards for pipe sizing. Instead, the standards are usually expressed in terms of a minimum pressure that must be maintained in the system. It is the responsibility of the engineer to establish the demands that must be met in the system and perform the hydraulic calculations that will determine whether the proposed solution is adequate. For each adequate solution, the engineer then considers whether the cost is acceptable or whether more promising solutions are available. This process is summarized in Figure 8.3. The design process can be improved in some cases by using optimization as described in Section 8.11 on page 360. Once the model of the existing system has been created, the engineer adds the new pipes that are being sized. The initial pipe sizes for these new pipes can then be set at either the minimum allowable size or a size estimated from Equation 8.1: D =

where

Cf Q --------V

D = initial estimate of diameter (in., ft, mm) Cf = unit conversion factor = 0.41 for Q in gpm, D in in., V in ft/s = 1274 for Q in l/s, D in mm, V in m/s = 1.27 for Q in cfs, D in ft, V in ft/s Q = peak flow (gpm, cfs, l/s) V = maximum allowable velocity (ft/s, m/s)

(8.1)

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Using this equation will result in reasonably sized pipes. Next the engineer runs the model for a variety of conditions (average day, peak hour, max day plus fire at key locations, tank refilling at low demand times, etc.) and reviews the model results for things such as • high velocities (see page 307 for guidelines on maximum allowable velocities) • pressures below minimum • pumps not operating at desirable points on pump curve • tanks not draining or filling at desirable rates • unusually high pressures • low velocities during peak demand periods • low disinfectant residual or high water age if water quality analyses are run Figure 8.3 Overview of pipe sizing

Model of Existing System

Initial Selection of Sizes

Demand Estimates

Layout of Proposed Piping

Model Runs

System Outages

Reformulate Design

No

Compare Yes with Standards and Guidelines No

Estimate Costs

Best Costs

Yes Present to Decision Makers

If the engineer notices pipes not performing well, he or she should adjust the diameters to obtain acceptable behavior in the system. Next, the engineer should try different alternative layouts to find low-cost alternatives. This usually involves finding pipes with low velocities even during peak demand conditions and decreasing pipe size to determine the potential for cost savings without violating standards.

Section 8.2

Identifying and Solving Common Distribution System Problems

305

In some cases, pump energy analyses and water quality analyses may be required to evaluate those aspects of the design. Solutions should be presented to decision-makers for review and discussion. Each of these topics is discussed in greater detail in the following sections.

8.2

IDENTIFYING AND SOLVING COMMON DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM PROBLEMS

Most water distribution systems share a number of common concerns. For example, the typical governmental standard for water system design is, “The system shall be designed to maintain a minimum pressure of 20 psi (138 kPa) at ground level at all points in the distribution system under all conditions of flow. The normal working pressure in the distribution system should be approximately 60 psi (414 kPa) and not less than 35 psi (241 kPa)” (GLUMB, 1992). Regulations do not typically spell out how to meet this requirement, leaving such decisions up to the design engineer, who will examine possible alternatives by using modeling techniques. In general, poor pressures tend to be caused by inadequate capacity in a pipe or pump, high elevations, or some combination of the two. Models are helpful in pinpointing the cause of the problem. Figure 8.4 shows how an EPS model can help determine whether the low pressure is due to capacity or elevation problems. Customers at high elevations may experience constant problems with low pressure, while a capacity problem may show up only during periods of high demand. The “Typical” line in Figure 8.4 represents pressure fluctuations in a typical system; the “Capacity Problem” line shows pressures for a system with pump or main capacity problems; and the “Elevation Problem” line shows pressure fluctuations in a portion of a system where the utility is attempting to serve a customer at too high of an elevation. Figure 8.4 EPS runs showing low pressure due to elevation or system capacity

60 Typical

50

Pressure, psi

40 Capacity Problem

30 20

Elevation Problem

10 0 0

10

20

30 Time, hr

40

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Undersized Piping An undersized distribution main will not be easy to identify during average-day conditions, or even peak-day conditions, because demand and velocity are typically not high enough during those times to reveal the problem. If a pipe is too small, it may become a problem only during high-flow conditions such as fire flow. Fire flows are much greater than normal demands, especially in residential areas. Therefore, fire flow simulations are the best way to identify an undersized distribution main. If looking for sizing problems in larger pipes, such as those leaving treatment plants, the best time for diagnosing problems would likely be the peak hour or, in some cases, during periods when tanks are refilling. If undersized pipes are suspected, they can usually be found by looking for pipes with high velocities. These pipes can be located quickly by sorting model output tables by velocity or hydraulic gradient (friction slope), or by color-coding pipes based on these parameters. It is important to note that when evaluating models for undersized pipes, it is better to evaluate based on hydraulic gradient rather than head loss. Although one pipe may have a much larger head loss than another, the hydraulic gradient may actually be lower, depending on the length of the pipes being compared. No fixed rule exists regarding the maximum velocity in a main (although some utilities do have guidelines), but pressures usually start to drop off (and water hammer problems become more pronounced) when velocities reach 10 ft/s (3 m/s). In larger pressure zones (several miles across), a velocity as low as 3 ft/s (1 m/s) may cause excessive head loss. Increasing the diameter of the pipe in the model should result in a corresponding decrease in velocity and increase in pressure. If not, then another pipe or pump may be the reason for poor pressures.

Inadequate Pumping In a pressure zone that is served by a pump, pressures that drop off significantly may indicate a pump capacity problem. This drop will be most dramatic in situations in which most of the pumping energy is used for lift rather than for overcoming friction or in which there is no storage in the pressure zone (or the storage is located far from the problem area). When the flow rate increases above a certain level, the head produced by the pump drops off, and pressures decrease by a corresponding amount. At first, undersized pipes might be suspected as the cause of the problem, but increasing pipe sizes has little impact in this case. A comparison of the pump’s production with its rated capacity [for example, a 600 gpm (0.037 m3/s) pump trying to pass 700 gpm (0.044 m3/s)] will indicate the problem. Installing a larger pump (in terms of flow, not head) or another pump in parallel corrects the problem if the pump flow capacity is the real cause. When the pressure zone has enough storage, diagnosing problems caused by undersized pumps may be difficult. Undersized pumps show up more clearly in EPS runs, however, because the tank water levels do not recover during a multiday simulation. For most pump station designs, the pumps should meet design flow requirements, even with the largest pump out of service. For example, a three-pump station should

Section 8.2

Identifying and Solving Common Distribution System Problems

What’s the Maximum Permissible Velocity in a Pipe? A frequently asked question in water distribution design is, “What is the maximum acceptable velocity in a pipe?” The answer to this question can make pipe design easier because, knowing the maximum velocity and the design flow, an engineer can calculate pipe diameter using

D = where

D Q V Cf

= = = =

Cf Q ⁄ V

pipe diameter design flow maximum velocity unit conversion factor (see page 303)

There is no simple answer to this question because velocity is only indirectly the limiting factor in pipe sizing. It is really the head loss caused by the velocity, not velocity itself, that controls sizing. The problem is complicated by the fact that most water distribution systems are looped, so a sizing decision in one pipe affects the size, and therefore flow velocity, in all other pipes. Technical papers going back to Babbitt and Doland (1931) and Camp (1939) discuss economically sound values for this maximum velocity. This work was extended by Walski (1983), who showed that the optimal velocity in pumped lines can range from 3 to 10 ft/s (1 to 3 m/s), depending on the relative size of the peak and average flow rates through the pipe and the relative magnitude of construction and energy costs.

Another factor to consider is that when velocity is high, changes in velocity are also high, and these accelerations can lead to harmful hydraulic transients (that is, water hammer). One approach to reducing transients is to reduce velocity. Hydraulic transients are covered in detail in Chapter 13. With these multiple complicating factors, there cannot be a single maximum velocity that is optimal in every situation. On the contrary, designing pipe sizes for velocity alone is not the correct approach with water distribution systems. The velocities are useful only for spot-checking network model output when locating bottlenecks in the system (that is, pipes with very high velocities, and therefore high head losses). The real test of a design’s efficiency is not velocity, but residual pressures in the system during peak demand times. When checking designs for permissible velocities, some engineers use 5 ft/s (1.5 m/s) as a maximum, others use 8 ft/s (2.4 m/s), and yet still others use 10 ft/s (3.1 m/s). Because velocity is not the real design parameter, there is no simple answer. Rather, velocity is simply another parameter an engineer can use to check a design.

be able to meet demands using any two of the pumps; otherwise, additional capacity may be needed.

Consistent Low Pressure If pressures are consistently low in an area, then the problem is usually due to trying to serve customers at too high an elevation for that pressure zone. This problem is apparent even during low-demand periods. Changing pipe sizes or pump flow capacity will not improve this situation. If this pressure zone has no storage tanks, it may be possible to increase the head for a fixed-speed pump or increase the control point for a variable-speed pump (provided this increase does not overly pressurize other portions of the system).

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In many cases, the best solution is to move the pressure zone boundary so that those customers experiencing low pressures will be served from the next higher pressure zone. When a zone of higher pressure does not exist, one must be created (see page 333). If a new zone is established, the hydraulic grade line in that zone should serve a significant area, not just a few customers around the current pressure zone boundary. Each succeeding pressure zone should be approximately 100 ft (30.5 m) higher than the next lower zone. If they are less than 50 ft (15.2 m) apart in elevation, too many pressure zones may complicate operation. If they are more than 150 ft (45.7 m) apart in elevation, it is difficult to serve the highest customers without overly pressurizing the lowest customers in that zone.

High Pressures During Low Demand Conditions High pressures are usually caused by serving customers at too low an elevation for the pressure zone. Some utilities consider 80 psi (550 kPa) to be a high pressure, although most systems can tolerate 100 psi (690 kPa) before experiencing problems (for example, increased leakage, increased breaks, water loss through pressure relief valves, and increased load on water heaters and other fixtures). Portions of some distribution systems can bear significantly greater pressures because pipe with a high-pressure rating has been installed. When dealing with high pressures, PRVs can be used to reduce pressures for individual customers, although they may result in additional maintenance issues. Usually, high pressures are easiest to evaluate with model runs at low demands (say 40 to 60 percent of average flow). This range corresponds to minimum nighttime demands for a typical system. If the engineer feels that pressures are too high, the usual solution is to establish a new pressure zone for the lower elevation using system PRVs (as opposed to individual home PRVs). When a constant-speed pump is moving a substantially lower flow than its design flow, high pressures within the pumped zone can result. Possible solutions include a variable-speed pump, a storage tank, or a pressure relief valve that blows off water pressure to the suction side of the pump when the discharge pressure becomes too high.

Oversized Piping Oversized piping can be difficult to identify because the system often appears to work well. The adverse effects are excessive infrastructure costs and potentially poor water quality due to long travel times. If a pipe is suspected of being too large during a design study, its diameter should be decreased and the model rerun for the critical condition for that pipe (peak hour or fire flow). If the pressures do not drop to an unacceptable range, the pipe is a candidate for downsizing. Figure 8.5 shows a comparison of 6-in. (150-mm), 8-in. (200-mm), 12-in. (300-mm), and 16-in. (400-mm) pipes providing water to an area on a peak day. The pressure graph shows that a 6-in. pipe is too small to deliver good pressure during peak times, but the 8-in. pipe experiences an acceptable drop. Increasing the pipe size to 12 in.

Section 8.2

Identifying and Solving Common Distribution System Problems

309

(300 mm) or 16 in. (400 mm) does not result in significantly improved pressure for the increased cost. This problem can also be viewed in terms of head loss (as in Figure 8.6), which shows there is virtually no head loss in the 12-in. (300-mm) or 16-in. (400-mm) pipe, and the loss in the 8-in. (200-mm) pipe is acceptable. Figure 8.5 Pressure comparison for 6-, 8-, 12- and 16in. pipes

55 16 in.

12 in.

50 45 Pressure, psi

8 in.

40 6 in.

35 30 25 20 0

10

20

30

40

Time, hr

Figure 8.6 Head loss comparison for 6-, 8- and 16-in. pipes

40 35 6 in.

Friction Headloss, ft

30 25 20 15 10

8 in.

5

16 in.

12 in.

0 0

10

20

Time, hr

30

40

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Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

8.3

Chapter 8

PUMPED SYSTEMS

Most water distribution systems are fed through some type of centrifugal pump. From a modeling standpoint, the type of pump (for example, vertical turbine or horizontal split-case) is not as significant as pump head characteristics, the type of system in which the pump operates, and how the pump is controlled. Figure 8.7 shows some pumping configurations for various systems. Figure 8.7 Pumping configuration alternatives

PRV

1) Pump Directly into Closed System (Constant or Variable Speed)

2) Pump through Pressure Reducing Valve

Tank

PSV

3) Pump with Relief Valve to Control Pressure

4) Pump into Hydropneumatic Tank

PSV

5) Pump with Storage Tank Floating on System

6) Pump with Pumped Storage

When serving a pressure zone through a pump station or by pumping directly from a well, a number of different methods of operation may be used: • Pump feeding directly into a closed system • Pump feeding through a PRV • Pump with a pressure relief valve • Pump feeding a system with a hydropneumatic tank • Pump feeding a system with a tank floating on the system • Pump feeding a system with a pumped storage tank (not floating on the system)

Section 8.3

Pumped Systems

The early parts of this section refer to design problems in which the pumps will take suction from a source with an adequate and relatively constant HGL [less than 20 ft (6 m) variation], such as a tank or treatment plant clearwell. Situations in which the suction HGL can vary significantly, or the NPSH available (see Figure 2.18 on page 49) is marginal, raise other issues that are addressed at the end of this section. In the initial modeling of most pumped systems, the engineer may first want to represent the pump discharge as a known HGL elevation that the pump station will maintain (that is, model it as a reservoir). Steady-state runs for high-demand or fire flow conditions should be used to set this known HGL and to size pipes. The pipes should be sized so that the head loss during peak times is acceptable [for example, velocity less than 5 ft/s (1.5 m/s)], and the HGL set so that the pressures are within a desirable range of 40 psi (280 kPa) to 80 psi (550 kPa) [30 psi (200 kPa) to 100 psi (690 kPa) in hilly areas]. If a large range of elevations will be served, the system may be divided into more than one pressure zone (see page 334). Figure 8.8 Pump station

After the pump(s) have been selected using system head curves (see page 342), the HGL in the model can be replaced with the actual pump curve data and the suction side of the pump connected to the upstream system piping or boundary node. Then a set of steady-state runs is made for minimum-, average-, and maximum-day demands. Special consideration should be paid to situations in which the variability of flows is large or new construction in the pressure zone is going to occur gradually. In such cases, the design may include specifying several pumps of different sizes, or choosing a pump station design with an empty slot so that an additional pump may be installed at a later time. The design engineer is primarily concerned with selecting the correct pump(s), and pump control is an operational issue. However, the designer must have a good under-

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standing of how the pumps may be operated to size them properly. An EPS run is the best way to understand the effect of pump controls and to study pump operation. If the system includes one or more tanks, the storage should be evaluated using EPS runs to check tank turnover and pump cycling. A few fire flow scenarios can be used to ensure that the tanks are able to recover relatively quickly after a high-demand period or fire. The designer should also check pump suction pressures in the model. These pressures are especially critical in situations involving long suction lines. In summary, to model a new water distribution system with a pump, follow these basic steps: 1. Choose an HGL elevation that will initially serve as the pump discharge head, and locate tank(s). 2. Using steady-state runs for high-demand or fire flow conditions, size the pipes to achieve acceptable head losses during high-demand conditions. 3. Develop system head curves from the steady-state runs and select the pump(s) using these system head curves. 4. Replace the constant head node in the model with actual pump data. 5. Test the system using steady-state runs of minimum-, average-, and maximumday demands, and fire flow analyses. 6. If the system includes storage, also perform EPS runs for minimum, average day, and maximum-day demands to check tank and pump cycling. 7. Perform EPS runs with fire flows to check tank recovery, pump cycling, and pump suction pressures.

Pumping into a Closed System with No Pressure Control Valve Most pressure zones contain some storage or are fed by variable-speed pumps. Occasionally, there are too few customers or there is not enough power consumption to justify a tank or variable-speed pump. This situation may occur in small systems such as trailer parks, recreation areas, or isolated high points within larger distribution systems. The simplest way to provide water to a closed pressure zone is by using a constantspeed pump and no storage. Although this option is the least costly, the pump does not function efficiently much of the time and can easily over-pressurize the system during low-demand periods. For example, a pump selected to run efficiently at peak demand may run at an efficiency of 30 to 50 percent during periods of low demand. Therefore, constant-speed, dead-end pumping tends to minimize capital costs but results in higher energy costs. When designing a closed system with no pressure control, the engineer must pay special attention to ensure that the pump selected does not over-pressurize or underpressurize the system. The pump should be selected such that the shutoff head is only slightly higher than the head at the pump’s best efficiency point. After the pump curve

Section 8.3

Pumped Systems

data have been entered into the model, system pressures should be checked at various usage levels. These pressures can be examined using either multiple steady-state runs or a small set of EPS runs having a wide range of demand patterns. After checking the pressures, the power consumption at various pump operating points should be examined. Using the power consumption and the cost of energy, the designer can estimate the cost of running the pump at each operating point. If the pump spends a great deal of time on inefficient operating points, then it may be costeffective to install storage tanks or pressure controls to increase efficiency. Alternatively, the engineer may choose to use three small pumps rather than two large ones. For example, if the peak flow is 200 gpm (0.0126 m3/s) and the average flow is about 75 gpm (0.0047 m3/s), then three 100-gpm (0.0063 m3/s) pumps, or two 200-gpm (0.0126 m3/s) pumps with a 75 gpm (0.0047 m3/s) jockey pump (that is, a small pump used to maintain pressure in a closed system) could be used instead of two 200-gpm (0.0126 m3/s) pumps. The capital costs will be slightly higher, but operating costs will be lower, resulting in a net savings over the life of operation.

Pumping into a Closed System with Pressure Control If the pumps tend to over-pressurize the system during all but peak-use periods, then some type of pressure control may be needed. The first option is to install a pressure reducing valve (PRV) on the discharge side of the pumps. Although doing so is wasteful in terms of energy, the initial costs are fairly low, and the downstream pressure will be corrected. This option is easily modeled by inserting a PRV onto the pump’s discharge pipe or, if there are multiple pumps in parallel, downstream of the node where the discharge pipes tie together. A more effective solution may be to install a pressure relief valve that bleeds off water and pressure from the discharge side to the suction side of the pump during lowdemand periods. One advantage of this solution is that this valve can be much smaller than the PRV described above. For example, if the station pumps approximately 500 gpm (0.0316 m3/s), a 4-in. (100-mm) to 6-in. (150-mm) PRV will be needed, but the relief valve can be as small as 2 in. (50 mm) and therefore less costly. The relief valve can be modeled as a pressure sustaining valve (PSV) set to the pressure (or HGL) that is to be maintained on the discharge side of the pump. At high flow rates, the valve stays shut, and at lower flow rates, the valve opens enough to relieve pressure. Examining the range of pressures from an EPS run is a good way to check the valve operation. Different combinations of pump sizes and valve settings can be evaluated using the model to determine which works best. Figure 8.9 shows how pressures can climb in a system that does not have any storage or variable-speed pumping, compared to a system equipped with a pressure relief valve (modeled as a pressure sustaining valve).

Variable-Speed Pumps Variable-speed pumps are frequently used in systems that do not have adequate storage. Their use increases the initial capital cost of pumping stations as well as mainte-

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nance expenses; thus, the capital and operating costs should be compared to other alternatives before implementation. In small pressure zones, the expense of installing, maintaining, and operating a variable-speed pump is dwarfed by the cost of installing additional storage facilities. Figure 8.9 Pressures when pumping into a deadend system (with and without a relief valve on the pump)

140

120

No Relief Valve

Pressure, psi

100

80

Relief Valve

60

40

20

0 0

6

12

18

24

30

36

42

48

Time, hr

Variable-speed pumps can prevent over-pressurizing of the water distribution system in a pressure zone that has no storage floating on the system (that is, no tanks where the HGL in the tank is the same as the HGL in the system). A variable-speed pump can be reasonably efficient, although not as efficient as a properly sized constantspeed pump with a storage tank. The model can help the designer to select the pump and determine the HGL (pressure) that the variable-speed pump will try to maintain. There are several ways to model variable-speed pumps. Speeds can be set based on a time condition or a logic-based control. Some models free the user from the need to specify the speed during model input by enabling the user to specify the head that must be maintained at some other node in the system. The model will automatically determine the speed necessary to achieve that head while meeting demands. This problem is mathematically difficult because two distinct sets of equations must be used: (1) equations for the pump running at full speed, and (2) equations for when the speed is controlled by the variablespeed drive (Haestad Methods, 2002). If the engineer is analyzing only a single pressure zone in a steady-state run and if the model does not have a specialized feature for modeling variable-speed pumps, the simplest approximation for a variable-speed pump is to treat the pump as a constanthead node, setting the head equal to the discharge HGL that the pump is trying to maintain. This approach works as long as the pump is never expected to reach 100

Section 8.3

Pumped Systems

315

percent speed. If the pump is modeled in this fashion and achieves full speed, the model does not accurately account for the pump running out on its curve. If the pump is going to reach full speed during some situations and is controlled by the pressure immediately downstream, then a corrected pump curve can be used to model the pump as long as the suction head does not change markedly. This effective pump curve is flat at low flows and curves downward once full speed is reached. The designer must select a pump that can deliver the maximum flow without a significant drop in pressure, and select the HGL to be maintained that will result in the best range of pressures. The development of an effective pump curve for a variable-speed pump is illustrated with this example. Note that the full-speed pump curve is shown in Figure 8.10 as a dashed line. Assuming that the suction head is 708 ft (216 m), the pump station is located at an elevation of 652 ft (199 m), and the target discharge pressure set at the variable-speed control is 90 psi (610 kPa), the effective pump curve can be determined as the solid line using Equation 8.2. Beyond a flow rate of 200 gpm (12.5 l/s), the pump can no longer maintain 90 psi (610 kPa) so it behaves like a constant-speed pump. Below that flow rate, it maintains a constant discharge head independent of flow using the variable-speed drive. The total dynamic head (TDH) in the flat portion is determined as TDH = Z pump + 2.31P set – h suc

where

TDH Zpump Pset hsuc

= = = =

(8.2)

total dynamic head in flat portion of effective curve (ft, m) elevation of pump (ft, m) discharge pressure setting (psi, kPa) suction head (ft, m)

For the case described previously, TDH = 652 + 2.31(90) - 708 = 152 ft. Figure 8.10 Effective pump curve

250

head, pump

200

head, variable

Head, ft

150

100

50

0 0

100

200

300 Flow, gpm

400

500

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An old approach for simulating the behavior of variable-speed pumps is to specify the full-speed pump curve. Then a PRV downstream of the pump can be used to regulate the head to the setting of the variable-speed pump.

Pumping into a System with a Storage Tank A storage tank is considered to be “floating on the system” if the HGL in the tank is generally the same as the HGL in the system. Pumping into a system with a storage tank that floats on the system, whether that tank is an elevated tank or a ground tank on a hill, usually represents very efficient operation. A pump discharging into a closed system (meaning there is no storage) must respond instantaneously to changes in flow because there is no equalization storage. This immediate response is not necessary when pumping into a zone with a storage tank that floats on the system. In such cases, a more efficient and less costly constant-speed pump can be used. The pump can be selected to operate at its most efficient flow and pressure, thus eliminating the inefficiencies associated with variable-speed drives. Furthermore, if there is sufficient storage floating on the system, the pressure zone can respond to power outages without the need for a costly generator and transfer switch. The pump should be selected so that the operating point will be very close to the best efficiency point of the pump. EPS runs can be used to determine how pump controls should be set and to ensure that the pump is operating efficiently under virtually all conditions. EPS runs should be at least 48 hours in duration to show that the pumps can refill the storage tank even during a stretch of two or more maximum or nearmaximum demand days. Performing EPS runs that show tank water levels recovering after a fire or power outage is also helpful. The tank water level should be able to recover within a few days of the emergency. If there are several tanks in a single pressure zone, it may be difficult to efficiently operate the system in a way that takes full advantage of both tanks without encountering a difficulty with preventing one tank from overflowing while keeping the other from draining. These operation problems are discussed further on page 339.

Pumping into Closed System with Pumped Storage With pumped storage, the distribution storage (not the well or plant clearwell) has a head lower than the hydraulic grade line required by the system, so water must be pumped out of the tank to be used. An example would be a ground-level tank in flat terrain. Such tanks may be attractive in certain instances because they have a lower capital cost and less visual impact than elevated tanks. At times, this type of arrangement may be the only way of incorporating an existing tank into a larger system after annexation or regionalization. In these cases, pumping is required to move water from the tank into the distribution system. Therefore, operating costs are greater when compared to systems with tanks that float on the system. In addition, the expense of this type of tank configuration includes the capital and operating costs of a generator, transfer switch, valving, and

Section 8.3

Pumped Systems

controls so that the system can operate during power outages. Because the HGL of the system is higher than the water surface elevation in the tank, filling the pumped storage tank wastes energy that must be added again when water is pumped out of the tank. The amount of energy lost depends on how much lower the water level in the tank is compared to the system HGL. Running steady-state models of a pressure zone with pumped storage is complicated because there are really five different modes of operation, as presented in Table 8.1. In this table, the term source pump refers to the pump from the well, clearwell, or neighboring zone into the pressure zone where the storage facility is located. The pumped storage pump pressurizes water from the storage facility for delivery to the customers within the pressure zone. Table 8.1 Pump operation modes when pumping into a closed system Mode

Source Pump

Pumped Storage Pump

Notes

1

On

On

Peak demand period

2

Off

On

Storage providing water

3

On

Off

Pumped storage filling

4

On

Off

Pumped storage full or off-line

5

Off

Off

Alternative supply

Note that the fifth case above is only feasible if there is another storage tank floating on the system or an alternate water source (for example, a PRV from a higher zone); otherwise, turning both sets of pumps off leaves customers without water. The list of cases in this section is an oversimplification in that there may be numerous combinations of source pumps and pumped storage pumps in a real system. In some situations, there might not be a “source pump” at all, and the system may actually be fed by gravity, such as from a treatment plant on a hill or through a PRV from a neighboring pressure zone. In any case, areas of the system with very high or very low pressures must be identified to determine the required pump discharge heads. Unless there is floating storage, the pumps used in pumped storage systems are usually variablespeed pumps, and the designer needs to consider how to set the controls, as well as how to select the pumps. The actual tank fill time is a very important consideration when planning the filling cycle of a pumped storage tank. If the tank fills up too quickly, it will depress the hydraulic grade line (and pressures) in its vicinity. Conversely, if the tank fills too slowly, water may not be available for pumping when it is needed. The tanks are usually fed through a pressure sustaining valve, as shown schematically in Figure 8.11. The engineer should experiment with different settings for the PSV to determine a setting that fills the tank at an adequate rate without adversely affecting pressure. Furthermore, the speed at which tanks fill and drain can have a significant impact on water quality within the tank volume. After pumps, pump controls, and PSV settings have been specified, an EPS run can be performed for a duration of at least 48 hours, for both maximum and average day con-

317

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ditions, to guarantee that the system will work as designed. In particular, the operating points of the various pumps should be checked for problems. For example, a storage pump may run efficiently when operating alone, but if it runs with the source pump on, the elevated pressure on its discharge side may back it off to an inefficient point on the pump curve. Conversely, the storage pump may run correctly when running with the source pump, but it may then run out to a very high flow when the source pump shuts off. These inefficiencies can overload motors and waste energy. Figure 8.11 Pumped storage tank fed through a PSV

HGL Head Loss Through Valve Ground Tank

Min. HGL at PSV HGL

//=//=//=//= //=//=//=//=//=//=//=//=

Fill Line

//=//=//=//= //=//= //=//= //=//= //=//=//=//=

PSV

Pumped storage systems are easy to run, but difficult to run efficiently. This inefficiency is due to the fact that the pumps may be working against one system head curve when they are running by themselves, and against a much different system head curve when they are running with the other pumps. Selecting a pump that is sized according to the largest head and relying on the variable-speed drive to control the pump at other times is usually the best solution.

Pumping into Hydropneumatic Tanks Hydropneumatic tanks are pressure tanks that can be used to store water at the correct HGL using pressure head rather than elevation head. Because pressure tanks are expensive, they are used only for small systems that are not required to meet fire flows. Capital costs for hydropneumatic tanks are high compared with variable-speed pumping or the installation of a pressure relief valve. Using this type of tank, however, allows pumps to operate more efficiently than when using no storage at all. A hydropneumatic tank also provides surge protection and additional storage in the event of a power outage. Once a model for the hydropneumatic tank has been developed, it can help in selecting pumps, determining pump control settings, and evaluating the active storage volume in the tank. Other methods (available from tank manufacturers) are required to determine maximum and minimum air volumes in the tank. EPS model runs allow the cycle times of pumps for various flow rates to be evaluated. One of the criteria for selecting pumps is the maximum number of starts per

Section 8.3

Pumped Systems

hour, and because hydropneumatic tank volumes are small, such criteria can be critical. Usually, the shortest cycle time occurs when the system demand is half of the pump production.

Well Pumping Well pumping is similar to most of the other types of pumping previously described in this chapter. An important difference is that the pump suction head will vary due to the drawdown of the water table (piezometric surface) in the vicinity of the well as water is pumped from it. The greater the flow rate through the pump, the larger the drop in water table elevation. In a model, a well is represented as a reservoir that is connected to a pump by a very short piece of suction pipe. In the actual well, the pump is submerged, so there is no suction pipe; however, pumps must be connected to a pipe for modeling purposes. The riser pipe that extends from the pump to the ground surface is usually smaller than the distribution piping and can contribute significantly to head loss. Figure 8.12 is a schematic showing how to model a well. In very porous aquifers, the amount the water table drops during pumping may be negligible, and the well can be represented by the reservoir alone. In most cases, however, the water level in the well experiences significant drawdown due to pumping, and this drawdown is relatively linear with respect to flow rate (that is, pump flow rate

319

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divided by well drawdown is equal to a constant). To model a drawdown situation, the pump curve is adjusted by subtracting the amount of drawdown from the pump curve to create a new “effective” pump curve for use in the model, as shown in Figure 8.13. Figure 8.12 Representing wells in the model

Actual

//=//= //=//=//=//= //=//=

//=//=//=//=//=//=//=//=//=//

Riser Pipe Discharge Line

Distribution System

Well

Water Table

Drawdown

Well Pump

Model Node

Riser Pipe

Reservoir Well Pump

Short Pipe

Discharge Line

Distribution System

Section 8.3

Pumped Systems

321

Figure 8.13 Adjustment of pump curve for well pumping

250

200

Head, ft

Pump Curve

150 Effective Pump Curve

100

50

Drawdown

0 0

50

100

150

200

250

Flow, gpm

One problem with modeling wells is that groundwater tables can fluctuate for a wide variety of reasons. Seasonal variations in water usage and recharge and varying consumption rates of neighboring wells that use the same aquifer can contribute to fluctuations in groundwater tables. Regardless of the cause, the static groundwater table (or the model’s reservoir level) must be adjusted for the situation being considered. For cases in which the groundwater table fluctuates significantly during the year [say, more than 20 ft (6 m)], the designer must use the model to check pumps against the full range of water table elevations. The pump that is selected needs to work with the lowest water table and yet not overload the motor or over-pressurize the distribution system when the water table is high. When the water table’s elevation range is very large, the designer may want to install flow control valves and/or pressure regulating valves on the discharge piping from the well. Usually, one of the key decisions in installing the well is whether to pump directly into the distribution system or into a ground or elevated tank (see Figure 8.14). The ground tank alternative is more expensive because a tank and distribution pump are required in addition to the well pump. However, contact time requirements for disinfecting the water, if necessary, can be met through the use of ground tanks, eliminating the need for large buried tanks or pipes. Also, the ground tank can store more water for fire protection at a lower cost than can an elevated tank. Using a ground tank with a well also provides some reliability in case the well should fail, because the distribution pumps at the tank can be placed in parallel. Because of the space constraints, well pumps cannot be placed in parallel without the construction of multiple wells.

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Figure 8.14 Well pumped to ground storage tank

Storage or Treatment

Distribution Pumps

Distribution System

//=//=

//=//=

//=//=

//=//=//=//

Riser Pipe Well

Well Pump

Pumps in Parallel In general, pump stations should, at a minimum, be capable of meeting downstream demands when the largest pump is out of service. In small pump stations, there are usually two pumps, either of which can independently meet demands. In large stations, it is common to provide additional reliability and flexibility by having more than two pumps. If the pump station is to be operated such that different combinations of pumps will be run under different demand conditions, it is important that the pumps be selected to work efficiently when operating both alone and in parallel with the other pumps. A major factor affecting pump efficiency is the capacity of the piping system upstream and downstream of the pump station. This capacity is reflected in the system head curve. A flatter slope on this curve for a given discharge reflects lower system head loss and ample pipe capacity. Conversely, when the slope of the curve is steep, the ability of the pump to supply adequate flows is limited by the system piping. The steepness of the system head curve determines the efficiency of running several pumps in parallel. The simplest way to evaluate pumps in parallel is to run the model of the system for each different combination of pumps. For each combination, the operating point of each pump should be near its best efficiency point. If a pump’s efficiency drops significantly, the utility may want to select different pumps or avoid running that combination.

Section 8.3

Pumped Systems

323

Viewing the system head curves and pump head curves for parallel pump operation provides a better understanding of what occurs in the system. For example, Figure 8.15 shows pump curves for two identical pumps in parallel. If there is ample piping capacity (that is, the system head curve is fairly flat), each pump can discharge 270 gpm when operating alone, and the pair running together can discharge 500 gpm. If piping capacity is limited, however, each pump will produce 180 gpm individually, and the two together will produce only 220 gpm. The reason for such a small increase in discharge when the second pump is added is a lack of capacity in the distribution piping, not a lack of pump capacity. Figure 8.15 Two identical pumps in parallel

200 System With Limited Pipe Capacity

180 160

Two Pumps

140

Head, ft

120 System With Ample Pipe Capacity

100 80 One Pump

60 40 20 0 0

100

200 300 Flow, gpm

400

500

The problem becomes more complicated when the pumps are not identical, as shown in Figure 8.16. In this case, Pump A is run when high flows are needed, and Pump B is run during low-flow conditions. When the system head curve is flat, Pump A alone delivers 270 gpm, Pump B alone delivers 160 gpm, and the two together deliver 380 gpm. For the steeper system head curve, however, Pump A alone produces 180 gpm, Pump B alone produces 120 gpm, but the pair only produce 180 gpm. The reason for this lack of increase in discharge is that Pump A produces pressures in excess of Pump B’s “shutoff head,” so Pump B cannot contribute. Such a combination of system head characteristics and pumps should be avoided. The model run with these pumps will show a zero or very low discharge from Pump B.

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Figure 8.16 Two different pumps in parallel

200 System With Limited Pipe Capacity

180 160

System With Ample Pipe Capacity

140 Pump A+B

Head, ft

120 100 80 Pump A

60 Pump B

40 20 0 0

100

200

300

400

500

Flow, gpm

Head Loss on Suction Side of Pump The discussion thus far in this section has centered on the hydraulics of pumps as controlled by the downstream system. Upstream piping is not usually as critical, because designers typically try to locate pumps near the storage facility or source from which they are drawing water to help reduce head losses. If the suction piping is long or lacks capacity, however, problems may occur due to the elevation of the pumps and the head losses in the suction piping. If the suction head is too low, the pump can experience problems with cavitation. Additionally, there could be difficulties keeping the pump primed. The design of any pump requires that the suction head available be compared to the net positive suction head (NPSH) required. The NPSH available depends on the hydraulic grade elevation of the source, the elevation of the pump, and the head loss on the suction side of the pump. The NPSH required is a function of flow rate and pump properties as measured and documented by the manufacturer. NPSH available is equal to the sum of atmospheric pressure at the pump and the static head (gage pressure) measured on the suction side of the pump, minus the water vapor pressure and the sum of the head and minor losses (velocity head is often negligible). For the simple situation in which the pump takes suction directly from a tank, the NPSH available is given by Tchobanoglous (1998). NPSH a = H bar + H s – H vap – h loss

(8.3)

Section 8.3

where NPSHa Hbar Hs Hvap hloss

Pumped Systems

= = = = =

net positive suction head available (ft, m) atmospheric pressure (at altitude of pumps) (ft, m) static head (ft, m) (water el. on suction side of pump – pump el.) water vapor pressure (corrected for temperature) (ft, m) sum of head and minor losses (from suction tank to pump) (ft, m)

For the situation in which the distance from the suction tank is large and the suction piping is complex, the model can be used to determine the (Hs - hloss) term by subtracting the pump elevation from the HGL on the pump’s suction side. NPSH a = h suc – Z pump + H bar – H vap

where

(8.4)

hsuc = HGL at suction side of pump as calculated in model (ft, m) Zpump = elevation of pump (ft, m)

To determine the HGL on the suction side of the pump, it is helpful to model a node immediately upstream of the pump. The value of barometric pressure is primarily a function of altitude, although it also varies with weather. Vapor pressure is primarily a function of temperature. Standard values are listed in Tables 8.2 and 8.3 (Hydraulic Institute, 1979). Table 8.2 Standard barometric pressures Elevation (ft)

Elevation (m)

Barometric Pressure (ft)

Barometric Pressure (m)

33.9

10.3

1,000

305

32.7

9.97

2,000

610

31.6

9.63

3,000

914

30.5

9.30

4,000

1,220

29.3

8.93

5,000

1,524

28.2

8.59

6,000

1,829

27.1

8.26

7,000

2,134

26.1

7.95

8,000

2,440

25.1

7.65

Table 8.3 Standard vapor pressures for water Temperature (°F)

Temperature (°C)

Vapor Pressure (ft)

Vapor Pressure (m)

32

0.20

0.061

40

4.4

0.28

0.085

50

10.0

0.41

0.12

60

15.6

0.59

0.18

70

21.1

0.84

0.26

80

26.7

1.17

0.36

90

32.2

1.61

0.49

100

37.8

2.19

0.67

325

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If the NPSH available is found to be less than the NPSH required, the designer must choose one of the following options to correct the problem and avoid cavitation: • Lower the pump • Raise the suction tank water level • Increase the diameter of the suction piping to reduce head loss • Select a pump with a lower NPSH requirement The problem of meeting NPSH requirements can be particularly tricky when the suction line from the nearest tank is long. Using a model, the designer can try different piping and pump station location combinations to prevent NPSH problems from occurring in the real system.

8.4

EXTENDING A SYSTEM TO NEW CUSTOMERS

One of the most common water distribution system design problems is laying out and sizing an extension to an existing system. This section focuses on modeling new piping that will become part of an existing system (without a meter or backflow preventer) and that has a connection point that is not a tank or pump station. The new piping might be for a residential subdivision, industrial park, shopping mall, mobile home park, prison, school, or mixed-use land development. Usually, the hydraulic demands placed on the new piping where the build-out is going to occur are known with greater certainty than master planning demand projections can provide. Frequently, when sizing new piping for a system extension, fire flow demands are more significant than peak hour demands.

Extent of Analysis The difficult part of sizing new piping is that it cannot be sized independently of the existing distribution system. HGLs in a new extension are a function of existing piping and customer demands, as well as new and future customers in the same general area. Ignoring the existing network performance during the design process would yield poor results. Therefore, the best approach is to add the new piping to a calibrated model of the existing system.

Elevation of Customers Before beginning the process of pipe sizing, the engineer needs to determine the elevations of the properties that will receive service to ensure that the water pressures there will be within a satisfactory range. Ideally, if a model of the existing system is available, EPS runs can help the designer to define the range of HGLs and pressures that may occur in the vicinity of the new piping. With or without a model, pressure readings should be taken where the new system will connect to the existing system so the general HGL can be determined. Knowing this range and the maximum and minimum acceptable pressures during non-fire situations, it is possible to approximate the

Section 8.4

Extending a System to New Customers

327

elevations (Figure 8.17) of the highest and lowest customers that can be served using Equations 8.5 and 8.6:

where

Elmin HGLmax Pmax Elmax HGLmin Pmin Cf

= = = = = = =

Elmin = HGL max – C f P max

(8.5)

El max = HGL min – C f P min

(8.6)

minimum allowable elevation of customers in zone (ft, m) maximum expected HGL in pressure zone (ft, m) maximum acceptable pressure (psi, kPa) maximum allowable elevation of customers in zone (ft, m) minimum expected HGL in pressure zone (ft, m) minimum acceptable pressure (psi, kPa) unit conversion factor (2.31 English, 0.102 SI) Figure 8.17 Maximum Pressure

Minimum Pressure

HGLmax HGLmin

Highest Customer

//=//=

//=//=

Lowest Customer

//=//=

//=//=

„ Example — Range of Customer Elevations. If the HGL in a pressure zone normally varies between 875 and 860 feet, the pressure varies between 35 and 100 psi, and the maximum pressure is 100 psi, what is the range of ground elevations that can be served? Elmin = 875 - 2.31(100) = 644 ft Elmax = 860 - 2.31(35) = 780 ft

If some of the area served is above the determined elevation range, then pumping or an alternative water source will most likely be required. Conversely, if some of the area is below the elevation range, a PRV or alternative source may be required (see page 427). In Figure 8.18, suppose that the lowest customer is at an elevation of 700 ft and cannot have pressures above 100 psi. According to Equation 8.5, in order to experience these pressures, the HGL must be less than 931 ft. Suppose also that the highest customer is at an elevation of 890 ft and must have pressures greater than 30 psi. Accord-

Limits of pressure zone

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Chapter 8

ing to Equation 8.6, in order to maintain this minimum pressure at this elevation, the HGL must be at least 960 ft. Because no value of HGL exists that is greater than 960 ft but less than 931 ft, the two customers must be served from different pressure zones. Performing this calculation before modeling helps give the modeler an appreciation of the types of problems that are likely to be encountered. Thus, some alternatives can be immediately eliminated, such as trying to serve a customer at too high an elevation for the pressure zone by using very large pipes. See page 334 for more information on creating new pressure zones. Figure 8.18 Customers must be served from separate pressure zones

Pressure Zone Boundary

Minimum Pressure

HGLmin In Upper Zone

Highest Customer

Maximum Pressure

//=//=

//=//=

HGLmax In Lower Zone

Lowest Customer

//=//=

//=//=

Assessing an Existing System Because of the interaction between the new piping and the existing system, an important first step in analyzing a system extension is to conduct a hydrant flow test in the vicinity of the connection to the existing system. This test provides data for model calibration and a quick preliminary assessment of system strength. Performing a hydrant flow test is described in detail in Chapter 5 (see page 184), and in AWWA (1989). A minimum of three values must be recorded during a hydrant flow test: static pressure (Ps), test pressure (Pt), and test flow(s) (Qt). The pressures should be measured at the residual hydrant, and the flows should be measured at the flowed hydrant. To convert the pressure to hydraulic grade line, the elevation of the residual hydrant must be accurately determined. In addition, it is helpful to record which pumps were running during testing, the tank water levels, and information regarding any special conditions in the system when the test was run (for instance, pipe breaks or fires).

Section 8.4

Extending a System to New Customers

329

Figure 8.19 shows the results of an example flow test. The static pressure of the example flow test was 60 psi or 139 ft (614 kPa or 42 m), the hydrant flow was 500 gpm (31.5 l/s), and the residual pressure was 35 psi or 81 ft (241 kPa or 25 m). The flow value for the point where the graph intersects the horizontal axis (or any other pressure) can be determined from the following equation: P s – P 0 0.54 Q 0 = Q t  ----------------- Ps – Pt

where

(8.7)

Q0 = flow at pressure P0 (gpm, m3/s) Qt Ps P0 Pt

= = = =

hydrant test flow (gpm, m3/s) static pressure during test (psi, kPa) pressure at which Q0 is to be calculated (psi, kPa) residual pressure during test (psi, kPa)

Note that this equation may be used with any units, as long as they are consistent (that is, all flow units and all pressure units are the same). By inserting P0 = 0 into the preceding equation, the horizontal intercept can be back-calculated. The horizontal intercept is determined to be 802 gpm (50.6 l/s), as shown in Figure 8.19. Figure 8.19 Plot of hydrant flow test data

160 Static HGL

140

Pressure Head, ft

120 100 Residual HGL

80 60 40 20

Flow at Po

0 0

200

400

600 Flow, gpm

800

1000

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Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

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Using a P0 value of 20 psi (140 kPa), the value of Q0 will give an indication of the strength of the system. The value of Q0 at 20 psi (140 kPa) should be significantly greater than the maximum demand for the new pipes. Otherwise, considerable improvements may be needed in the existing system. When using hydrant tests to assess the existing system for expansion, the locations of the hydrants being tested are important. The residual hydrant should be located between the source and the flowed hydrant such that most of the water being discharged from the flowed hydrant passes by it, as shown in Figure 8.20(a). Otherwise, the results can be misleading, especially if the flowed hydrant is on a significantly larger main than the residual hydrant. Figure 8.20 Reservoir/tank and pump approximation

Flowed Hydrant

Residual Hydrant

New Customers

Source a. Actual Layout

Tank and Pump at Residual Hydrant Location Representing Remainder of System

Pipe to New Customers

b. Representing System by Tank and Pump

Section 8.4

Extending a System to New Customers

After a fire hydrant flow test has been conducted, the data can be used to model the new piping by using one of the following three basic approaches: • Add the proposed pipes to a current model of the existing system or an appropriately skeletonized version of the model and verify the model with the fire flow test data. • Build a skeletal model of the existing system and add the proposed pipes onto it. • Use the hydrant flow test results to approximate the existing system by an equivalent reservoir and pump. The sections that follow discuss these approaches in detail. Note that setting an arbitrary HGL (based on a single pressure reading) where the system extension ties to the existing system is almost never the correct way to model the existing system. Building onto an Existing Model. The best way to model an extension of a water system is to build the new pipes and customers into a calibrated model of the existing system. In this way, it is possible to model both the effect of the existing system operation on the new piping and the effect of the new piping on the existing system. Having a calibrated model of the system also allows a wide variety of situations to be simulated, such as future year peak day demands, fires at various locations, and failures of important pipes. The engineer designing the system extension, however, may have been hired by a land developer and will probably not have much interest in studying the existing system. If the utility already has a calibrated model of the system, the most straightforward solution would be to make it available to developers to add on to the existing model. Unfortunately, it is often administratively difficult for the design engineer to utilize the existing model, either because of incompatible water distribution modeling software, or because the utility may not want to share its model. Because the utility can use information that the engineer does not have to evaluate the proposed system, several design and review iterations may be required to develop the best solution. Skeletal Model of Existing System. If the model of the existing system cannot be made available to the design engineer, the designer should construct a skeletal model of the portion of the existing system affecting the new design. The skeletal model must begin at a real water source, such as the pump or tank, which will serve as the primary water source for the new extension pipes. It should be calibrated using the results of fire hydrant flow tests, especially the tests conducted near the location where the new extension will tie in. This approach is not as accurate as using a more detailed existing model because of the high degree of skeletonization involved, and because assigning future demands to the model is a somewhat arbitrary process. For instance, the skeletal model probably will not be calibrated as well since a model that was used previously will have been tested under a wider variety of conditions. It is possible that the inherent inaccuracies of this method could lead to substantial modeling errors, even if the initial tests and calibration process indicated that the model seemed to be a reasonable representation of the system. If, for example, the engineer for the developer was not informed about

331

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Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

Chapter 8

planned projects and utility growth projections, the skeletonized model would yield little design value. Approximating a System as a Pump Source. The simplest technique for modeling the existing system is to use a pump and reservoir to simulate conditions at the tie-in point, as shown in Figure 8.20(b). As shown in Figure 8.19, the results of a fire hydrant flow test look like a pump head curve. For modeling purposes, a reservoir node placed at the location of the residual hydrant from the flow test, with the hydraulic grade set to the hydrant’s elevation, is sufficient for modeling an existing system. This reservoir is then connected to the new system through a short pipe and a pump. The pump is modeled using a three-point pump curve that is established using hydrant flow test data. Using notation similar to that in Equation 8.7, the three points from the pump curve are shown in Table 8.4. Note that the value 2.31 converts the pressures (in psi) from the hydrant tests to head (measured in feet) for the pump curve. Table 8.4 Points on simulated pump curve Head (ft)

Flow (gpm)

2.31Ps

2.31Pt

Qt

2.31P0

Q0

Flow Qo is calculated by using Equation 8.7 with a given Po, generally assumed to be 20 psi (140 kPa) (other reasonable values for pressure can also be used). The hydrant test can also be repeated with three different flow rates to obtain data from which to generate a curve. For rural systems without fire hydrants, an approximate test can be conducted by opening a blow-off valve or flushing a hydrant and measuring the flow with a calibrated bucket and stopwatch. If this approach is not possible, then the best test that can be performed is to place a chart recorder at the connection point and monitor fluctuations in HGL. The model can then be calibrated to reproduce those conditions. Using the pump approximation method can present problems because this approximation of the existing system only accounts for the exact boundary conditions and demands that existed at the time that the test was run (for example, the afternoon on an average day with one pump on at the source). Therefore, determining the effect of changing any of the demands or boundary conditions is difficult. An EPS that is performed using the pump approximation method will be less accurate and may not provide reliable data regarding projected changes in consumption. The pump approximation approach only works well if the existing system is fairly built-out near the connection point and the demand and operation conditions are expected to remain essentially the same in the long run. The hydrant flow test is useful for predicting changes in pressure when downstream demands change but not for evaluating other types of system changes such as the addition of new pipes, or operational alternatives such as fire pumps starting up.

Section 8.5

8.5

Establishing Pressure Zones and Setting Tank Overflows

ESTABLISHING PRESSURE ZONES AND SETTING TANK OVERFLOWS

Selecting a tank overflow elevation is one of the most fundamental decisions in water distribution system design. This decision sets the limits of the pressure zone that can be served and the overall layout of the distribution system. Once a tank has been constructed, the limits of the hydraulic grade line within a pressure zone are fixed. The only way to change the hydraulic grade line limits would be to replace, raise, or lower the existing tank (an expensive proposition). Before developing a design, the engineer needs to look at the terrain being served with short-term and long-term usage projections in mind. The designer should consider what the distribution system may look like 20 to 50 years in the future when the area is completely built-out. This is true for dead-end systems that are served by pumps or pressure reducing valves, and especially true of new pressure zones with tanks. Unlike PRVs that can be reset or pumps that can be replaced easily, tanks are relatively permanent. Even for systems without tanks, customers become accustomed to a certain pressure, or, more important, industrial equipment and fire protection systems may have been designed and constructed to work with a given HGL. Any change to a network boundary condition like a tank overflow can change the dynamics of the system and must therefore be carefully analyzed and designed.

Establishing a New Pressure Zone The decision to create a new pressure zone may be triggered by • Construction of a new isolated system • Customers moving into an area with an elevation that is too high or too low to be adequately served from the existing pressure zone • The utility wanting better control over an area Choosing the boundaries for the pressure zone is done manually before beginning to model the system. When laying out pressure zones, the designer should examine the elevations of the highest and lowest customers to be served. If customers are less than approximately 120 ft (37 m) apart vertically, then most likely a single pressure zone can serve them. If the elevation difference is significantly greater, more pressure zones are needed. In general, the elevation of the lowest and highest customers in the service area and the limits of the range of acceptable pressures are used to determine the HGL in a pressure zone. Equations 8.8 and 8.9 provide some useful guidelines for selecting a HGL: HGLmin > (Elevation of highest customer) + Cf Pmin

(8.8)

HGLmax < (Elevation of lowest customer) + Cf Pmax

(8.9)

333

334

Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

where HGLmin HGLmax Pmin Pmax Cf

= = = = =

Chapter 8

minimum HGL (ft, m) maximum HGL (ft, m) minimum acceptable pressure (psi, kPa) maximum acceptable pressure (psi, kPa) unit conversion factor (2.31 English, 0.102 SI)

The first criterion (Equation 8.8) ensures that the highest customer will have at least minimum pressure, while the second (Equation 8.9) ensures that the lowest customer will not experience excessive pressures. In flat terrain, there will usually be a band of possible HGL values that meet both criteria. In hilly terrain, however, because the elevations of the highest and lowest customers are very different, it may be impossible to find an HGL that satisfies both inequalities (see page 327). Usually, this much difference means that the proposed pressure zone should actually be two (or more) pressure zones, or the lowest customers will have pressures in excess of Pmax. The above rules pertain to pressures during normal conditions, not during fire flows when head loss becomes significant. Additional analysis is needed to size piping and ensure adequate pressures for such conditions. If there are only a small number of customers with excessive pressures, some utilities require the customer to install individual PRVs.

Laying Out New Pressure Zones The need for pressure zones can be visualized as shown in Figure 8.21, which depicts how pressure zones can be set up along a hill 500 ft (152 m) high. In this example, the step size between pressure zones is set at 100 ft (30 m). Normally, the difference between pressure zones should be between 80 ft and 120 ft (24 m and 37 m). Large step sizes will either over-pressurize the lower customers in a zone or underpressurize the higher ones. Smaller step sizes require too many zones and, consequently, an excessive number of pumps, tanks, and PRVs. The topography in most areas does not generally look like the smooth slope in Figure 8.21, but instead has ridges and valleys. A good way to get a feel for the layout of pressure zones is to choose the nominal HGLs of the pressure zones and identify the elevation contour that corresponds to the boundary between pressure zones. A sample of such a map is shown in Figure 8.22. The figure shows a topographic map with the high and low limits of a new pressure zone. The areas between the high and low pressure limits will be served by the zone. Those above the solid line will need to be served by a higher zone, while those below the dashed line will need to be served by a lower zone. The boundary lines are not ironclad limits, but they give a suggestion of how the system should be laid out. As with all the elements in a water distribution model, a naming convention should be developed for pressure zones. Some possibilities are • The part of town in which they are located • The nominal HGL (overflow level of the tank) • The primary pump station/PRV serving the zone • The name of the tank in the zone • The relative HGL in the zone

Section 8.5

Establishing Pressure Zones and Setting Tank Overflows

335

Figure 8.21 Profile of pressure zones

2,590 ft

2,500 ft 2,490 ft 40 psi 82 psi

Pressure Zone HGL

2,400 ft

2,390 ft 40 psi 82 psi

2,300 ft

2,290 ft 40 psi 82 psi

2,200 ft

2,190 ft 40 psi 82 psi

2,100 ft PRV or Pump* 40 psi 2,000 ft 82 psi * Depending on direction of flow

Table 8.5 provides some alternative naming schemes for the zones in Figure 8.21. It is important to be consistent with a naming convention in order to avoid confusion down the road. For example, suppose that the Oakmont pump station takes suction from the Oakmont tank. In this case, is the Oakmont pressure zone the one the pump discharges to or the zone the tank floats on? With a map like Figure 8.22, the designer can begin to lay out transmission lines. Major transmission mains within a pressure zone (not including those connecting a zone to adjacent zones) should be laid roughly parallel to the contours and remain within the elevations that can be served by that pipe. Of course, the layout of roads and buildings may prevent this from actually occurring, but with a map such as this, the designer can roughly determine where the mains ought to be laid, thus avoiding having pipes far outside the defined pressure zone.

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Figure 8.22 Pressure zone topographic map

Upper Limit of Zone

Lower Limit of Zone

Pressure Zone

Table 8.5 Alternative naming conventions for pressure zones HGL

Part of Town

Tank Name

Pump/PRV Name

Relative HGL

2,190

South

Wilson St.

Mundy’s Glen

Low Service

2,290

Central

Downtown

Hillside

Medium

2,390

North

Oakmont

Flat Road

High

2,490

Northwest

Liberty Hill

Oakmont

Very High

2,590

Far Northwest

Hanover Industrial Park

Rice Street

Top

There will be situations in which it may be more economical to serve a new customer through a PRV or a pump from a different pressure zone, rather than from a tank in the same pressure zone. Figure 8.23 shows an example of a situation in which, at least in the short run, it is better to serve customers at the location labeled “New Development” from the higher pressure zone B rather than from the lower pressure zone A. (Serving the area from zone A would require the costly installation of the long main labeled “proposed pipe.”) Even though serving this area through the PRV wastes pumping energy, the PRV is necessary so that new customers in the development can be served at an HGL similar to that of pressure zone A. In this way, customers can be served at the “correct” pressure, without the expense of installing the proposed pipe.

Section 8.5

Establishing Pressure Zones and Setting Tank Overflows

337

Figure 8.23 New development near “wrong” pressure zone

920 ft

Zone B 800 ft

820 ft

Zone A Pump Zone B

720 ft

Zone A

640 ft

PRV

610 ft

600 ft

PROPOSED PIPE New Development

Tank Overflow Elevation After the tank overflow elevation has been selected, the tank dimensions must be determined. First, tank height is set based on an appropriate water surface elevation range because this range has the greatest effect on defining the maximum and minimum pressures within the pressure zone. The upper and lower elevations are set such that adequate system pressures can be maintained at all tank levels. Because large fluctuations in tank water level correspond to similar fluctuations in pressure, most of the water in the tank should be stored within 20 to 40 ft (6 to 12 m) of the tank overflow. The analysis outlined here is the basis for determining the best location for a tank and what its overflow elevation should be. It is the role of the modeling analysis described later to determine if the piping is adequate to move the water through the pressure zone. For the tank in Figure 8.24, if the water that is stored below an elevation of 869 ft (265 m) is used, the pressure will drop below 30 psi (207 kPa). If the water level drops below 846 ft (258 m), the water pressure will fail to meet the 20 psi (140 kPa) standard. Therefore, the storage volume below 846 ft (258 m) is “dead” storage, useful only in that it elevates a portion of the tank’s volume to the acceptable elevation range. The water level cannot drop into that range without adversely affecting pressure. Furthermore, this excess volume can lead to long detention times and contribute to water quality problems. To avoid water quality problems and wasted tank volume, storage must be placed at the correct elevation. In general, designers try to install all storage as “effective” storage that can provide pressures of at least 20 psi (140 kPa), and therefore favor elevated storage tanks. Although standpipes (see page 88) will cost less than elevated storage tanks with the same total storage volume, not all of the storage in a standpipe

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is useful. The existence of dead storage at the bottom of the tank can lead to water quality problems. Figure 8.24

// =/ /=

Overflow Effective Storage Emergency Storage Dead Storage // =/ /=

Tank profile

900 ft 869 ft 846 ft //=//= //=//=

//= //= /

30 20 psi psi

/=/ /

43 psi

=

800 ft //=//= //=//=

Tank Water Level Fluctuations. A calibrated hydraulic model can be used to check water level fluctuations in storage tanks. The pumps should have a design flow capacity such that peak day demand can be met even when the largest pump is out of service, and a head such that the band of system head curves for the pressure zone passes close to or through the best efficiency point of the pump. The combination of pump, piping, and distribution tank is best evaluated using an EPS model. The EPS should be run based on projections for peak-day, average-day, and minimum-day demands. If pumps fill the tanks, it is usually easy to cycle the pumps so that the tank operates in a reasonable range. It is important to run the model for at least 48 hours to determine if the tank can refill after a peak day. If the tank cannot recover, then the weak link in the system (either pumping or piping) needs to be upgraded. If a distribution storage tank is filled from a plant clearwell, either by gravity or through a PRV, then it becomes more difficult to get the tank to fluctuate as desired. If the system is small, or the tank is close to the water source, the tank may not turn over sufficiently. The model can be used to simulate corrections for these conditions by simulating the closing or throttling of a valve for a few hours a day, or by switching to an alternate pilot valve to control the PRV for a few hours. As the system and the head loss across the system become larger, the HGL tends to slope much more steeply during peak-use periods. In terms of tanks, this lower HGL means that a tank with an overflow elevation selected to work well on a peak summer day may have too low an elevation to work effectively during an average or minimaluse winter day. The results of an EPS run for such a situation would look like Figure 8.25, which shows a tank that would operate in a different band during low-, average, and maximum-demand days. There are several possible solutions to this problem: • Operate the tank as pumped storage with the tank overflow below the HGL (this tends to be the most expensive solution as it wastes energy and needs a generator for reliability). • Construct a tall tank that operates in the upper range during the winter and the lower range during the summer (with large seasonal pressure fluctuations).

Section 8.5

Establishing Pressure Zones and Setting Tank Overflows

• Significantly increase piping capacity across the system so that the HGL does not drop as much during the summer (costly from a capital cost standpoint). • Construct the tank at an elevation that works well during a maximum use day. Use a control valve on the major system’s main to control the filling rate on other days (to use this type of control effectively, a SCADA system is needed). Figure 8.25 Tank water level fluctuations

1,005 Low Demand

1,000 995

Avg. Demand

Water Elevation, ft

990 985 Max. Demand

980 975 970 965 960 955 0

12

24

36 Time, hr

48

60

72

An EPS model provides the designer with a tool to compare these approaches and determine how each could be used (for example, by finding the correct pipe size or effective control settings for a valve). Then, the benefits and costs of each solution can be compared. Tank Behavior During Emergencies. Another design question relates to how well the tank can recover after a fire or power outage that draws down the tank water level down. A tank cannot be expected to recover instantly, but it should not take more than a few days to bring water levels back to their normal cycle. While this is partly an operational problem, the designer needs to provide sufficient capacity for emergencies. Multiple Tanks in a Pressure Zone. When there is more than one tank in a pressure zone, the problem of designing and operating the zone becomes much more complicated. For modeling purposes, it is difficult to get all of the tanks to fluctuate in the desired range. In general, all the tanks in a pressure zone should be constructed with the same overflow elevation. In that way, the full range of each can be used. With

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multiple tanks, it is also helpful to construct each tank with an altitude valve. This is especially true for the tank that is hydraulically closer to the source, because the HGL will be higher in this area. The usual problem is that the tank near the source fills up quickly and drains slowly, while the tank at the perimeter of the system fills more slowly and drains quickly. One solution is to fill the tank that is closer to the source using a throttle control valve to throttle the flow when the tank is nearly full, enabling more water to flow to the distant tank. The nearer tank should drain through a separate line with a check valve so that the tank can drain easily even if the power should fail while the control valve is in the throttled or closed position (Figure 8.26). This situation can be modeled with a check valve and a throttling control valve. Figure 8.26 Multiple tanks in pressure zone

HGL - Pump On

Distant Tank

Near Tank HGL - Pump Off

Throttling Control Valve

Source

Check Valve

Pump

EPS models can be used to determine if there will be problems in pressure zones with multiple tanks and to test alternative strategies for operating these zones. It is especially important to test the hydraulics under a wide range of demands. These demands should include seasonal variations and future projections, since a shift in the size or location of the population (for example, more demand in suburbs near a new tank) will change how the system will operate. Regionalization. When water systems are combined, whether due to regionalization, annexation, or acquisition, the adjacent systems usually do not have the same HGL elevation; that is, they are in different pressure zones and cannot simply be connected. Therefore, integrating the distribution systems becomes problematic. The easiest way to integrate the systems is to install a pump or PRV at the boundary. Usually, one of the systems will no longer use its original source, or will use it only as a backup. Instead, it will use the other system as its source. Large pipes are usually needed at the connection point linking a system and its new water source. At points

Section 8.5

Establishing Pressure Zones and Setting Tank Overflows

where two systems meet at their perimeters, the pipes are typically small. Substantial improvements consisting of pipe paralleling and/or replacement are usually required in one or both systems. If new piping is to be installed, the designer has a unique opportunity to establish pressure zones as they should be, rather than as they have evolved out of necessity. Usually, the sizes of the pipes near the interconnection points are the limiting factors, and paralleling or replacing those pipes becomes the focus of the modeling analysis. Tank Volume Considerations. The discussion thus far has emphasized the importance of water level in a tank. The tank cross-section (and therefore volume) is also important. To a great extent, tank volume sizing can be done outside of the model by considering the amount of water that is needed for equalization storage, fire storage, and emergency storage. Too much storage, however, may contribute to water quality problems. Tank sizing requirements are described in more detail in the Ten State Standards (GLUMB, 1992) and by Walski (2000). The volume of a tank is usually dictated by the volume needed for equalization and the larger of fire and emergency storage. These volumes can be viewed as areas under the curve as shown in Figure 8.27. The area between production and peak-day demand is the volume needed for equalization, and the volume between the peak-day demand and the peak day plus fire curves is the volume needed for fire protection. In some systems, emergency storage volumes exceed volumes needed for fire fighting and may predominate. Figure 8.27 Determining tank volumes

3,000 Peak Day + Fire

2,500 Fire Storage Equalization Storage

Flow, gpm

2,000

1,500 Production

1,000

500

Peak Day Demand

0 0

6

12 Time, hrs

18

24

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The water level in a tank routinely fluctuates through a fill and drain cycle. Ideally, the tank water level should fluctuate by at least several feet during its cycle, whether that cycle is a full day or the time until the pump starts again. The EPS capability of modeling software is a valuable tool for predicting performance when comparing alternative tank and pipe sizes for various designs. If the level does not drop much, the tank may be too large, or the pump may be set to cycle too frequently. If the tank water level drops very quickly during peak demands, then the tank may be too small. Increasing the volume of the tank to the next larger standard size may correct the problem. For the situation in which the tank cannot recover after maximum day or emergency conditions, the distribution system serving the tank may have insufficient capacity to satisfy demands. Several runs may be necessary to determine the problem (for example, an inadequate pump or a small pipe) and correct it. The tank should not fully drain during emergency demand conditions [for example, a 2-hour, 1,500-gpm (0.095 m3/s) fire]. If the tank drains completely during this time, then either the tank is too small or another source of water (such as a pump station or treatment plant) may not have performed as expected. Fire flow requirements can be found in AWWA M-31 (1998) and other sources from the fire insurance industry, as described on page 166. If water quality problems due to chlorine decay are expected, then a water quality analysis should be conducted to determine whether or not the chlorine decay is due to the piping or the tank. When significant disinfectant decay is found to occur due to residence times within storage tanks, the volume may need to be reduced, or operating procedures may need to be modified (Grayman and Kirmeyer, 2000).

8.6

DEVELOPING SYSTEM HEAD CURVES FOR PUMP SELECTION/EVALUATION

The system head curve is a graph of head versus flow that shows the head required to move a given flow rate through the pump and into the distribution system. Prior to purchasing a pump, the system head curve that the pump will need to pump against must be determined. In a simple situation with a single pipe connecting two tanks, a system head curve can be generated without a model. When selecting a pump that will be used in a complicated water distribution system, especially one with looping and branching between the tanks on the suction and discharge sides of the pump, manual calculations only give a rough approximation to the system head curve. In such cases, a model is needed to derive a more exact solution. The system head curve depends on tank water levels, the operation of other pump stations in the distribution system, the physical characteristics of the piping system, and the demands. Therefore, the system head curve uniquely reflects the system conditions at the time of the run. As a consequence, for any pump station, there is actually a band of multiple system head curves similar to those shown in Figure 8.28. The highest curves correspond to low suction-side tank levels, high discharge-side tank levels, low demands, other pumps/wells running, and possibly even throttled or closed valves. The lowest system head curves correspond to high suction-side tank levels,

Section 8.6

Developing System Head Curves for Pump Selection/Evaluation

343

low discharge-side tank levels, no other sources operating, high demands (especially fire demands near the pump discharge), and all valves being open. For more information on system head curves, see Walski and Ormsbee (1989). Figure 8.28 System head curves 300

250

200

Head, ft

Low Use

150 Avg. Use

100

High Use

50

0 0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Flow, gpm

A single run of a water distribution model with a pump identifies a single point on a system head curve. Generating a system head curve for the full range of potential flows requires multiple steady-state runs of the model, with each steady-state run representing one point on the curve. The easiest way to arrive at the system head curve is to remove the proposed pump from the model, leaving the suction and discharge nodes in place, as shown in Figure 8.29. For the curve to be computed properly, a tank or reservoir must be present on each side of the pump. Figure 8.29 Tank Filling HGL

Profile of system for system head curve

Tank Stable HGL

Pump Head

Discharge Tank Tank Draining HGL/ Pump Off

HGL Suction Tank

Discharge Sytem Suction System

Suction Node

Discharge Node

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Generating a System Head Curve Some models can automatically calculate system head curves. The approach for manually generating system head curves is provided in the following steps: 1. Calibrate the model and identify suction and discharge nodes, but do not specify the pump between them yet. 2. Set the demands, tank water levels, and other operational conditions [for example, suction tank at 720 ft (220 m), discharge tank at 880 ft (270 m), average demands, well number 2 turned off]. 3. Identify the range of flows that the pump may produce. For example, if selecting a 300-gpm (0.019 m3/s) pump, use 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 600 gpm (0, 0.006, 0.013, 0.019, 0.025, 0.038 m3/s).

5. Run the model and determine the HGL elevations at the suction and discharge nodes. For instance, the suction node HGL is 715 ft (218 m), and the discharge node HGL is 890 ft (271 m). 6. Subtract the suction HGL from the discharge HGL to obtain the coordinates for a point on the system head curve [in this case, 100 gpm (0.006 m3/s), and 175 ft (53 m)]. 7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 until all the flow points have been generated. 8. Plot these points and connect them to obtain a system head curve. 9. If additional system head curves are desired, return to step 2 to set up new boundary conditions and demands and repeat steps 3 through 8 until all desired curves are obtained.

4. Select the first flow and insert it as a demand on the suction node and an inflow on the discharge node.

The water that leaves the suction-side pressure zone is identified as a demand on the suction node, while the water that enters the discharge-side pressure zone is identified as an inflow (or negative demand) on the discharge node. The difference in head between the suction and discharge nodes as determined by the model is the head that must be added to move that flow rate through the pump (that is, between the two pressure zones). The flow rate at both the suction and discharge nodes is then changed and the model re-run to generate additional points on the curve, continuing until a full curve has been developed. The curves should cover a reasonable range of conditions that the pump will experience. Once the system head curves are available, pump manufacturers can be contacted to determine which pumps (comparing model, casing, impeller size, and speed) will deliver the needed head at the desired flow rate with a high efficiency and sufficient net positive suction head (NPSH). Overlaying the pump head curve that was obtained from the manufacturer with the system head curves will identify the pump operating points. The operating points can also be determined by inserting the proposed pump into the model and performing a series of runs for different conditions. The designer should check efficiency and NPSH for the range of operating points the pump is likely to encounter. Usually, several pumps from different manufacturers will function properly. The decision about which one to buy will be based on a variety of factors, including the pump station floor plan, type of pump, operation and maintenance personnel preferences,

Section 8.7

Serving Lower Pressure Zones

cost, familiarity with a particular brand, and projected life-cycle energy cost. Chapter 10 explains how to calculate the energy cost. After a pump is selected, the designer should use EPS runs to determine how it will operate in the system over a variety of demands and emergency conditions.

8.7

SERVING LOWER PRESSURE ZONES

As a system expands into lower-lying areas, the customer elevations may not be within the serviceable range of the pressure zone containing the water source. Creating a lower pressure zone will prevent the delivery of excessive pressures to customers at low elevations. There is no consensus on the exact limit at which it becomes necessary to reduce pressure. However, for the majority of systems, the upper limit is set around 100 psi (690 kPa). Some systems, especially in hilly areas, may distribute water at up to 200 psi (1,380 kPa) and rely on PRVs in the service lines of individual customers to reduce pressures.

PRV Feeding into a Dead-End Pressure Zone Installing a PRV to feed a dead-end zone is usually the easiest solution for controlling pressures in a low-elevation pressure zone. The key to this approach is to find a pressure (HGL) setting that will keep pressures within a reasonable range. The PRV is often installed initially to serve a small extension to the system. The PRV setting (or downstream pressure to be maintained) should be established, however, based on current projections of population growth and business development expected in the low area. The drop in pressure across the PRV should be approximately 40 to 60 psi, or 90 to 110 feet (275 to 413 kPa, or 27 to 34 m). A smaller cut in pressure will cause limitations on the size of the pressure zone to be served. Too large a cut may cause unacceptably high or low pressures for a band of customers along the divide. The PRV should be located as close as possible to the contour line defining the boundary of the pressure zone. When the PRV is located far from the boundary, parallel pipes are often required to serve the two pressure zones. In this case, one parallel pipe would be located in the higher pressure zone, and the other parallel pipe would be in the neighboring, lower pressure zone. Figure 8.30 shows the boundary line between a 1,810-ft (552 m) HGL zone and a 1,690-ft (515 m) HGL zone. The boundary is located at a ground elevation of 1,600 ft (488 m). If the PRV is placed exactly at 1,600 ft (488 m), then the upstream pressure will be 91 psi (627 kPa) and the downstream pressure will be 39 psi (269 kPa), both of which are reasonable pressures. If the PRV is placed at 1,640 ft (500 m), the upstream pressure will be 74 psi (510 kPa), while the downstream pressure will be 22 psi (152 kPa). The lower pressure is only marginally acceptable, and with normal head losses, may prove unacceptable. If the PRV is placed at 1,560 ft (475 m), the pressure will be cut from 108 psi (745 kPa) on the upstream side to 56 psi (386 kPa) on the downstream side. In this case, the pressure upstream of the valve is high enough that two pipes may be required in the street so that customers in this area can continue to be served by the lower pressure zone and not receive unacceptably high pressures.

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Figure 8.30 Locating PRVs

When selecting and modeling the PRV itself, it is important to note that a large PRV may not be able to precisely throttle small flows. Better control at low flows can be obtained by using a smaller PRV [for example, a 4-in. (100-mm) PRV for an 8-in. (200-mm) main]. When a PRV has to pass much higher flows (to meet fire capacity requirements, for instance), the specifications should be checked to ensure that the smaller PRV will not significantly restrict flow. This restriction can also be examined by modeling the PRV’s minor losses at high flow; however, some models do not account for a valve’s minor losses when it is in the control (throttling) mode. When using such a model, the minor loss corresponding to the open PRV may be assigned to a connecting pipe. If the minor losses through the small PRV are too large at high flows, specifying a small PRV for normal flows and a larger PRV in parallel for higher flows can solve the problem. In some cases, a PRV is used along a pipeline that carries water from a high source to a low area with few customers. The model may show that the PRV can successfully produce a very high pressure cut [say, greater than 100 psi (690 kPa)], but it is important to check the specifications for the PRV to ensure that it can pass the flow rate with the required pressure cut without cavitating or eroding.

Lower Zone with a Tank If there is a tank with its water level floating on the lower zone, setting the PRV becomes more difficult. If the PRV is set too high, the tank may overflow or be shut off by the altitude valve so that it no longer drains. If it is set too low, the tank may not fill adequately. Usually, if the tank is far from the PRV, the head loss across the zone and the diurnal fluctuation in demand may be sufficient to make the tank cycle over the desired range. It may be necessary, however, to alter the PRV settings seasonally to achieve this range. The designer can find the right PRV settings and determine seasonal changes for those settings by using information obtained from EPS runs. If the tank is close to the PRV, it will be virtually impossible to get the tank water level to fluctuate adequately using a single PRV setting. To get an adequate water level

Section 8.7

Serving Lower Pressure Zones

fluctuation, the designer could use a control valve, as described in the next section. Another option is to use a PRV with dual pilot controls, so that when the tank is in a “fill” mode, the higher setting prevails, and when the tank is in a “drain” mode, a lower setting prevails. The switching can be done using a timer so that the tank is in the fill mode when demands are low (typically at night). With this approach, there is no need for sophisticated programmable logic controllers; a simple timer will suffice. The model can check if the desired turnover of the tank can be achieved and will calculate the amount of time it takes for the tank to refill. If the tank fills too quickly, the PRV can cause problems in the upstream pressure zone. If the tank fills too slowly, tank recovery may take longer than the designated time. The designer needs to check pressure fluctuations in the higher pressure zone and velocities in the transmission mains to ensure that they are acceptable.

Lower Zone Fed with Control Valves If the utility desires controls that are more sophisticated than a PRV, a control valve can be used instead to regulate the filling and draining of the tank. A control valve can be programmed to operate based on fairly sophisticated logic by using information from the tank and other points in the system. The disadvantages of using a control valve are its reliance on expensive telemetry or SCADA equipment to provide information about tank water levels and its need for a distributed logic controller (or remote control by an operator) to operate the valve. Also, a backup power supply is required so that it can function properly during a power outage, whereas a PRV requires no power. The control valve also requires programming or alarming to handle any loss of signal or sensor and is susceptible to lightning interference. The control valve can have either a simple on/off control or an analog control. For example, the on/off control would open the valve when the tank is filling and close it when the tank is draining. In an analog control, the flow through the valve or the valve position is determined by tank level or some other analog input. The valve can be programmed to open wider as the tank water level falls. Conversely, the valve can hold a setting until the tank fills and then switch to a more closed setting to enable the tank to drain. Using an on/off control is somewhat risky in that power could fail while the valve is shut. A throttled valve can at least pass some water during a power outage. The controls can be tested by running simulations; however, valves are operated somewhat differently in models than they are in reality. With a real valve, the opening size is controlled (for example, it can be set at 40 percent open). In most models, though, the value that is controlled is the maximum flow, as with a flow control valve, or the minor loss coefficient, as with a throttling control valve. Use of a flow control valve in the model to set a flow rate is the simplest approach to making sure that the piping and tank are sized correctly. This approach will not verify the sizing of the control valve or be very helpful in selecting the valve opening that corresponds to a given set of conditions. To find this information, the valve should be modeled as a TCV with the minor loss coefficient being the variable controlled. The relationship between the minor loss coefficient and percent valve opening must be developed outside of the model using data supplied by the valve manufacturer.

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Butterfly valves are usually used in this application because of their low cost and good throttling characteristics, provided the head loss in not too high. Ball valves are even better at control but are more expensive.

Conditions Upstream of the PRV or Control Valve In some situations, the head loss in the upper zone above the boundary valve (whether it is a PRV or control valve) can become excessive [for example, if the demand of the lower zone is 500 gpm (0.032 m3/s) and the water is delivered through a 6-in. (150mm) pipe]. This head loss can cause pressures in the upper zone to drop to unacceptable levels. The long-term solution to this problem is to increase the carrying capacity of the pipes in the upper zone. This type of project is usually expensive, however, and an immediate solution may be necessary even if a large budget is not available. The short-term solution may be the use of a combined PRV/PSV in the regulating vault. EPS runs can indicate what the PSV setting should be to adequately maintain pressures at the most critical (usually the highest) points in the upper zone. The combined PRV/PSV can be simulated in the model by placing a PSV immediately above the PRV. The designer should also look for any bottlenecks in the upper zone that can be inexpensively corrected to help feed the PRV.

8.8

REHABILITATION OF EXISTING SYSTEMS

Models are often used to assess the rehabilitation of older water distribution systems. The rehabilitation work may be necessary because of • The cumulative effect of tuberculation and scaling • Increased demands due to new customers • Excessive leakage • Infrastructure improvements, such as street reconstruction or sewer replacement, in vicinity of distribution system piping • Water quality problems The problems associated with rehabilitation are somewhat more difficult than designing a new system. Problems include • Working with existing piping • Numerous conflicts with other buried utilities • The added importance of the condition of the paving • The larger range of alternatives to be considered The one way in which rehabilitation analysis is simpler than other design applications is that pressure zones and their boundaries are already defined and are usually not being adjusted.

Section 8.8

Rehabilitation of Existing Systems

Instead of simply deciding on the size of pipe, the utility is faced with additional choices when performing rehabilitation. The utility can either replace existing pipes or keep them in place and parallel them for added capacity. In addition to new piping, the designer has a range of other options to choose from, including pigging (forcing a foam “pig” through the pipes using water pressure), cleaning with cement mortar or epoxy lining, installing inversion liners, sliplining, and pipe bursting. Each of these options will need to be modeled in a slightly different way, as described in the sections that follow.

Data Collection Before modeling improvements, the designer needs to thoroughly analyze the existing system to determine its strengths and weaknesses. Because the system already exists, data are readily available. As was the case with model calibration, fire hydrant flow tests (see page 184) provide a great deal of information on the hydraulic capacity of the system. Other valuable tests include pipe roughness coefficient tests (see page 191) and the use of pressure recorders to obtain readings at key locations. The pipe roughness coefficient tests provide a view of the carrying capacity of individual pipes, and the chart recorders show how the system handles present day demand fluctuations. Any severe drops in pressure that occur during peak hours reveal capacity problems. More information on testing and calibration is available in Chapters 5 and 7.

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Both the hydraulic capacity of the existing pipe and the structural integrity of the piping are important. If adequate metering is available, a water audit comparing water delivered to an area with metered water consumption can give an indication of the unaccounted-for water. A leak detection survey of the study area using sonic leak detection equipment can also be conducted. A review of past work orders for pipe repairs and interviews with maintenance personnel can indicate if there are structural problems with the pipe. If a section of pipe must be excavated in that area for any reason, the designer should examine the inside of the pipe for tuberculation and scale, and the outside of the pipe for signs of corrosion damage. Graphitic corrosion of cast iron pipe may require scraping or even abrasive blast cleaning to reveal pits. Records on service lines should also be assessed to determine if any service lines need to be replaced in conjunction with the mains, or if the old service lines can just be reconnected to the new mains. In some instances, it may be worthwhile to keep old mains in service simply to avoid the cost of renewing a large number of service lines. Other utilities have a policy of retiring old, parallel mains and connecting old service lines to the new main when one has been installed.

Modeling Existing Conditions With the results of fire flow and roughness coefficient tests, a detailed model of the study area can be calibrated. The calibration effort often reveals problems that are easily or inexpensively corrected, such as closed or partly closed valves. Clearly, opening a closed valve is very inexpensive compared with rehabilitation techniques or new piping. The model of the existing system will also reveal which pipe segments are bottlenecks. These will usually be the segments with the highest velocities or highest hydraulic gradients. Field data should then be collected to corroborate the simulation results. Those segments that are bottlenecks will need to be replaced, paralleled, or rehabilitated. In general, peak hour demands and fire flow demands are the controlling conditions, and steady-state runs may be used to solve this type of problem.

Overview of Alternatives Usually the decision to replace piping is the most expensive alternative and should not be selected unless the existing piping is in poor structural condition. The decision of whether to parallel or rehabilitate the existing piping depends upon the design flow in the area. Rehabilitating the existing pipes will restore more of their original carrying capacity but will not greatly increase the nominal diameter of the pipe. Pipe bursting, a technique in which the old pipe is broken in place, allows a slightly larger pipe to be pulled through the opening where the old pipe once lay. If the future flows are going to be significantly greater than the original flows in the pipes, then rehabilitation will not provide sufficient capacity, and new pipes roughly paralleling the old system are needed. A schematic of the evaluation process recommended for replacement decisions is illustrated in Figure 8.31 and is discussed in the following sections.

Section 8.8

Rehabilitation of Existing Systems

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Figure 8.31 Overview of pipe rehabilitation options

Replacement. Most utilities will not have sufficient resources to replace large portions of the distribution system. With this limitation in mind, the designer must be extremely selective in identifying pipes for replacement. The model can answer questions as to which pipes are inadequate from a hydraulic standpoint. Information from the simulation needs to be combined with other information, such as which pipes have experienced breaks, leakage, and water quality problems in order to make informed decisions. In this way, the worst pipes in the system are identified for replacement. By examining fire flows at different points in the study area, the model will indicate those pipes with the most severe hydraulic limitations. In most cases, these will be old, unlined, 4-in. (100-mm) and 6-in. (150-mm) pipes. These pipes also tend to have the highest break rates because they have the lowest beam strength. The designer should selectively replace these pipes in the model and re-run it. Subsequent runs will then indicate the next-worst bottlenecks. The designer should also be mindful that in some cases the worst hydraulic limitations may be outside of the study area. Paralleling. If the existing piping is found to be in sound structural condition, pipes will not need to be replaced. The emphasis should then be placed on determining which lengths of pipe have the poorest hydraulic carrying capacities when compared with the required capacities. Fire hydrant flow tests can indicate which portions of the study area have problems, but the exact pipe(s) causing the problems is best determined through model runs.

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Rather than paralleling or replacing pipes sporadically throughout the study area, the best solution will typically consist of installing a loop or a “backbone” of larger pipe [such as 16-in. (400 mm) pipe] through the heart of the study area. This new main will reduce the distance that water must travel from a large pipe to a fire hydrant. If the new parallel pipe is significantly larger than the existing pipe, hydrants should be transferred from the existing pipe to the new pipe to take advantage of the greater flow capacity. The designer also needs to remember that the available fire flow at a node in the model is not the same thing as the available fire flow from a hydrant near that node, because of the distance between the node and the hydrant and the associated losses (see page 191). Pipe Cleaning and Lining (Nonstructural Rehabilitation). Pipe cleaning may be an economical and effective alternative to installing additional pipe to restore lost carrying capacity if • The pipe is structurally sound • Future demands are not expected to be significantly greater than the demands for which the system was designed • The loss in carrying capacity due to pipe tuberculation, scaling, or other deposits is significant For smaller pipe sizes [4-, 6-, and 8-in. (100-, 150-, and 200-mm) pipe], installing new pipe is usually only slightly more expensive than pipe rehabilitation. However, as pipe diameters increase, the economics of pipe rehabilitation by cleaning become very attractive. Pipe cleaning by scraping or pigging is most economical in situations in which the installation of new pipe is unusually expensive due to interference with other buried utilities or because of expensive pavement restoration costs. The effects of pipe cleaning can be simulated by making the roughness factor of the cleaned pipe more favorable. Usually, the Hazen-Williams C-factor can be increased to values on the order of 100 to 120, with the higher values usually achieved in larger pipes. A C-factor increase from 90 to 110 will not justify the costs of pipe cleaning, but an increase from 40 to 110 is likely to correct a hydraulic deficiency at a reasonable cost. The decision whether to cement-line a main after the pipe is cleaned is usually based on water quality considerations. If the pipe is not expected to experience corrosion, scaling, or deposition problems in the future, the pipe may be left without a liner. In most cases, however, it is better to line the pipe to maintain the benefits of the cleaning. Cement mortar or epoxy, which does not decrease the inner diameter significantly, is typically the preferred lining material for distribution mains, but sliplining can also be used. In modeling any kind of rehabilitation involving a liner, it is important to use the actual inner diameter of the liner pipe in any model runs. Sliplining (Structural Rehabilitation). Several methods of rehabilitation that also increase the structural strength of the pipe are available. These include foldand-form piping, swagelining, and sliplining. Fold-and-form-pipes are folded for easy insertion within the existing pipe, and then expanded once in place. Swagelining

Section 8.8

Rehabilitation of Existing Systems

353

involves pulling the liner pipe through a die, temporarily reducing its size so that it can be easily inserted in the existing pipe. Sliplining is performed by pulling a slightly smaller pipe through the cleaned water main (Figure 8.32). Inversion lining (a type of sliplining) utilizes sock-like liners that must be cured in place. This procedure is usually practical only in low-pressure applications, because the thickness of the required inversion liner becomes excessive as pressures increase. The liner used in sliplining is usually plastic and quite smooth (C-factor of 130). The diameter of the liner pipe, however, is somewhat different from the original pipe; thus, the actual inner diameter of the liner pipe must be used in the model. Structural rehabilitation is less attractive than cement-mortar lining for situations in which there are numerous services that must be reconnected to the pipe. Structural rehabilitation can be modeled by decreasing the effective roughness of the pipe and decreasing the diameter of the pipe being lined to coincide with the correct values for the liner. Figure 8.32 Sliplining procedure

Pipe Bursting. Pipe bursting is the only rehabilitation technique that actually can increase the inner diameter of a pipe. In this technique, a mole is passed through a pipe made from a brittle material (cast iron or asbestos cement), and the pipe is burst. The fragments are forced into the surrounding soil and a liner pipe of the same size as the original pipe (or slightly larger) is then pulled through the resulting hole. Excavation work is necessary if there are service lines that must be reconnected to the new pipe.

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Evaluation In distribution system rehabilitation studies, the number of alternative solutions tends to be much larger than in most other distribution design problems. Exploring all the possibilities is the only way to ensure that the most cost-effective solution, based on whole-life-cycle cost, is chosen. More than one alternative can solve a design problem, and each alternative has its own costs and benefits.

8.9

TRADEOFFS BETWEEN ENERGY AND CAPITAL COSTS

Near pumping stations, it may be worthwhile in some cases to use larger pipes in order to reduce head losses and, consequently, energy costs. The distribution system costs affected by pipe sizing include capital costs for piping and the present worth of energy costs. These costs can be determined using Equation 8.10. TC =

allpipes

where

TC f(D, x) D x PW k1 Q p h1 k2 e

= = = = = = = = = = =

f ( D, x ) + PW ∫ k 1 Qp ( h 1 + k 2 D

– 4.87

)⁄e

(8.10)

total life-cycle costs ($) capital cost function diameter (ft, m) set of pipe-laying conditions present worth factor for energy costs unit conversion factor for energy actual flow over time (gpm, l/s) price of energy ($/kW-hr) lift energy (ft, m) coefficient describing characteristics of system wire-to-water efficiency (%)

The preceding equation cannot be solved analytically for a complex network. However, the problem can be simplified, because most of the pipes in a typical distribution system have only a negligible effect on energy costs. It is usually only the pipes from the pump stations to the nearest tanks that can have a significant impact on energy costs. For a series of pipes between two tanks, Walski (1984) provides an analytical solution for optimal pipe sizes. For the simplest case of a single pipe between two tanks, the solution can be viewed as shown in Figure 8.33. Even though the present worth of total energy cost is fairly large when compared to construction costs, most of this energy is being used to overcome the difference in head between pressure zones (that is, it is used for static lift). Because only the energy cost used in overcoming friction losses is a function of pipe diameter, only this portion of the energy cost is involved in the tradeoff with capital costs. Furthermore, the cost of the pump station itself, including the building, land, piping, valves, SCADA, and engineering are independent of head loss. The initial construction cost of pump stations is not very sensitive to head loss and need not be considered in this cost analysis.

Section 8.10

Use of Models in the Design and Operation of Tanks

355

Figure 8.33 Example of relationship between capital and energy costs in a pumped pipeline

450 400

Present Worth Cost, $/ft

350 300 250 Total

200 150 Capital

100 Energy

50 0 6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Diameter, in.

The optimal velocity to be used in pipe sizing depends on the relative costs of energy and construction, the interest rate, the efficiency of the pumps, and the ratio of peak flow in the pipes to average flow. For medium-size pumps [approximately 1,000 gpm (60 l/s)], Walski (1983) showed that the optimal velocity would be on the order of 6 ft/s (2 m/s) at peak flow when the ratio of peak flow to average flow is 2. For pipes with a ratio of peak to average flow of 1.25, the optimal velocity at peak flow would be on the order of 4.5 ft/s (1.5 m/s). Several investigators (Murphy, Dandy, and Simpson, 1994; and Walters, Halhal, Savic, and Ouazar, 1999) have applied genetic algorithms to determine optimal pipe sizes in pumped systems.

8.10 USE OF MODELS IN THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF TANKS Storage facilities are an essential component of water distribution systems. Traditionally, they have been designed and operated to meet the hydraulic requirements of the distribution system, including providing emergency storage, equalizing pressure, and balancing water use throughout the day. However, the implications of the design and operation of the facility on water quality must also be considered to avoid water quality deterioration in the facility and in the distribution system served by the tank or reservoir.

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Mixing and aging are two related phenomena that affect the water quality changes that can occur within finished water storage tanks and reservoirs. In these facilities, water quality deterioration is frequently associated with the age of the water. Long residence times depress disinfectant residuals and can promote bacterial regrowth. Uneven mixing can result in zones of older water. As a result, an implicit objective in both the design and operation of distribution system storage facilities is the minimization of detention time and the avoidance of parcels of water that remain in the storage facility for long periods of time. The allowable detention time depends on the quality of the water, its reactivity, the type of disinfectant that is used, and the travel time before and after the water’s entry into the storage facility. Mathematical models can serve a useful role in the design and operation of tanks and reservoirs (Grayman et al., 2000). They can be used to answer “what if” questions such as how water will mix in the tank, whether stratification will occur, and the effects of a fill and drain pattern on water age and chlorine residual. A variety of types of mathematical models can be applied to provide insights into the mixing and aging behavior of tanks and reservoirs. Two primary categories, systems models and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, are discussed in the following sections. Physical scale models can also be used to study the mixing phenomena in tanks and reservoirs.

Systems Models Systems models (also called black-box models or input-output models) are a class of models in which physical processes (that is, the mixing phenomena in the tank or reservoir) are represented by highly conceptual, empirical relationships. Systems models have been used to represent tanks and reservoirs that operate in a fill-and-draw mode or with continuous (simultaneous) inflow and outflow. These models include complete-mix models, plug-flow models, last-in/first-out (LIFO) models, and multicompartment models. Both conservative substances and nonconservative substances can be simulated. Systems models actually do not explicitly simulate the movement of water within the tank, but rather determine the water quality (or water age) of the outflow of the tank based on the inflow water quality and an assumed macrobehavior within the tank. It is the user’s responsibility to choose a behavior pattern based on field studies, more detailed modeling, or past experience. For example, complete and instantaneous mixing in tanks is a standard modeling assumption, but the mixing actually occurring is likely to be more complex. Systems models of tanks and reservoirs are available as part of all water distribution system models and as stand-alone models. The tank modules that are part of water distribution system models are useful for examining the behavior of the tank and its impacts on water quality and water age within the distribution system for extended periods of time (typically a few days). For example, the plots in Figure 8.34 generated by a water distribution system model illustrate the variation in water age and chlorine residual leaving a tank over a period of a few days. The effects of the tank are then transferred to the distribution system so that the impacts of the tank can be determined.

Section 8.10

Use of Models in the Design and Operation of Tanks

357

Figure 8.34 Water age versus time, and chlorine residual versus time

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However, for design and operational purposes, it is useful to study the effects of the tank on water quality over a longer period of time (that is, several months representing different seasonal conditions). Although this type of study could be done with a water distribution system model, long, extended-period simulations of this type are difficult to perform. An alternative is the use of a stand-alone tank model that only simulates the tank behavior based on an assumed temporal inflow-outflow record. For existing tanks, an inflow-outflow record can usually be constructed directly from water level or flow records that are routinely collected by a SCADA system. CompTank, a stand-alone tank model available from the AWWA Research Foundation (Grayman et al., 2000) includes several different systems models of tanks and reservoirs. An example of the use of CompTank to evaluate different tank designs is shown in Figure 8.35. In this example, the effects of tank volume on water age were studied using an assumed inflow-outflow pattern for a critical month. As illustrated, if a 2-million-gallon tank was constructed, the water age varies between approximately 15 and 22 days, whereas a 1-million-gallon tank results in water ages between 7 and 12 days. Because even the lower range of water age is generally considered to be too old, the model could be used to further explore the impacts of alternative operating patterns on water age. Figure 8.35 Use of tank model to study the impacts of tank size on water age

Computational Fluid Dynamics Models Unlike systems models, which assume a particular ideal mixing regime, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models are based on modeling the physics of fluid motion. Coupled nonlinear partial differential equations representing conservation of mass, conservation of momentum, and conservation of energy are solved numerically to simulate the movement of water within a storage facility. Although CFD modeling

Section 8.10

Use of Models in the Design and Operation of Tanks

359

has been used widely in chemical, nuclear, and mechanical engineering, its use in the drinking water industry is a relatively recent development. CFD models can be used to simulate the effects of temperature variations, unsteady hydraulic and water quality conditions, and decay of constituents in storage facilities. The primary factor that influences the mixing within a tank is the jet behavior as water enters the tank during a fill period. As water flows through the inlet into the tank, a jet is formed that expands as it moves through the tank, entraining the surrounding water. When the jet reaches a surface within the tank (the water surface or an opposite wall), the direction of the jet changes and flow patterns develop. This behavior is illustrated in Figure 8.36 in a series of diagrams adapted from Okita and Oyama (1963). CFD models employ numerical solution techniques to solve the mathematical equations that represent this mixing process. Figure 8.36 Views of jet mixing

Plan Views

Profile Views Used by permission of the Society of Chemical Engineers, Japan (SCEJ)

Many commercial CFD software packages are available. They generally require a significant investment in terms of both purchase or lease cost and learning how to effectively build models and utilize the software. Training in fluid mechanics/ hydrodynamics is considered to be a prerequisite for the effective use of CFD modeling. In studying tanks, CFD models can be used to determine the flow and velocity patterns within a tank and to illustrate the behavior of a tracer as it moves through the

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tank. Graphical depictions of the tracer over time can show areas where flow is stagnant and where older parcels of water would be expected to be found. By examining different inlet configurations (location, diameter, angle), different flow rates, and potential temperature effects with the CFD model, the engineer can select a proper tank design and operation. An example plot generated by a CFD model of a tank is shown in Figure 8.37. Figure 8.37 Plot generated by a CFD model

Courtesy of Red Valve Company, Inc.

8.11 OPTIMIZED DESIGN AND REHABILITATION PLANNING The capital costs of a water distribution system combined with the cost of maintaining and repairing the system are often immense. Researchers and practitioners are constantly searching for new ways to create more economical and efficient designs. However, the design and management of water distribution systems, if they are to be completed in the most effective and economic manner, are complex tasks requiring a systematic and scrupulous approach backed by skillful engineering judgment and significant capital resources. Optimization, as it applies to water distribution system design and rehabilitation planning, is the process of finding the best, or optimal, solution to the problem under consideration. (See Appendix D on page 643 for more information on optimization processes and techniques.) The earliest attempts at optimization date back to Babbitt and Doland (1931) and Camp (1939). The first computerized optimization was attempted by Schaake and Lai (1969). By 1985, Walski (1985) had documented nearly one hundred papers on the subject, and the number of papers has increased significantly since that time (Lansey, 2000). The methods used have included such techniques as linear programming, dynamic programming, mixed integer programming, heuristic algorithms, gradient search methods, enumeration methods, genetic algorithms, and simulated annealing (see Appendix D). The models have been tested against standard modeling problems

Section 8.11

Optimized Design and Rehabilitation Planning

such as the New York tunnel problem (Schaake and Lai, 1969) and the Anytown problem (Walski et al., 1987), and even on real systems (Jacobsen, Dishari, Murphy, and Frey, 1998; Savic, Walters, Randall-Smith, and Atkinson, 2000), and found to give reasonable answers. Despite such extensive research, optimization has not found its way into standard engineering practice, partly because existing algorithms have not typically been packaged as user-friendly tools. More significantly, with any model, differences always exist between reality and the model. This is certainly true for optimization models — the algorithms do not fully capture the design process (Walski, 2001). However, optimization should not be viewed as an automated process by which only one solution is identified. Rather, it is a process by which alternative solutions that provide, ideally, a range of cost and benefits are generated. The full involvement of design engineers is required. (See Appendix D on page 643 for more information on how optimization is to be used.) Most optimization algorithms set up the problem as one of minimizing costs subject to (1) hydraulic feasibility, (2) satisfaction of demands, and (3) meeting of pressure constraints. In reality, design engineers need to consider these plus many more factors, including • A reasonable level of redundancy and reliability • Budgetary constraints • Tradeoffs between different objectives (for example, fire protection versus water quality) • Uncertain future As Walski, Youshock, and Rhee (2000) pointed out using illustrative example problems, optimization models have not yet been able to fully address many of these considerations. For this reason, most design engineers prefer to use a combination of steady-state and EPS model runs and engineering judgment as they develop their designs. Among the techniques that show promise, genetic algorithms (GA), discussed on page 365 (and in more detail on page 673), are the most capable of meeting the needs of the design engineer without contorting the problem to fit the algorithm. Although optimization may increasingly serve as another tool for design engineers, it is not likely to replace good engineering judgment.

Optimal Design Formulation The design of water distribution systems is often viewed as a least-cost optimization problem with pipe diameters acting as the primary decision variables. However, although the cost of operating a water distribution system can be substantial (arising from maintenance, repair, water treatment, energy costs, and so on), the costs of some items often do not greatly depend on pipe size. In most situations, pipe layout, connectivity, and imposed minimum head constraints at pipe junctions (nodes) are taken as fixed design targets.

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Clearly, other elements (such as service reservoirs and pumps) and other possible objectives (reliability, redundancy, flexibility in the face of uncertain future demands, and satisfactory water quality) can be included in the optimization process. But the difficulties of including reservoirs and pumps and quantifying additional objectives for use within the optimization process have focused researchers on determining pipe diameters while maintaining the single objective of least cost. Typically, pumping and storage alternatives are taken as entirely separate approaches that are considered outside of the optimization process (see Sections 8.9 and 10.8). Even this somewhat limited formulation of optimal network design offers a difficult problem to solve (Savic and Walters, 1997). The objective function of the pipe-sizing problem is assumed to be a cost function of pipe diameters and lengths: N

min f ( x ) = x

where

f x N ci li

= = = = =

∑ ci ( xi, li )

(8.11)

i=1

objective function to be minimized vector of unknown diameters xi number of pipes cost function for pipe i length of pipe i

The set of constraints associated with this problem consist of continuity and energy loss equations, which can be satisfied by running a standard hydraulic simulation program to evaluate the hydraulics of the solution. Other constraints may include • The minimum and maximum head constraint at each or selected nodes • The minimum and maximum velocity in pipes • The minimum reliability and redundancy constraints • Other operational constraints, such as balancing reservoirs within 24 hours or any other period, or ensuring at least a minimum turnover of water in storage Rehabilitation Planning. The rehabilitation planning problem can be formulated similarly to the pipe-sizing problem because rehabilitated pipes (cleaned, replaced, duplicated, and so on) will acquire new discrete diameters and new friction characteristics, as already included in the design formulation outlined in this section. In addition to pipe sizing and rehabilitation, other system elements, such as tanks, valves, and pumps, should be considered for a systematical design (Wu and Simpson, 2001). A comprehensive optimization of water distribution systems is formulated by including pipe sizing, rehabilitation, and tank and pump design for all of the system components under steady-state and extended-period simulation conditions. Staged Development. For most optimization models, it is assumed that a total distribution system is built all at once with a single design flow. However, distribution systems evolve over many decades in response to demands that the original system

Section 8.11

Optimized Design and Rehabilitation Planning

designers may or may not have anticipated. An individual project for an estimated design flow may be optimized with relative ease, but staging the construction of a system over a span of years is much more complicated. Halhal, Walters, Savic, and Ouazar (1999) developed a network optimization methodology that accomplishes optimal scheduling of water distribution network improvements. This methodology introduces the notion of time, allowing the method to consider, in the evaluation of different designs, various time-dependent influencing factors, such as inflation, interest rate, variation of network characteristics, and so on. The method defines the design alternatives to be undertaken in the network and their timing in the planning period, such that the accumulated benefit along the planning period is maximized while the sum of the present value of the different investments is minimized and maintained below the total fund allocated to the whole project.

Optimal Design Methods Methods for finding the best design solution include both trial-and-error approaches and formal optimization methods. The term optimization methods often refers to mathematical techniques used to automatically adjust the details of the system in such a way as to achieve the best possible system performance or, alternatively, the leastcost design that achieves a specified performance level. The following are just a few methods that have been applied to optimized design and rehabilitation planning of water distribution models. A longer list and more details of the optimization methods can be found in Appendix D. Trial-and-Error Approach. In practice, the experienced design engineer will adopt rules of thumb and leverage personal experience to avoid analyzing every possible configuration. This allows him or her to focus on schemes that are reasonably cost-effective. With the aid of a hydraulic network solver, the designer traditionally adopts a trial-and-error approach to produce a few feasible solutions (solutions that satisfy design constraints), which can then be priced. On large systems, a number of factors limit the effectiveness of the manual design method: • A problem can have many possible solutions; therefore, the number of alternative solutions considered is limited by available time and financial resources. • The changes made at one location may influence the performance at another, resulting in a highly nonlinear system where it is hard to manually relate cause and effect. Therefore, it is likely that solutions developed using the trial-and-error procedure are successful in meeting design criteria with respect to constraints (pressure, velocity, and so on) but are less successful at delivering these benefits at least cost. Partial Enumeration Method. In 1985, Gessler suggested a simplified approach based on enumeration of a limited number of alternatives. In his work, he devised tests to eliminate certain inferior solutions from evaluation by a hydraulic

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Perspectives on System Design Part of the difficulty in applying optimization to water distribution design lies in describing the design objectives. Different parties in the decision-making process have different perspectives, as summarized in the following list:

Construction: “If you’re going to tear up a street and dig a hole, it doesn’t cost much more to put in a big pipe.”

Customers: “We want great service at low price.”

Fire Protection: “Have you ever had to carry a body bag out of a building because you didn’t have enough water to fight the fire? Give us plenty of water.”

Upper Management: “Provide adequate capacity but remain within the capital budget.” Planning: “Meet demands even though there is a great deal of uncertainty in forecasts.” Engineering: “When in doubt, build it stout.”

Operations: “Give us flexibility and redundancy so we aren’t hanging on a single pipe or pump.”

These different perspectives make it difficult to mirror the decision-making process with a computerized optimization.

simulation model (that is, testing for pressure constraints). In the process of testing, the technique takes advantage of two considerations: • After a combination of pipe sizes that gives a hydraulically feasible solution has been found, there is no need to test any other pipe size combination that is significantly more expensive. • After an infeasible solution has been encountered, any other size combination, with all sizes equal to or less than these is an infeasible solution. Pipe-link grouping by pipelines was another innovation in this work. Utilities are unlikely to change diameter from block to block and insert bottlenecks in the system, even though they might save a few dollars by doing so and still meet minimum pressure requirements. Because of the considerations just described, the partial enumeration method does not require calculation of flow and pressure distribution for all pipe combinations. Indeed, the larger the total number of combinations, the smaller the percentage of combinations for which the pressure distribution needs to be calculated. However, Murphy and Simpson (1992) subsequently dhowed that the approach failed to identify the optimal design for a moderately small network expansion problem even though it did better than any traditional optimization approach in the 1985 “Battle of the Network Models” (Walski et al., 1987). Linear Programming Methods. Linear programming approaches (see page 655) were also used to reduce the complexity of the original nonlinear nature of the problem by solving a sequence of linear sub-problems (Alperovits and Shamir, 1977; Goulter and Morgan, 1985; and Fujiwara and Khang, 1990). The decision variables are the lengths of pipe of a specific diameter: xij = length of pipe i of size j

(8.12)

Section 8.11

Optimized Design and Rehabilitation Planning

An additional constraint is introduced to ensure that the sum of all segments of pipe between any two nodes is equal to the length between those nodes: J

∑ xij

= li

(8.13)

j=1

where

J = the total number of pipe sizes

The optimum solution obtained by this method consists of one or two pipe segments of different discrete sizes between each pair of nodes. It is known, however, that socalled split-pipe solutions are not desirable when short pipe lengths of varying diameters are used. For a more realistic solution, the split-pipe design should be altered so that only one diameter is chosen for each pipe. Nonlinear Programming Methods. Nonlinear programming methods (ElBahrawy and Smith, 1985; Duan, Mays, and Lansey, 1990) have also been tried on pipe network design problems (see page 659). These methods rely on knowledge of the functional relationship between the objective function value and the decision variables, thus requiring calculation of partial derivatives of the objective function with respect to the decision variables. For pipe design problems, this is only possible if pipe diameters are considered continuous. Because they treat pipe diameters as continuous variables, tend to get stuck in local optima, and have limitations to the size of problem they can handle, the use of nonlinear programming methods for pipe design problems is limited. Search Methods. Although the linear and nonlinear methods are good for finding local optima, in real problems it quickly becomes inconvenient to invert matrices (linear programming) or calculate the partial derivatives with respect to the decision variables (nonlinear programming). In such a situation, knowledge of the functional relationship between the objective function value and the decision variables either does not exist or is too complex to be usable. Automated search methods are then used instead of computationally intensive mathematical programming approaches. The feature common to all of these methods is a generate-and-test strategy in which a new point is generated and its function value tested. Depending on the particular method, a new point (or set of points) is generated, and the search for the best solution continues. Genetic Algorithms. Most real network models are too large or too complex to be handled by any of the previously discussed optimization methods without making significant simplifications. Among the techniques that show promise, genetic algorithms (GAs) are most capable of meeting the needs of the design engineers without the necessity of contorting the problem to fit the algorithm (Dandy, Simpson, and Murphy, 1996; Savic and Walters, 1997; Walters, Halhal, Savic, and Ouazar, 1999; Wu et al., 2002). See page 673 for more details on genetic algorithms. GAs have a relatively short but promising history, although the basic principles date from the beginning of life on earth. In simple terms, the GA uses a computer model of Darwinian evolution to “evolve” good designs or solutions to highly complex problems for which classical solution techniques such as linear programming or gradient-

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based methods are often inadequate. The GA incorporates ideas such as a population of solutions to a problem, survival of the fittest (most suitable) solutions within a population, birth, death, breeding, inheritance of genetic material (design parameters) by children from their parents, and occasional mutations of that material (thereby creating new design possibilities). A GA developed for distribution system optimization uses • An objective function defined on a set of decision variables (pipe diameters, for example) • A calibrated model of the system to simulate its hydraulic behavior and to ensure that continuity and head-loss equations are satisfied at all times (hard constraints) • A penalty term to penalize insufficient levels of service (soft constraints), such as pressures at nodes, imbalance of reservoir flows, or low/high velocity in pipes.

Optimization Issues Optimization methods, as presented so far, deal mostly with the pipe-sizing problem. This is a simplified approach to solving design and rehabilitation planning problems. The following sections discuss a number of key points related to the use of optimization methods. These include cost data implications, reliability and redundancy of designs, uncertainty, pipe sizing decisions influencing future development and demands, and treatment of pumps and reservoirs.

Section 8.11

Optimized Design and Rehabilitation Planning

Cost Data Implications. Cost data are often the most overlooked part of the design analysis. Depending on the problem being solved, there may be thousands of solutions that differ in cost by only one or two percent, yet the costs are only accurate to +/– 20 percent. This might seem like a fatal flaw in optimization, but the effects of this type of error are not dramatic as long as relative costs are consistent. For example, if a 24-in. (600 mm) pipe costs 10 percent more than a 20-in. (500 mm) pipe, even if the absolute costs are significantly in error, the larger pipe is still likely to be 10 percent more expensive than the smaller one. Therefore, optimization is good at selecting between different sizes along a given route. However, when optimization is used to compare different routes, the differences in cost are not caused simply by size but also factors such as excavation and paving conditions and right-of-way costs such that the uncertainty in comparing costs can lead to misleading solutions if all factors are not accurately considered. The effects of different paving costs can be much greater than the effects of diameter, and uncertainty in those costs can lead to a misleading “optimal” solution. The differences in cost-estimating procedures are most critical when one is comparing a traditional method, such as new pipe installation for which the engineer has relatively accurate data, with a more novel approach, such as directional drilling for which the engineer must rely on a very limited cost database and considerable uncertainty in construction difficulty. In this case, the optimization may be comparing a cost of $85,000 +/– $5,000 with $80,000 +/– $20,000. Some owners may prefer a higher cost alternative, which minimizes risk. There are, however, ways to use optimization to find efficient, robust designs that are adaptable to a range of “wait and see” strategies, with some economic efficiency or optimality traded in favor of adaptability and robustness (Watkins and McKinney, 1997). Multiobjective optimization provides methodologies for generating such tradeoffs and has been applied in water resources (Haimes and Allee, 1982) and water distribution design (Walski, Gessler, and Sjostrom, 1990; Halhal, Walters, Savic, and Ouazar, 1999; Dandy and Engelhardt, 2001). More about multiobjective optimization can be found on page 677 in Appendix D. In summary, the cost of pipe installation is not simply a function of length and diameter. The cost functions (cost versus diameter) used in any optimization must reflect the actual costs of the installed pipe. Using a single cost function, which does not account for differences in laying conditions, surface cover, and the need to acquire right-ofway and traffic control, will result in a misleading “optimal” solution. Reliability/Redundancy. Regardless of the optimization method, optimization reduces costs by reducing the diameter of pipes or by completely eliminating them. This tends to leave the system with barely sufficient capacity to meet the demands placed on it and no ability to respond to pipe breaks or demands that exceed design values without failing to achieve required performance levels. This consideration is extremely important but difficult to incorporate into design studies. Numerous researchers have sought methods to incorporate reliability and capacity considerations as summarized by Mays (1989) and Goulter et al. (2000). Methods usually involve forcing the closure of loops by fixing minimum diameters in pipes or evaluating solutions with key pipes out of service.

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As discussed previously, loops provide extra reliability only if there is adequate valving to isolate areas affected by pipe breaks and maintenance work. Each leg of a loop should be able to carry significant flow. A loop with a 24-in. pipe on one side and a 2in. pipe on the other is really not capable of providing sufficient flow if the 24-in. pipe should be out of service. Forcing adequate reliability while minimizing costs is especially difficult because no universally accepted quantifiable definition of water distribution system reliability exists. Failure can be defined in terms of length or number of service interruptions, number of customers interrupted, duration and magnitude of pressure shortfalls, or some combination thereof. Uncertainty in System Planning. The greatest source of uncertainty in system planning is the uncertainty of demand projections. In smaller systems, an economic downturn, the closing of a factory, the decision of an irrigator to switch to reclaimed water, the installation of a fire sprinkler system in a school, or the opening of a new dormitory at a school or cell block at a prison can make the most “optimal” plans incorrect. For large systems, although a single event may not impact demand projections, great uncertainty still exists with the projection of future demands. Erring on the conservative side by oversizing pipes can lead to higher capital costs as well as longer travel times through the system that can adversely impact the water quality. However, oversized pipes also mean that the system can deliver more fire flow and can provide extra capacity for future growth. Erring on the low side by undersizing pipes can result in low pressures, inadequate fire flows, and moratoriums on new construction. Both undersizing and oversizing pipes can have serious consequences, and every effort should be made to balance the risk against cost savings and benefits in the system. Accounting for uncertainty in demand forecasting makes pipe design a tradeoff between least-cost design and designs that maximize capacity. Optimization methods that allow the user to examine the tradeoff between capacity and cost are referred to as multiobjective optimization techniques (see page 370 and page 677) and have been applied in water resources (Haimes and Allee, 1982) and water distribution design (Walski, Gessler, and Sjostrom, 1990; Halhal, Walters, Savic, and Ouazar, 1999; Dandy and Engelhardt, 2001). Pipe Sizing Controlling Demands. Another factor that complicates optimal design is that optimization methods often assume that pipe sizing does not have a measurable effect on demands. That is, demands are considered as driving pipe sizing, and it is assumed that there is no feedback. In reality, however, the location of piping capacity significantly affects demand developments. Indeed, real estate developers are more likely to develop land parcels that are located near utilities with capacity to serve the planned development. For example, consider a town that is growing to its west along two main roads, Green Road and Red Road. If the water and wastewater utilities install large pipes along Green Road and nothing along Red Road, then development will occur much more rapidly along Green Road. The provision of water system capacity is essentially a “self-fulfilling prophecy,” and to some extent, the water utility’s pipe size and location decisions will be correct regardless of where it installs the pipelines.

Section 8.11

Optimized Design and Rehabilitation Planning

Treatment of Pumps and Reservoirs. The presence of pumps requires that both the design and the operation of the network should be considered in the optimization. This means that the cost of a solution must include not only the capital costs of pipes, pumps, and tanks but also the operating expenditure over a specified period, with all the costs expressed in equivalent present value (see Sections 8.9 and 10.8). The method developed by Savic, Walters, Randall-Smith, and Atkinson (2000) allows for the optimal selection of pumps for installation in new or upgraded pumping stations. Provision of new service reservoirs or expansion of existing ones can also be incorporated. Including service-reservoir storage requires simulation of the filling and emptying of the reservoirs through the daily (or even longer) cycle of demands, in addition to analysis of the instantaneous peak and emergency flows. Full simulation of the system’s response to the variations in demand over a day is currently too time-intensive for use in an optimal design program that requires evaluation of a very large number of designs. Hence, only a small number of representative periods of the day may be considered for the evaluation of the system performance during the optimization, with a full 24-hour simulation used to check the feasibility of the final designs. The use of the small number of steady-state spatial demand distributions (minimum averagehour and maximum average-hour demand or several others) rather than a full 24-hour simulation requires an approximate technique to be used for ensuring consistency between storage volumes, reservoir levels, and reservoir inflows and outflows. This is obviously a simplification of the problem and, as with any model, involves a tradeoff between realism and efficiency. In addition to introducing new variables (causing an increase in the dimensions of the problem), the treatment of reservoir and pump flows within optimization requires the algorithm to deal with not only discrete variables but also with a mixture of discrete and continuous variables. This introduces yet another difficulty in trying to find a global optimum. The modeling and solution of such optimization problems has not yet achieved the maturity of linear programming techniques; however, such problems have a rich area of application in design. Genetic algorithms and other adaptive search techniques (see Appendix D on page 643 for more information on these techniques) offer a potential solution to the problem.

Multiple Objectives and the Treatment of the Design Optimization Problem Like many real-world engineering design or decision-making problems, design of water distribution networks needs to achieve several objectives: minimize risks, maximize reliability, minimize deviations from desired (target) levels, maximize water quality, minimize cost (both capital and operational), and so on. The principle of multiobjective optimization is different from that of single-objective optimization. In the latter, the goal is to find the best solution, which corresponds to the minimum or maximum value of a single objective function that lumps all different objectives into one. In multi-objective optimization, the interaction among different objectives gives rise to a set of compromised solutions, largely known as the Pareto-optimal solutions. These solutions are also known as nondominated solutions — that is, there is no other

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solution which is better with respect to all objectives. In other words, in going from one solution to another in this Pareto-optimal set of alternatives, it is not possible to improve on one objective without making the other objective worse. (See page 678 for a definition of the Pareto-optimal set of solutions.) The consideration of many objectives in the design process provides three major improvements to optimization as a tool that directly supports the decision-making process (Cohon, 1978): • A wider range of alternatives is usually identified when a multiobjective methodology is employed. • Consideration of multiple objectives promotes more appropriate roles for the participants in the planning and decision-making processes; the modeler generates alternative solutions, and the decision-maker uses the solutions generated by the model. • Models of a problem are more realistic if many objectives are considered, because real design problems are almost inevitably multiobjective.

Multiobjective Decision-Making Least-cost optimization works by reducing pipe sizes and other infrastructure requirements. However, as additional infrastructure is added (such as larger pipes, larger tanks, more pumps, and so on), the benefits of a project in terms of capacity and ability to deal with uncertainty increase. The tradeoffs can be seen in Figure 8.38 (Walski, 2001), which illustrates that when the benefits of additional infrastructure are included in the optimization, the “best” decision moves from the least-cost decision to one that favors some excess capacity. Walski, Youshock, and Rhee (2000) showed that in a real study, decision-makers consistently favored more robust solutions over least-cost solutions, and the final decision hinged on much more than finding the least-cost combination of physical infrastructure improvements that meet the hydraulic constraints. Figure 8.38 Objective function for maximizing net benefits

Section 8.11

Optimized Design and Rehabilitation Planning

371

Evolutionary algorithms such as genetic algorithms make it very easy to investigate the tradeoffs involved in pipe sizing and other decisions because they evaluate the benefits at every trial, not just gradients. Calculating benefits and cost is usually a trivial step in an evaluation when compared with the computational time involved in solving the hydraulic equations. Thus, optimal cost-benefit tradeoff can be easily included in a GA optimization process (Wu et al., 2002). By quantifying the hydraulic benefit resulting from providing flow or pressure in excess of the absolute minimum required, the GA can determine the optimal capacity design by maximizing the benefit while meeting the hydraulic constraints and the budget available for a design. The problem is posed as one of “Given a fixed budget, how much capacity can we add?” The difficulty in multiobjective design is trying to quantify the benefits of an alternative. Usually, the flow that can be delivered to a number of nodes during fire events can be a good indicator of capacity. Similarly, the amount of pressure in excess of some minimum pressure at several indicator nodes can be used. Enumeration methods generate large numbers of solutions, many of which are “inferior.” That is, there is another solution that can give greater benefits at a lower cost. Enumeration techniques can discard these inferior solutions and save only the “noninferior” (or Pareto-optimal) solutions. These are the solutions the user is most likely to choose. Figure 8.39 shows typical results of a multiobjective analysis in terms of two objectives. The points in Figure 8.39 represent trial solutions, and the solid line represents a theoretical set of solutions that would hold true if discrete pipe sizes were not needed. Figure 8.39 Typical tradeoffs between capacity and cost

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Using multiobjective analysis, the decision-makers can better assess the tradeoffs between cost and capacity, and although they cannot identify a clear “best” solution, they have reasonable grounds to make decisions and know which decisions are poor. Halhal, Walters, Savic, and Ouazar (1997) developed two multiobjective optimization methods based respectively on a standard genetic algorithm and an improved, socalled structured messy, genetic algorithm. Both use the concept of Pareto-optimal selection (see page 677 for more information on multiobjective optimization) and were developed to find the best way to invest judiciously some or all of an available budget by providing a tradeoff curve between different objectives. The main objectives were to improve the carrying capacity of the water distribution system, the physical integrity of its pipes, the water quality, and the system flexibility. The structure of the problem studied was such that only a small subset of the design variables (pipeline upgrading options) would be selected in feasible solutions due to funding constraints. The progressive building up of solutions from simple elements developed for structured messy genetic algorithm (GA), combined with the multiobjective approach, which keeps a range of good solutions with varied costs throughout the process, proved very effective. Wu et al. (2002) advanced this with the user-friendly Darwin model, which enables the user to define a wide variety of fitness measures for trial solutions.

Using Optimization Using a water distribution optimization model is very similar to simulation models used in more traditional design analyses. Figure 8.40 illustrates the steps involved. Figure 8.40 A water distribution optimization model

References

REFERENCES Alperovits, E., and Shamir, U. (1977). “Design of Optimal Water Distribution Systems.” Water Resources Research, 13(6), 885. American Water Works Association (1989). “Installation, Field Testing, and Maintenance of Fire Hydrants.” AWWA Manual M-17, Denver, Colorado. American Water Works Association (1998). “Distribution System Requirements for Fire Protection.” AWWA Manual M-31, Denver, Colorado. Babbitt, H. E., and Doland, J. J. (1931). Water Supply Engineering. McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Camp, T. R. (1939). “Economic Pipe Sizes for Water Distribution Systems.” Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 104, 190. Cesario, A. L. (1995). Modeling, Analysis, and Design of Water Distribution Systems. AWWA, Denver, Colorado. Cohon, J. L. (1978). Multiobjective Programming and Planning. Academic Press, New York, New York. Cunha M. D., and Sousa, J. (1999). “Water Distribution Network Design Optimization: Simulated Annealing Approach.” Journal Of Water Resources Planning And Management, ASCE, 125(4), 215. Dandy, G. C., and Engelhardt. (2001). “Optimum Rehabilitation of a Water Distribution System Considering Cost and Reliability.” Proceedings of the World Water and Environmental Resources Congress, Orlando, Florida. Dandy, G. C., Simpson, A. R., and Murphy, L. J. (1996). “An Improved Genetic Algorithm for Pipe Network Optimization.” Water Resources Research, 32(2), 449. Duan, N., Mays, L. W., and Lansey, K. E. (1990). “Optimal Reliability-Based Design of Pumping and Distribution Systems.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 116(2), 249. El-Bahrawy, A., and Smith, A. A. (1985). “Application of MINOS to Water Collection and Distribution Networks.” Civil Engineering Systems, 2(1), 38. Fujiwara, O., and Khang, D. B. (1990). “A Two-Phase Decomposition Method for Optimal Design of Looped Water Distribution Networks.” Water Resources Research, 26(4), 539. Gessler, J. (1985). “Pipe Network Optimization by Enumeration.” Proceedings of the Specialty Conference on Computer Applications in Water Resources, American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, New York. Goldberg, D. E., Korb, B., and Deb, K. (1989). “Messy genetic algorithms: Motivation, analysis, and first results.” Complex Systems, 3, 493. Goulter, I. C., and Morgan, D. R. (1985). “An Integrated Approach to the Layout and Design of Water Distribution Networks.” Civil Engineering Systems, 2(2), 104. Goulter, I. C., Walski, T. M., Mays, L. W., Sekarya, A. B. A., Bouchart, R., and Tung, Y. K. (2000). “Reliability Analysis for Design.” Water Distribution Handbook, Mays, L. W., ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Grayman, W. M., and Kirmeyer, G. J. (2000). “Water Quality in Storage.” Water Distribution Handbook, Mays, L. W., ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Grayman, W. M., Rossman, L. A., Arnold, C., Deininger, R. A., Smith, C., Smith, J. F., and Schnipke, R. (2000). Water Quality Modeling of Distribution System Storage Facilities. AWWA and AWWA Research Foundation, Denver, Colorado. Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River Board of State Public Health & Environmental Managers (GLUMB) (1992). Recommended Standards for Water Works. Albany, New York. Haestad Methods, Inc. (2002). “Interview with Dr. Ezio Todini: GGA Inventor,” ClienCare Newsletter, Mar/Apr 2002.

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Haimes, Y. Y., and Allee, D. J. (1982). Multiobjective Analysis in Water Resources. American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, New York. Halhal, D., Walters, G. A., Savic, D. A., and Ouazar, D. (1999). “Scheduling of Water Distribution System Rehabilitation using Structured Messy Genetic Algorithms.” Evolutionary Computation, 7(3), 311. Hydraulic Institute (1979). Engineering Data Book. Hydraulic Institute, Cleveland, Ohio. Jacobsen, Dishari, Murphy, and Frey (1998). "Las Vegas Valley Water District Plans For Expansion Improvements Using Genetic Algorithm Optimization." Proceedings of the AWWA Information Management and Technology Conference, American Water Works Association, Reno, Nevada. Lansey, K. E. (2000). “Optimal Design of Water Distribution Systems.” Water Distribution Systems Handbook, Mays, L. W., ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Maier, H. R., Simpson, A. R., Foong, W. K., Phang, K. Y., Seah, H. Y., and Tan, C. L. (2001). “Ant Colony Optimization for the Design of Water Distribution Systems.” Proceedings of the World Water and Environmental Resources Congress, Phelps, D., and Sehlke, G., eds., Orlando, Florida. Mays, L. W., ed. (1989). Reliability Analysis of Water Distribution Systems. ASCE Task Committee on Risk and Reliability Analysis, New York, New York. Murphy, L. J., Dandy, G. C., and Simpson, A. R. (1994). “Optimal Design and Operation of Pumped Water Distribution Systems.” Proceedings of the Conference on Hydraulics in Civil Engineering, Australian Institute of Engineers, Brisbane, Australia. Murphy, L. J., and Simpson, A. R. (1992). “Genetic Algorithms in Pipe Network Optimization.” Research Report No. R93, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Adelaide, Australia. Okita, N., and Oyama, Y. (1963). “Mixing Characteristics in Jet Mixing.” Japanese Chemical Engineering, 1(1):94-101. Savic, D. A., and Walters G. A. (1997). “Genetic Algorithms for Least-Cost Design of Water Distribution Networks.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 123(2), 67. Savic, D. A., Walters, G. A., Randall-Smith, M., and Atkinson, R. M. (2000). “Large Water Distribution Systems Design Through Genetic Algorithm Optimisation.” Proceedings of the ASCE Joint Conference on Water Resources Engineering and Water Resources Planning and Management, American Society of Civil Engineers, Hotchkiss, R. H., and Glade, M., eds., proceedings published on CD, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Schaake, J. C., and Lai, D. (1969). “Linear Programming and Dynamic Programming Applied to Water Distribution Network Design.” MIT Hydrodynamics Lab Report 116, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Tchobanoglous, G. (1998). “Theory of Centrifugal Pumps.” Pumping Station Design, Sanks, R.L., ed., Butterworth, Boston, Massachusetts. Wagner, J., Shamir, U., and Marks, D. (1988a). “Water Distribution System Reliability: Analytical Methods.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 114(2), 253. Wagner, J., Shamir, U., and Marks, D. (1988b). “Water Distribution System Reliability: Simulation Methods.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 114(2), 276. Walski, T. M. (1983). “Energy Efficiency through Pipe Design.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 75(10), 492. Walski, T. M. (1984). Analysis of Water Distribution Systems. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, New York. Walski, T. M. (1985). “State-of-the-Art: Pipe Network Optimization.” Computer Applications in Water Resources, Torno, H., ed., ASCE, New York, New York. Walski, T. M. (1993). “Practical Aspects of Providing Reliability in Water Distribution Systems.” Reliability Engineering and Systems Safety, Elsevier, 42(1), 13.

References

Walski, T. M. (1995). “Optimization and Pipe Sizing Decisions.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 121(4), 340. Walski, T. M. (2000). “Water Distribution Storage Tank Hydraulic Design.” Water Distribution Handbook, Mays, L. W., ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, New York. Walski, T. M. (2001). “The Wrong Paradigm—Why Water Distribution Optimization Doesn’t Work.” Accepted for Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 127(2), 203. Walski, T. M., Brill, E. D., Gessler, J., Goulter, I. C., Jeppson, R. M., Lansey, K., Lee, H. L., Liebman, J. C., Mays, L. W., Morgan, D. R., and Ormsbee, L. E. (1987). “Battle of the Network Models: Epilogue.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 113(2), 191. Walski, T. M., Gessler, J., and Sjostrom, J. S. (1990). Water Distribution Systems: Simulation and Sizing. Lewis Publishers, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Walski, T. M., and Ormsbee, L. (1989). “Developing System Head Curves for Water Distribution Pumping.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 81(7), 63. Walski, T. M., Youshock, M., and Rhee, H. (2000). “Use of Modeling in Decision Making for Water Distribution Master Planning.” Proceedings of the ASCE EWRI Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Walters, G. (1998). “Optimal Design of Pipe Networks: A Review.” Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Methods and Water Resources in Africa, Computational Mechanics Publications, Springer Verlag. Walters, G. A., Halhal, D., Savic, D., and Ouazar, D. (1999). “Improved Design of ‘Anytown’ Distribution Network Using Structured Messy Genetic Algorithms.” Urban Water, 1(1), 23. Watkins, D.W. Jr., and McKinney, D. C. (1997). “Finding Robust Solutions to Water Resources Problems.” Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, ASCE, 123(1), 49. Wu, Z. Y., Boulos, P. F., Orr, C. H., and Ro, J. J. (2001). “Rehabilitation of Water Distribution System Using Genetic Algorithms.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 93(11), 74. Wu, Z. Y, Walski, T. M., Mankowski, R., Tryby, M., Herrin, G., and Hartell, W. (2002). “Optimal Capacity of Water Distribution Systems.” Proceedings of the 1st Annual Enviromental and Water Resources Systems Analysis (EWRSA) Symposium, Roanoke, Virginia. Yates, D. F., Templeman, A. B., and Boffey, T. B. (1984). “The Computational Complexity of the Problem of Determining Least Capital Cost Designs for Water Supply Networks.” Engineering Optimization, 7(2), 142.

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DISCUSSION TOPICS AND PROBLEMS Read the chapter and complete the problems. Submit your work to Haestad Methods and earn up to 11.0 CEUs. See Continuing Education Units on page xxix for more information, or visit www.haestad.com/awdm-ceus/.

8.1 English Units: For the system in the figure, find the available fire flow at node J-7 if the minimum allowable residual pressure at this node is 20 psi. Assume that pumps P1 and P2 are operating and that pump P3 is off. (This network is also given in Prob8-01.wcd.) Hint: Connect a constant-head (reservoir) node to junction node J-7 with a short, large-diameter pipe. Set the HGL of the constant-head node to the elevation of node J-7 plus the required residual pressure head, and examine the rate at which water flows into it.

N

Clearwell P3-Suc P1-Suc

P1

P2-Suc P2

Main Pump Station

P3 P2-Dis P3 -Dis J-1

P-11

P1 -Dis

P-1

J-3

P-2

J-8

P-9

J-7

J-2 P-8 P-10

P-3

Industrial Park

P-6 P-4

J-4

J-5

J-6

P-7

P-5 West Side Tank

Node Label

Elevation (ft)

Demand (gpm)

Clearwell

630

N/A

West Side Tank

915

N/A

J-1

730

J-2

755

125

J-3

765

50

J-4

775

25

J-5

770

30

J-6

790

220

J-7

810

80

J-8

795

320

P1

627

N/A

P2

627

N/A

P3

627

N/A

Discussion Topics and Problems

Pipe Label

Length (ft)

Diameter (in.)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

P1-Suc

50

18

115

P1-Dis

120

16

115

P2-Suc

50

18

115

P2-Dis

120

16

115

P3-Suc

50

18

115

P3-Dis

120

16

115

P-1

2,350

12

110

P-2

1,500

6

105

P-3

1,240

6

105

P-4

1,625

12

110

P-5

225

10

110

P-6

1,500

12

110

P-7

4,230

6

105

P-8

3,350

6

105

P-9

2,500

6

105

P-10

2,550

6

105

P-11

3,300

4

85

Pump Curve Data P1

P2

P3

Head (ft)

Flow (gpm)

Head (ft)

Flow (gpm)

Head (ft)

Flow (gpm)

Shutoff

305

305

305

Design

295

450

295

450

295

450

Max Operating

260

650

260

650

260

650

a) Which node has the lowest pressure under the fire flow condition? b) Is the available fire flow at node J-7 sufficient for the industrial park? c) If the available fire flow is insufficient, what are the reasons for the low available fire flow? d) Analyze alternatives for improving the available fire flow to node J-7.

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SI Units: For the system in the figure, find the available fire flow at node J-7 if the minimum allowable residual pressure at this node is 138 kPa. Assume that pumps P1 and P2 are operating and that pump P3 is off. (This network is also given in Prob8-01m.wcd.) Hint: Connect a constant-head (reservoir) node to junction node J-7 with a short, large-diameter pipe. Set the HGL of the constant-head node to the elevation of node J-7 plus the required residual pressure head, and examine the rate at which water flows into it. Pipe Label

Length (m)

Diameter (mm)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

P1-Suc

15.2

457

115

P1-Dis

36.6

406

115

P2-Suc

15.2

457

115

P2-Dis

36.3

406

115

P3-Suc

15.2

457

115

P3-Dis

36.6

406

115

P-1

716.3

305

110

P-2

457.2

152

105

P-3

378.0

152

105

P-4

495.3

305

110

P-5

68.6

254

110

P-6

457.2

305

110

P-7

1,289.3

152

105

P-8

1,021.1

152

105

P-9

762.0

152

105

P-10

777.2

152

105

P-11

1,005.8

102

85

Node Label

Elevation (m)

Demand (l/s)

Clearwell

192.0

N/A

West Side Tank

278.9

N/A

J-1

222.5

J-2

230.1

7.9

J-3

233.2

3.2

J-4

236.2

1.6

J-5

234.7

1.9

J-6

240.8

13.9

J-7

246.9

5.0

J-8

242.3

20.2

P1

191

N/A

P2

191

N/A

P3

191

N/A

Discussion Topics and Problems

Pump Curve Data P1

P2

P3

Head (m)

Flow (l/s)

Head (m)

Flow (l/s)

Head (m)

Flow (l/s)

Shutoff

93.0

93.0

93.0

Design

89.9

28.4

89.9

28.4

89.9

28.4

Max Operating

79.2

41.0

79.2

41.0

79.2

41.0

a) Which node has the lowest pressure under the fire flow condition? b) Is the available fire flow at node J-7 sufficient for the industrial park? c) If the available fire flow is insufficient, what are the reasons for the low available fire flow? d) Analyze alternatives for improving the available fire flow to node J-7.

8.2 English Units: A disadvantage associated with branched water systems, such as the one given in Problem 3.3, is that more customers can be out of service during a main break. Improve the reliability of this system by adding the pipelines in the following table. (This network can also be found in Prob8-02.wcd.) Pipe Label

Start Node

End Node

Length (ft)

Diameter (in.)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

P-20

J-1

J-8

11,230

12

130

P-21

J-2

J-4

3,850

8

130

P-22

J-5

J-7

1,500

8

130

P-23

J-11

J-10

680

6

130

a) Complete the tables below for the new looped system. Pipe Label P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 P-6 P-7 P-8 P-9 P-10 P-11 P-12

Flow (gpm)

Hydraulic Gradient (ft/1000 ft)

379

380

Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

Node Label

HGL (ft)

Chapter 8

Pressure (psi)

J-1 J-2 J-3 J-4 J-5 J-6 J-7 J-8 J-9 J-10 J-11 J-12 b) You can simulate a main break by closing a pipeline. Complete the tables below for the looped system if pipe P-3 is closed. Pipe Label

Flow (gpm)

Hydraulic Gradient (ft/1000 ft)

HGL (ft)

Pressure (psi)

P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 P-6 P-7 P-8 P-9 P-10 P-11 P-12

Node Label J-1 J-2 J-3 J-4 J-5 J-6 J-7 J-8 J-9 J-10 J-11 J-12

Discussion Topics and Problems

SI Units: A disadvantage associated with branched water systems, such as the one given in Problem 3.3, is that more customers can be out of service during a main break. Improve the reliability of this system by adding the pipelines in the table below. (This network can also be found in Prob802m.wcd.) Pipe Label

Start Node

End Node

Length (m)

Diameter (mm)

Hazen-Williams C-Factor

P-20

J-1

J-8

3422.9

305

130

P-21

J-2

J-4

1173.5

203

130

P-22

J-5

J-7

457.2

203

130

P-23

J-11

J-10

207.3

152

130

a) Complete the tables below for the new looped system. Pipe Label

Flow (l/s)

Hydraulic Gradient (m/km)

HGL (m)

Pressure (kPa)

P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 P-6 P-7 P-8 P-9 P-10 P-11 P-12

Node Label J-1 J-2 J-3 J-4 J-5 J-6 J-7 J-8 J-9 J-10 J-11 J-12

381

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Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

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b) You can simulate a main break by closing a pipeline. Complete the tables below for the looped system if pipe P-3 is closed. Pipe Label

Flow (l/s)

Hydraulic Gradient (m/km)

HGL (m)

Pressure (kPa)

P-1 P-2 P-3 P-4 P-5 P-6 P-7 P-8 P-9 P-10 P-11 P-12

Node Label J-1 J-2 J-3 J-4 J-5 J-6 J-7 J-8 J-9 J-10 J-11 J-12

8.3 Analyze the following changes to the hydraulic network for the system shown in Problem 4.3. a) Increase the diameters of pipes P-16, P-17, and P-19 from 6 in. to 8 in. Are head losses in these lines significantly reduced? Why or why not? b) Increase the head of the High Field pump to 120 percent of current head. Is this head increase sufficient to overcome the head produced by the Newtown pump? What is the discharge of the High Field pump station? c) Decrease the water surface elevation of the Central Tank by 30 ft. Recall that the tank is modeled as a reservoir for the steady-state condition. How does the overall system respond to this change? Is the High Field pump station operating? Is the pump operating efficiently? Why or why not?

Discussion Topics and Problems

8.4 English Units: Analyze each of the following conditions for the hydraulic network given in Problem 4.2 (see page 174). Use the data provided in Problem 4.2 as the base condition for each of the scenarios in the following list. Complete the table for these scenarios. a) Increase the demand at nodes J-7, J-8, J-9, and J-10 to 175 percent of base demands. b) Increase the demand at node J-6 to 300 gpm. c) Change the diameter of all 6-in. pipes to 8 in. d) Decrease the HGL in the West Carrolton Tank by 15 ft. e) Increase the demands at nodes J-7, J-8, J-9, and J-10 to 175% of base demands, and change the diameter of all 6-in. pipes to 8 in. f) Decrease the HGL in the West Carrolton Tank by 15 ft and increase the demand at node J-6 to 300 gpm. g) Increase the demands at nodes J-7, J-8, J-9, and J-10 to 175 percent of base demands, change the diameter of all 6-in. pipes to 8 in., and drop the HGL in the West Carrolton Tank by 15 ft.

Scenario

Time (hr)

Part (a)

Midnight

Part (b)

2:00 am

Part (c)

7:00 pm

Part (d)

Noon

Part (e)

6:00 am

Part (f)

9:00 pm

Part (g)

Midnight

Pump Discharge (gpm)

Pressure at J-1 (psi)

Pressure at J-3 (psi)

Miamisburg Tank Discharge (gpm)

SI Units: Analyze each of the following conditions for the hydraulic network given in Problem 4.2 (see page 174). Use the data provided in Problem 4.2 as the base condition for each of the scenarios listed below. Complete the table for each of the scenarios presented. a) Increase the demand at nodes J-7, J-8, J-9, and J-10 to 175 percent of base demands. b) Increase the demand at node J-6 to 18.9 l/s. c) Change the diameter of all 152-mm pipes to 203 mm. d) Decrease the HGL in the West Carrolton Tank by 4.6 m. e) Increase the demands at nodes J-7, J-8, J-9, and J-10 to 175 % of base demands, and change the diameter of all 152-mm pipes to 203 mm. f) Decrease the HGL in the West Carrolton Tank by 4.6 m and increase the demand at node J-6 to 18.9 l/s. g) Increase the demands at nodes J-7, J-8, J-9, and J-10 by 175%, change the diameter of all 152mm pipes to 203 mm, and drop the HGL in the West Carrolton Tank by 4.6 m.

383

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Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

Scenario

Time (hr)

Part (a)

Midnight

Part (b)

2:00 am

Part (c)

7:00 pm

Part (d)

Noon

Part (e)

6:00 am

Part (f)

9:00 pm

Part (g)

Midnight

Pump Discharge (l/s)

Chapter 8

Pressure at J-1 (kPa)

Pressure at J-3 (kPa)

Miamisburg Tank Discharge (l/s)

8.5 English Units: Determine the available fire flows at node J-8 for each of the conditions presented below. Assume that the minimum system pressure under fire flow conditions is 20 psi. Use the system illustrated in Problem 8.1. a) Only pump P1 running. b) Pumps P1 and P2 running. c) Pumps P1, P2, and P3 running. d) The HGL in the West Side Tank increased to 930 ft and pumps P1 and P2 running. e) Pipe P-11 replaced with a new 12-in. ductile iron line (C=120) and pumps P1 and P2 running. f) Pipe P-11 replaced with a new 12-in. ductile iron line (C=120) and all pumps running. Scenario

Available Fire Flow at Node J-8 (gpm)

Part (a) Part (b) Part (c) Part (d) Part (e) Part (f) SI Units: Determine the available fire flows at node J-8 for each of the conditions presented below. Assume that the minimum system pressure under fire flow conditions is 138 kPa. Use the system illustrated in Problem 8.1. a) Only pump P1 running. b) Pumps P1 and P2 running. c) Pumps P1, P2, and P3 running. d) The HGL in the West Side Tank increased to 283.5 m and pumps P1 and P2 running. e) Pipe P-11 replaced with a new 305-mm ductile iron line (C=120) and pumps P1 and P2 running. f) Pipe P-11 replaced with a new 305-mm ductile iron line (C=120) and all pumps running .

Discussion Topics and Problems

Available Fire Flow at Node J-8 (l/s)

Scenario Part (a) Part (b) Part (c) Part (d) Part (e) Part (f)

8.6 English Units: A new subdivision is to tie in near node J-10 of the existing system shown in the figure. Use the information from the data tables below to construct a model of the existing system, or open the file Prob8-06.wcd. Answer the questions that follow.

J-9

Crystal Lake

P -16

P -14

Suction Discharge

J-1

J-8 P -12

P -1

J-7 P -13

P -11 J-2

J-3 P -3 P -4

P -6

P -5

West Carrolton Tank P -10

P -2 Miamisburg Tank

J-10

P -15

J-6 P -9

P -8

J-4

J-5 P -7 (Not To Scale)

385

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Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

Chapter 8

Pipe Label

Diameter (in.)

Length (ft)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

Discharge

21

220

120

Suction

24

25

120

P-1

6

1,250

110

P-2

6

835

110

P-3

8

550

130

P-4

6

1,010

110

P-5

8

425

130

P-6

8

990

125

P-7

8

2,100

105

P-8

6

560

110

P-9

8

745

100

P-10

10

1,100

115

P-11

8

1,330

110

P-12

10

890

115

P-13

10

825

115

P-14

6

450

120

P-15

6

690

120

P-16

6

500

120

Node Label

Elevation (ft)

Demand (gpm)

J-1

390

120

J-2

420

75

J-3

425

35

J-4

430

50

J-5

450

J-6

445

155

J-7

420

65

J-8

415

J-9

420

55

J-10

420

20

Tank Label

Minimum Elevation (ft)

Initial Elevation (ft)

Maximum Elevation (ft)

Tank Diameter (ft)

Miamisburg Tank

535

550

570

50

West Carrolton Tank

525

545

565

36

Reservoir Label

Elevation (ft)

Crystal Lake

320

Discussion Topics and Problems

Pump Curve Data

Pump Label

Shutoff Head (ft)

Design Head (ft)

Design Discharge (gpm)

Maximum Operating Head (ft)

Maximum Operating Discharge (gpm)

PMP-1

245

230

1,100

210

1,600

a) Determine the fire flow that can be delivered to node J-10 with a 20 psi residual. b) Given the range of possible water level elevations in West Carrolton Tank, what is the approximate acceptable elevation range for nearby customers to ensure adequate pressures under normal (nonfire) demand conditions? c) What can be done for customers that may be above this range? d) What can be done for customers that may be below this range? SI Units: A new subdivision is to tie in near node J-10 of the existing system shown in the figure. Use the information from the data tables below to construct a model of the existing system, or open the file Prob8-06m.wcd. Pipe Label

Diameter (mm)

Length (m)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

Discharge

533

67.1

120

Suction

610

7.6

120

P-1

152

381.0

110

P-2

152

254.5

110

P-3

203

167.6

130

P-4

152

307.9

110

P-5

203

129.5

130

P-6

203

301.8

125

P-7

203

640.1

105

P-8

152

170.7

110

P-9

203

227.1

100

P-10

254

335.3

115

P-11

203

405.4

110

P-12

254

271.3

115

P-13

254

251.5

115

P-14

152

137.2

120

P-15

152

210.3

120

P-16

152

152.4

120

387

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Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

Chapter 8

Node Label

Elevation (m)

Demand (l/s)

J-1

118.9

7.6

J-2

128.0

4.7

J-3

129.5

2.2

J-4

131.1

3.2

J-5

137.2

0.0

J-6

135.6

9.8

J-7

128.0

4.1

J-8

126.5

0.0

J-9

128.0

3.5

J-10

128.0

1.3

Tank Label

Maximum Elevation (m)

Initial Elevation (m)

Minimum Elevation (m)

Tank Diameter (m)

Miamisburg Tank

173.7

167.6

163.1

15.2

West Carrolton Tank

172.2

166.1

160.0

11.0

Reservoir Label

Elevation (m)

Crystal Lake

97.5

Pump Curve Data

Pump Label

Shutoff Head (m)

Design Head (m)

Design Discharge (l/s)

Maximum Operating Head (m)

Maximum Operating Discharge (l/s)

PMP-1

74.7

70.1

69.4

64.0

100.9

a) Determine the fire flow that can be delivered to node J-10 with a 138 kPa residual. b) Given the range of possible water level elevations in West Carrolton Tank, what is the approximate acceptable elevation range for nearby customers to ensure adequate pressures under normal (non-fire) demand conditions? c) What can be done for customers that may be above this range? d) What can be done for customers that may be below this range?

Discussion Topics and Problems

8.7 A distribution system for a proposed subdivision is shown in the figure. Construct a model of the system using the data tables provided, or the file Prob8-07.wcd. This system will tie into an existing water main at node J-10. The water main hydrant flow test values measured at node J-10 are given below. Flow was directed out of a 2 ½-in. nozzle having a discharge coefficient of 0.9. Fire Hydrant Number

Static Pressure (psi)

Residual Pressure (psi)

Pitot Pressure (psi)

2139

74

60

20

J -100

P -105

J -200

P -100

J -10

P -15

P -115

J -210

P -110

P -10

J -20

J -110

P -200

P -25

J -120

P -210

P -125

J -220

P -120 P -220 P -35

J -130 P -130 J -140

P -135

J -230

Determine if the new subdivision will have adequate pressures for a 750 gpm fire flow at each node. All pipes are new PVC with a Hazen-Williams C-factor of 150. Model the existing system as a reservoir followed by a pump, with the elevation of the reservoir and the pump set to the elevation of the connecting node J-10. Use the results of the hydrant flow test as described on page 329 to generate a pump head curve for this equivalent pseudopump. Node Label

Elevation (ft)

Demand (gpm)

J-10

390

20

J-20

420

20

J-100

420

20

J-110

415

20

J-120

425

20

J-130

430

20

J-140

450

20

J-200

420

20

J-210

425

20

J-220

445

20

J-230

460

20

389

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Using Models for Water Distribution System Design

Chapter 8

Pipe Label

Diameter (in.)

Length (ft)

P-10

6

625.0

P-15

6

445.0

P-25

6

417.5

P-35

6

505.0

P-100

6

250.0

P-105

6

345.0

P-110

6

665.0

P-115

6

412.5

P-120

6

275.0

P-125

6

372.5

P-130

6

212.5

P-135

6

596.5

P-200

6

225.0

P-210

6

550.0

P-220

6

453.5

8.8 Given the two existing systems 2,000 ft apart shown in the figure, develop a system head curve to pump from a ground tank in the lower, larger system to the smaller, higher system. The pump will be placed between the “Suction Node” and “Discharge Node” as shown in the network diagram. Develop additional system head curves for water levels in the discharge tank of 1,170 ft and 1,130 ft.

J -5

P -25

J -6

P -65

J -11

Discharge Node Suction Node

P-35

P-20

Main 10

Supply

P-60

J -7 J -1 Suction Tank

P-10 J -13

J -10

P-90

P-55

P-40

P-85

Most of upper system P -45

J -14

Discharge Tank Main 30

Main 25

Main 20

Main 15

J -12 P-80

J -8

J -9

Discussion Topics and Problems

Pipe Label

Diameter (in.)

Length (ft)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

Main10

12

2,000

130

Main15

12

5,878

130

Main20

12

3,613

130

Main25

12

2,670

130

Main30

12

3,926

130

P-10

12

29

130

P-20

6

3,514

130

P-25

6

4,988

130

P-35

6

2,224

130

P-40

6

3,276

130

P-45

6

3,198

130

P-55

6

3,363

130

P-60

6

2,345

130

P-65

6

23

130

P-80

6

1,885

130

P-85

6

3,475

130

P-90

6

6,283

130

Supply

12

60

130

Node Label

Elevation (ft)

Demand (gpm)

Suction Node

995

N/A

Discharge Node

995

N/A

J-1

1,082

10

J-5

1,095

10

J-6

1,100

10

J-7

1,098

10

J-8

1,098

10

J-9

1,112

10

J-10

1,115

10

J-11

1,077

10

J-12

1,124

10

J-13

1,122

10

J-14

1,075

10

Most of upper system

1,150

700

Tank Label

Elevation (ft)

Suction Tank

1,000

Discharge Tank

1,130

391

C H A P T E R

9 Modeling Customer Systems

Most water distribution system modeling is done by or for water utilities. In some instances, there are entire water systems that are served by other water utilities through wholesale agreements, such that the water source is actually the neighboring system. This type of situation is shown in Figure 9.1 where the source water utility delivers to an adjacent customer water utility through a meter and a backflow preventer. Some examples are military bases, prisons, university campuses, and major industries. These systems can include domestic water use, industrial process water, cooling water, irrigation water use, and fire protection systems. Most water system design work is the same within a customer’s system as it is within the water utility’s system. Figure 9.1 Source

Meter

Water

M

Utility

Backflow Preventer

Customer Water System

There are several principal differences between working for a customer water system and a utility system. When working for a customer water system, the designer does not control the source of water, and therefore must model back into the utility system. More information regarding the extent to which the water utility’s system must be modeled can be found in Chapter 8 (see page 326). In addition, the designer must account for head losses in meters and backflow preventers in the customer water system, which are usually not an issue for the utility engineer.

Customer water system using utility's system as a water source

394

Modeling Customer Systems

9.1

Chapter 9

MODELING WATER METERS

A customer’s water meter is usually a positive displacement technology meter used on lines sized from 5/8 in. to 2 in., or a turbine technology meter (shown in Figure 9.2) for lines sized 1-1/2 in. to 20 in. For some applications in which the flow rate varies greatly, a compound meter is used. This meter houses a positive displacement element for the low flows and a turbine meter element for the high flows. Figure 9.2 Turbine meter

6-in. (DN 150-mm) Cold Water Recordall ® Turbo Series Meter courtesy of Badger Meter Inc.

A single register meter can be represented in the model as a minor loss or an equivalent pipe; however, most meter manufacturers do not provide a minor loss coefficient (KL) for use in modeling. Instead, they provide a curve relating pressure drop to flow rate, as shown in Figure 9.3. The designer must calculate the KL by finding the flow and pressure drop for a point on the curve, and then substituting those values into the Equation 9.1. A point at the high end of the flow range is usually chosen. 4

K L = C f ∆PD ⁄ Q

where

2

(9.1)

KL = minor loss coefficient ∆ P = pressure drop (psi, kPa)

D = diameter of equivalent pipe (in., m) Q = discharge (gpm, m3/s) Cf = unit conversion factor (880 English, 1.22 SI) Once KL is determined for a given type of meter, it can be applied to different size meters of similar geometry. Table 9.1 lists some typical KL values for several types of meters in representative sizes. AWWA M-22 (1975) discusses meter sizing.

Section 9.1

Modeling Water Meters

395

Figure 9.3 Typical manufacturer water meter head loss curve

Courtesy of Hersey Products, Inc.

Table 9.1 Minor loss KL values for various meter types Type of Meter

Size (in.)

Minor Loss KL

Displacement Meter

5/8

4.4

2

8.3

6

17.2

Turbine

Compound

Fire Service Turbine

Multijet

1.5

6.7

4

9.4

12

14.9

2

3.9

4

18.1

10

33.5

3

4.1

6

4.1

10

4.3

5/8

5.1

1

5.3

2

12.6

In the case of a compound meter, a single KL value does not adequately describe the pressure drop versus flow relationship. When modeling high-flow conditions, the larger meter is in operation, and the diameter and KL value for the larger meter are used. When an accuracy of 2 to 3 psi (13.7 to 20.6 kPa) is required for lower flow runs, the data for the smaller meter should be used instead. For example, when running simulations to look at tank cycling, pump operation, or energy consumption, the flow would typically be passing through the smaller meter. During a fire flow condi-

396

Modeling Customer Systems

Chapter 9

tion, the larger meter is active and should be used in the model so that head loss is not overestimated. If accuracy over the full range of flows is necessary, the compound meter can be modeled as two parallel equivalent pipes using the appropriate sizes and KL values. In the model, the pipe representing the smaller meter will always be open. For a steady-state run, the designer must specify whether the larger meter is also open. For an EPS run, the pipe representing the meter can be opened or closed based on the flow rate through the pipe immediately upstream, or based upon the head loss across the small meter. For example, the controls could specify, “If the flow rate is greater than 30 gpm (0.002 m3/s), or if the head loss is greater than 10 ft (3 m), then open the larger meter.” Figure 9.4 shows an approximation of an actual compound meter head loss curve, and Figure 9.5 shows how that meter can be represented in the model. An alternative approach to modeling compound meters is to use the generalized head loss versus flow curve definition capability available with some simulation software. Figure 9.4 Approximation of compound meter head loss curve

12

Pressure Drop, psi

10

8 1-in. meter alone

6 4 X 1 Compound Meter

4

2

4-in. meter alone

0 0

100

200

Figure 9.5 Model representation of compound meter

4 in. Equivalent Pipe

1 in. Equivalent Pipe

300 Flow, gpm

400

500

600

Section 9.2

9.2

Backflow Preventers

397

BACKFLOW PREVENTERS

A utility-approved backflow prevention assembly (shown in Figure 9.6) is typically required for large customers to prevent cross-connections (AWWA M-14, 1990). The distinguishing feature of backflow preventers is that they require a fairly large pressure drop across the valve before they even begin to open. Consequently, the head loss through the device can be more significant, especially at low flow, than pipe friction losses in the service line or minor losses through meters. Figure 9.6 Backflow preventer

Courtesy of CMB Industries, Inc.

A typical pressure drop curve for a reduced pressure backflow preventer or a double check backflow preventer is shown in Figure 9.7. Because of the significant drop in HGL required to open the valve, modeling backflow preventers is more complex than inserting a check valve on an equivalent pipe with an additional minor loss. There are several ways to model a backflow preventer. Figure 9.7 Pressure drop curve for reduced pressure backflow preventer

Courtesy of Hersey Products, Inc.

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Modeling Customer Systems

Chapter 9

The backflow preventer can be modeled as a pressure breaker valve with a head loss of Pmin in series with an equivalent pipe that has a check valve and a minor loss coefficient (see Figure 9.8). The minor loss coefficient is determined from the initial pressure drop plus a single representative point (Q, P) on the valve curve using the following equation: 4

k = C f ( P – Pmin )D ⁄ Q

where

2

(9.2)

k = minor loss coefficient P = pressure at representative point on curve (psi, kPa) Pmin = minimum pressure drop through backflow preventer (psi, kPa) D = diameter of valve (in., m) Q = discharge at representative point on curve (gpm, m3/s) Cf = unit conversion factor (880 English, 1.22 SI)

The value of Pmin is the point where the pressure drop curve intersects the vertical axis. The model approximation of the backflow preventer is shown in Figure 9.9. Backflow preventers with head loss curves that are difficult to approximate can be modeled using generalized user-defined head loss versus flow relationships. Some models enable the user to insert generalized valves for which the user can enter points describing the relationship between head loss and flow. This feature works best when the head loss versus flow relationship is strictly increasing (that is, no dips). Figure 9.8 Model network representation of backflow preventer

Pipe with Check Valve and Minor Loss 'K'

Inlet Node

9.3

Pressure Breaker Valve

Outlet Node

REPRESENTING THE UTILITY’S PORTION OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

As was the case with an ordinary extension to the distribution system, the model of a customer’s system cannot simply start at an arbitrary point in the distribution system serving it. Unless the impact of the customer’s load on the utility’s system is negligible, the head loss from the source, tank, or pump station that controls pressure must be accounted for.

Section 9.4

Customer Demands

399

Figure 9.9 Model approximation of head loss for backflow preventer

25.00 Model

20.00

Pressure Drop, psi

Actual

15.00

10.00

5.00

0.00 0

200

400

600

800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 2,000 Flow, gpm

The best way to model the connection depends on the relative size of the customer’s system compared to the size of the utility’s system in the pressure zone providing service. If the customer uses half of the water in the source utility’s system, and causes half of the head loss, then it is important to model the utility’s system back to a reasonably known source. On the other hand, if the customer’s system represents a negligible percent of the demand, then it may be possible to model the utility’s system as a reservoir and pump, using the results of a hydrant flow test (see page 332). Of course, if fire flows are to be provided in the customer system, then the loads cannot be considered negligible.

9.4

CUSTOMER DEMANDS

The material on demand estimation in Chapter 4 is applicable to customer systems. When working with a customer’s system, demands may be assigned more precisely than when modeling an entire system. For small industrial complexes, recent water usage rates can be determined directly by using meter readings.

Commercial Demands for Proposed Systems Engineers for commercial developments such as hotels and office buildings may also want to use modeling for their projects but will not have data on existing customers as a water utility would. This problem was addressed by the National Bureau of Standards during the 1920s and ’30s and resulted in the Fixture Unit Method for estimating demands (Hunter, 1940).

400

Modeling Customer Systems

Chapter 9

This method consists of determining the number of toilets, sinks, dishwashers, and so on, in a building and assigning a fixture unit value to each. Fixture unit values are shown in Table 9.2. Once the total fixture units are known, the value is converted into a peak design flow using what is called a Hunter curve (see Figure 9.10). The basic premise of the Hunter curve is that the more fixtures in a building, the less likely it is that they will all be used simultaneously. This assumption may not be appropriate in stadiums, arenas, theaters, and so on where extremely heavy use occurs in a very short time frame, such as at halftime or intermission. The values in Table 9.2 are somewhat out-of-date, as they were prepared before the days of low-flush toilets and low-flow shower heads, but a better method has not yet been developed. This technique is used in the Uniform Plumbing Code (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, 1997) and a modified version is included in AWWA Manual M-22 (1975). Although the fixture unit assigned may require some adjustment to reflect modern plumbing practice, the logic behind the Hunter curve still holds true. Table 9.2 Fixture units Fixture Type

Fixture Units

Fixture Type

Fixture Units

Bathtub

2

Wash sink (per faucet)

2

Bedpan washer

10

Urinal flush valve

10

Combination sink & tray

3

Urinal stall

5

Dental unit

1

Urinal trough (per ft)

5

Dental lavatory

1

Dishwasher (1/2'')

2

Lavatory (3/8'')

1

Dishwasher (3/4'')

4

Lavatory (1/2'')

2

Water closet (flush valve)

10

Drinking fountain

1

Water closet (tank)

5

Laundry tray

2

Washing machine (1/2'')

6

Shower head (3/4'')

2

Washing machine (3/4'')

10

Shower head (1/2'')

4

Kitchen sink (1/2'')

2

Hose connection (1/2'')

5

Kitchen sink (3/4'')

4

Hose connection (3/4'')

10 Hunter (1940)

The peak demand as determined by the Fixture Unit Method must be increased to account for any sprinkler, cooling, and industrial process demands that are not otherwise included. Additional work on residential and small commercial demands was conducted under the Johns Hopkins Residential Water Use Program in the 1950s and '60s (Linaweaver, Geyer, and Wolff, 1966; Wolff, 1961).

Section 9.5

Sprinkler Design

401

Figure 9.10 Determining peak demand from fixture units using a Hunter curve

500

Demand, gpm

400

300

200 Flush Valves 100 Toilet Tanks 0 0

9.5

500

1000

1500 Fixture Units

2000

2500

3000

SPRINKLER DESIGN

Water distribution models can also be used to help design irrigation and fire sprinkler systems. The principal difference between modeling sprinklers and modeling a typical water distribution system is that pressure dictates what the sprinkler discharge will be (the demands are “pressure-based”), while in distribution systems, demands are typically modeled as if they are independent of pressure.

Starting Point for Model One of the most important questions in sprinkler studies is where to start the model. For cases in which sprinklers are fed by pumps from wells, tanks, or ponds, the model should start at the source. Modeling a sprinkler system that is fed from a larger water distribution system is more complex. In such a situation, it may be difficult to determine if the model should begin at the main in the street, or be taken back to the actual source or tank that will be providing water. The key to this decision is determining the extent to which sprinkler flows, when combined with other demands, will draw down the hydraulic grade line in the distribution system. If the effect on pressures in the distribution system is significant, then it will be necessary to extend the model into the system. For further explanation on using fire hydrant flow tests to make this determination and modeling the customer’s connection to the main, see page 332.

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If a small pipe, such as a 2-in. (50 mm) rural water system main, feeds the sprinkler system, then it will almost certainly be necessary to include this pipe in the model, because the head loss at higher flows will be significant. If the sprinkler system is being fed from a typical water distribution system, then the meter and backflow prevention assembly must be included in the model by using the techniques described previously in Section 9.1. It is important to be conservative when estimating the pressure that will be available to operate a sprinkler system. The water distribution system can change over time as a result of tuberculation, additional customers, or changes in pressure zone boundaries. Water utilities cannot guarantee that they will maintain a specified pressure in the main permanently (AWWA M-31, 1998).

Sprinkler Hydraulics Flow out of a sprinkler is governed by the equation for orifice flow: Q = C d A 2gh

where

Q Cd A g h

= = = = =

(9.3)

discharge (gpm, m3/s) discharge coefficient orifice area (in.2, m2) gravitational acceleration constant (32.2 ft/s2, 9.81 m/s2) head loss across orifice (ft, m)

Rather than explicitly stating the area and discharge coefficient, sprinkler manufacturers usually employ a nominal size and a coefficient, K (not to be confused with the minor loss KL ). K is a function of the size and type of sprinkler and relates discharge and pressure according to

Section 9.5

Sprinkler Design

Q = K P

where

(9.4)

K = sprinkler coefficient P = pressure (psi, kPa)

Table 9.3 shows K-factors for fire sprinklers. It is best to obtain sprinkler K-factors from the sprinkler suppliers. It is also possible to calculate K from a chart of pressure drop versus Q.

Table 9.3 Sprinkler discharge characteristics Nominal Orifice Size (in.)

(mm)

Nominal K-factor (gpm/(psi)1/2)

K-factor Range (gpm/(psi)1/2)

K-factor Range (dm3/min/(kPa)1/2)

1/4

6.4

1.4

1.3–1.5

1.9–2.2

5/16

8.0

1.9

1.8–2.0

2.6–2.9

3/8

9.5

2.8

2.6–2.9

3.8–4.2

7/16

11.0

4.2

4.0–4.4

5.9–6.4

1/2

12.7

5.6

5.3–5.8

7.6–8.4

17/32

13.5

8.0

7.4–8.2

10.7–11.8

5/8

15.9

11.2

11.0–11.5

15.9–16.6

3/4

19.0

14.0

13.5–14.5

19.5–20.9

-

-

16.8

16.0–17.6

23.1–25.4

-

-

19.6

18.6–20.6

27.2–30.1

-

-

22.4

21.3–23.5

31.1–34.3

-

-

25.2

23.9–26.5

34.9–38.7

-

28.0

26.6–29.4

38.9–43.0

-

Reprinted with permission from NFPA Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, Copyright 1999, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of the NFPA on the referenced subject which is represented only by the standard in its entirety.

Approximating Sprinkler Hydraulics Many hydraulic models can simulate sprinkler hydraulics using flow emitters (see page 451). With a flow emitter, a modeler need only enter the sprinkler K-factor at a junction, and the model will determine the discharge as a function of pressure at the node. The emitter coefficient should be the same as the sprinkler K-factor and the node corresponding to the sprinkler should be at the exact elevation of the sprinkler, not the pipe. If the sprinkler is connected to a larger pipe through small branch pipes, those small pipes must be included in the model as they can account for considerable head loss. However, some water distribution system models do not explicitly account for sprinkler K-factors. Instead, the sprinkler, and the associated losses, must be modeled as an equivalent length of pipe discharging to the atmosphere. The atmospheric pressure downstream of the sprinkler can be represented as a discharge from the equivalent

403

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pipe into a reservoir, tank, or pressure source where the HGL setting of the downstream node is equal to the elevation of the sprinkler (see Figure 9.11). With this approach, the designer must assign a length, diameter, and roughness to the equivalent pipe representing the sprinkler. It is important to note that there are infinite combinations of D, L, and C that will give the same head loss for the sprinkler. One solution is to use a 1-in. (25-mm) diameter pipe with a length of 0.271 ft (0.083 m). With these dimensions, the C-factor for the pipe equals the sprinkler K-factor (Walski, 1995). Figure 9.11 Model representation of sprinkler as equivalent pipe

Pipe Diameter=D Length=L C-factor=C Sprinkler K

a. Fire Sprinkler System

Upstream Pipe D, L, C Upstream Sprinkler Node

Node

Atmospheric Pressure

Equivalent Pipe D=1 in. L=0.275 ft C=K

b. Model Representation

Piping Design To reduce costs, sprinkler systems are usually laid out in a branched, tree-like pattern. Unlike looped water distribution systems, which use isolation valves to isolate individual segments, sprinkler systems have very few. If repairs are needed on sprinkler piping, the entire system is generally shut down while repairs are made.

Section 9.5

Sprinkler Design

Choosing the Right Sprinkler System Most sprinkler systems are wet-pipe systems in which the system is always full of pressurized water. The individual sprinkler heads have fusible or frangible links that cause the sprinkler to open when exposed to heat. Although this design works in the majority of situations, there are a number of variations to accommodate special conditions. One common variation is a deluge system. In this type of system, the sprinkler heads are always open, and water is kept out of the piping by a main control valve. When a fire occurs, the main valve is opened, and all of the sprinklers discharge simultaneously. Deluge systems are typically used in places where heat from a fire is unlikely to cause a sprinkler to open, such as in a building with very high ceilings. When modeling this type of system, all sprinkler heads must be modeled as open. A variation of the deluge systems is a preaction system which is equipped with a valve that opens based on some supplemental detection system. A challenge often encountered in designing sprinkler systems is how to keep pipes from freezing in

areas subject to cold temperatures. Two options available to address this situation are antifreeze systems and dry-pipe systems. In antifreeze systems, the wet-pipe system is filled with a mixture of antifreeze and water. The antifreeze solutions recommended in systems that are connected back into a potable water system are chemically pure glycerine or propylene glycol. These systems are generally used to protect small, unheated areas. Dry-pipe systems are filled with pressurized air. When heat causes a sprinkler to open, the air pressure in the system is reduced. This drop in pressure causes a dry-pipe valve to open, allowing pressurized water to travel through the system to the sprinkler heads. Because of the time delay in filling the sprinkler system piping, dry-pipe systems are not quite as efficient as wet-pipe systems in controlling fires. In a water distribution simulation, dry-pipe systems are modeled the same way as wet-pipe systems (that is, it is assumed that the system is already filled with water).

Velocities are usually higher in sprinkler system piping than in other distribution piping. Therefore, the minor losses from each valve and fitting in the system must be considered. Otherwise, discharge can be overestimated during design. Sprinkler systems generally have small pipe diameters. With small pipe diameters, the difference between nominal diameter and actual internal diameter can be significant, depending on pipe material. For example, nominal 1-in. (250-mm) C901 HDPE pipe can have an inner diameter ranging from 0.860 in. to 1.062 in. (21.8 mm to 27.0 mm) depending on the DR (diameter ratio), and copper tubing with the same nominal diameter can have an inner diameter ranging from 0.995 in. to 1.055 in. (25.2 to 26.8 mm) depending on the type. A 20 percent difference in inner diameter can result in a 40 percent difference in capacity. For this reason, it is important to use the actual internal diameter when performing sprinkler design. Sprinkler heads do not require a great deal of pressure to operate and pressures on the order of 10 psi (70 kPa) are usually sufficient [7 psi (48 kPa) minimum]. While sprinklers will still deliver water at lower pressure, their ability to blow off the orifice cap and produce desirable discharge patterns decreases at lower pressures. The designer should monitor the pressure at the upstream end of the equivalent pipe to determine if a particular set of pipe sizes results in adequate pressure. Because the pressure at the sprinkler is so critical in design, it is important to determine the exact

405

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elevation of the sprinkler heads when assigning the elevation of the nodes in the model. The information covered up to this point on sprinkler hydraulics and design is applicable to both fire and irrigation sprinkler systems. There are many similarities between these two types of systems, but each also has unique features, as detailed in the following sections.

Fire Sprinklers National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards 13 (1999c) and 13D (1999b) govern fire sprinkler design. Additional information is provided in NFPA (1999a) and AWWA M-31 (1998). Sprinklers are intended to control fires, not necessarily to completely extinguish them. Therefore, some allowance is made for hose stream flows from hydrants or fire trucks when determining sprinkler system performance requirements. Sprinklers are usually laid out so that only a few need to open to control a fire. Designs should not be based on the assumption that all sprinklers will operate simultaneously, unless there is reason to believe this is the case. Sprinkler demand is based on the area of sprinkler operation and the associated occupancy group. Using the area/density curves shown in Figure 9.12, the density of water can be determined. Extensive tables are provided in NFPA (1999c) and Pucholvsky (1999) describing the types of activities that fall into each occupancy group. See Table 9.4 for some examples of the occupancy types in each group. Figure 9.12 Area density curve

Reprinted with permission from NFPA Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, Copyright 1999, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of the NFPA, on the referenced subject which is represented only by the standard in its entirety.

Section 9.5

Sprinkler Design

Table 9.4 Example occupancies Occupancy Group

Occupancy

Light hazard

Churches, hospitals, museums, offices

Ordinary hazard 1

Bakeries, dairies, laundries

Ordinary hazard 2

Dry cleaners, post offices, repair garages, wood product assembly

Extra hazard 1

Aircraft hangars, printing, saw mills, rubber reclaiming/vulcanizing

Extra hazard 2

Flammable liquid spraying, plastics processing, solvent cleaning

By multiplying the sprinkler operation area by the density (both determined from Figure 9.12), the sprinkler demand can be computed. If the area is less than the minimum area for the curve being used, then the minimum area should be used. For example, if a light occupancy is less than 1,500 ft2 (139 m2), then the density for 1,500 is used. In addition to the sprinkler demand, a hose stream allowance is also needed to extinguish the fire. Typical values for hose stream flow and duration for sprinklered facilities are given in Table 9.5. Table 9.5 Hose stream demand and water supply duration requirements Occupancy or Commodity Classification

Total Hose Stream (gpm)

Duration (minutes)

Light hazard

100

30

Ordinary hazard

250

60–90

Extra hazard

500

90–120

Rack storage, Class I, II, and III commodities up to 12 ft (3.7 m) in height

250

90

Rack storage, Class IV commodities up to 10 ft (3.1 m) in height

250

90

Rack storage, Class IV commodities up to 12 ft (3.7 M) in height

500

90

Rack storage, Class I, II, and III commodities over 12 ft (3.7 m) in height

500

90

Rack storage, Class IV commodities over 12 ft (3.7 m) in height and plas- 500 tic commodities

120

General storage, Class I, II, and III commodities over 12 ft (3.7 m) up to 20 ft (6.1 m)

500

90

General storage, Class IV commodities over 12 ft (3.7 m) up to 20 ft (6.1 m)

500

120

General storage, Class I, II, and III commodities over 20 ft (6.1 m) up to 30 ft (9.1 m)

500

120

General storage, Class IV commodities over 20 ft (6.1 m) up to 30 ft (9.1 m)

500

150

General storage, Group A plastics ≤ 5 ft (1.5 m)

250

90

General storage, Group A plastics over 5 ft (1.5 m) up to 20 ft (6.1 m)

500

120

General storage, Group A plastics over 20 ft (6.1 m) up to 25 ft (7.6 m)

500

150

Reprinted with permission from NFPA Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, Copyright 1999, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269. This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of the NFPA on the referenced subject which is represented only by the standard in its entirety.

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Sprinkler Pipe Sizing Traditionally, sprinkler pipe sizing has been based on a “pipe schedule” method where the pipe size is based on the number of sprinklers being served by the pipe. While that approach is still allowed in some situations, “hydraulically calculated” designs are the preferred method. Manual “hydraulically calculated” designs rely on equivalent pipes to simulate the minor losses and can be cumbersome and approximate when many sprinklers are flowing. Automatic “hydraulically calculated” approaches, on the other hand, rely on hydraulic models and can provide a much more accurate evaluation of the system. Usually, sprinkler systems are modeled through a series of steady-state runs, each run corresponding to the operation of a different sprinkler or group of sprinklers. One or two sprinklers on the top floor at the far end of the building from the service line, usually referred to as the hydraulically most distant, will typically control design calculations. If the sprinkler system is not delivering sufficient flow, the engineer should first try to increase pipe sizes, thereby reducing head losses. If increasing pipe sizes is ineffective, the head at the supply main may not be sufficient to operate the system. In this case, the pressure to the sprinklers must be increased. In most instances, installing a fire pump in the building is simpler and less expensive than raising the pressure in the supply main.

Irrigation Sprinklers Irrigation systems are operated frequently, and are designed so that more of the sprinklers can be used simultaneously. While irrigation sprinklers are different from fire sprinklers, they can still be modeled using orifice flow equations. For larger systems, opening all the sprinklers simultaneously will tend to use excessive water and require larger piping and meters. To reduce pipe and meter sizes, these systems are usually “zoned” so that only one set of sprinklers operates at a given time. If the water source is plentiful and storage volume is not an issue, then the operation of each zone can be modeled as a separate steady-state analysis. If the amount of storage is an issue (for instance, water is taken from a small pond), then an EPS run should be used in modeling to ensure that the water supply is adequate.

REFERENCES American Water Works Association (1975). “Sizing Service Lines and Meters.” AWWA Manual M-22, Denver, Colorado. American Water Works Association (1990). “Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control.” AWWA Manual M-14, Denver, Colorado. American Water Works Association (1998). “Distribution System Requirements for Fire Protection.” AWWA Manual M-31, Denver, Colorado. Hunter, R. B. (1940). “Methods of Estimating Loads in Plumbing Systems.” Report BMS 65, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC.

References

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (1997). Uniform Plumbing Code. Los Angeles, California. Linaweaver, F. P., Geyer, J. C., and Wolff J. B. (1966). A Study of Residential Water Use: A Report Prepared for the Technical Studies Program of the Federal Housing Administration. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (1999). Fire Protection Handbook. Quincy, Massachusetts. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (1999). “Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes.” NFPA 13D, Quincy, Massachusetts. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (1999). “Standard for Installation of Sprinkler Systems.” NFPA 13, Quincy, Massachusetts. Pucholvsky, M. T. (1999). Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, Massachusetts. Walski, T. M. (1995). “An Approach for Handling Sprinklers, Hydrants, and Orifices in Water Distribution Systems.” Proceedings of the AWWA Annual Convention, American Water Works Association, Anaheim, California. Wolff, J. B. (1961). “Peak Demands in Residential Areas.” Journal of the American Water Works Association, 53(10).

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DISCUSSION TOPICS AND PROBLEMS Read the chapter and complete the problems. Submit your work to Haestad Methods and earn up to 11.0 CEUs. See Continuing Education Units on page xxix for more information, or visit www.haestad.com/awdm-ceus/.

9.1 The water system for an industrial facility takes water from the utility’s system through a meter and reduced pressure backflow preventer. The following figures show the industrial system piping connected to the skeletonized utility system and the head loss curves for the meter and backflow preventer. The total head at the water source in the utility’s system is 320 ft, and the elevation of the backflow preventer is 90 ft. The meter and backflow preventer are located on pipe P-C-1, a nominal 6-in. pipe. Construct a model of the system under normal demand conditions using the data provided below.

Utility Res.

U-2 P-

2

P-

U-

U-

U-

1

P-

3

U-3 P-

U-

U-

Utility System

4

U-1 5

PU-

6 P -

PBV-1 Meter and Backflow Valve

C1

P-

C-1

P-C-4

C-4

P-C-9

C-5

P-C-3

P-

P-C-5

C-3

C2

C-2 P-C-6

U-4

P-C-8

410

C-7

P-C-7 C-6 Industrial System

(Not to scale)

Discussion Topics and Problems

25

Pressure drop, psi

20

15 RPBP

10

Meter

5

0 0

300

600

900

Flow, gpm

Node Label

Elevation (ft)

Demand (gpm)

C-1

90.0

C-2

120.0

5

C-3

100.0

5

C-4

135.0

5

C-5

140.0

5

C-6

135.0

5

C-7

130.0

5

U-1

100.0

200

U-2

95.0

500

U-3

80.0

700

U-4

100.0

200

1200

1500

411

412

Modeling Customer Systems

Chapter 9

Pipe Label

Length (ft)

Diameter (in.)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

P-C-1

1

6

130

P-C-2

50

6

130

P-C-3

500

6

130

P-C-4

500

6

130

P-C-5

500

6

130

P-C-6

500

6

130

P-C-7

500

6

130

P-C-8

500

6

130

P-C-9

500

6

130

P-U-1

3,000

16

130

P-U-2

2,000

12

130

P-U-3

2,000

12

130

P-U-4

2,000

12

130

P-U-5

2,000

12

130

P-U-6

100

12

130

a) Determine the minor loss K-values for the meter and backflow preventer and Pmin for the backflow preventer. Apply the minor losses to the pipe immediately downstream of the valve (P-C-1). b) Determine the head immediately downstream of the backflow preventer and meter during normal demand conditions. c) Add a 1,500 gpm fire demand to the normal demand at node C-4 and determine the residual pressure at this node. Under this demand condition, what is the HGL immediately downstream of the meter? d) For the 1,500 gpm fire flow condition, determine the head loss (in feet) for the following portions of the system:

• Between the source and the meter/backflow preventer • In the backflow preventer and meter • Between the meter/backflow preventer and C-4 9.2 This problem uses the system from Problem 9.1. Suppose you do not want to model the utility’s system at all, even as the skeletal system shown. Rather, you would like to model it as a constant head node located downstream of the meter and backflow preventer at node C-2. Using the HGL determined in part (b) of the previous problem, insert a reservoir attached to node C-1 through a 1-ft pipe with a 6-in. diameter and a Hazen-Williams C-factor of 130. Delete the valve and the utility part of the system from the model or disconnect the systems. a) Using this HGL, what is the residual pressure at C-4 for a 1,500 gpm flow? b) Does deleting the utility system, backflow valve, and the meter and instead modeling it as a constant head give an accurate representation of the system under fire demands?

Discussion Topics and Problems

9.3 An existing small irrigation system consists of five sprinklers in Area A, as shown in the figure below. A new landscaped area (Area B) of roughly the same size is planned, requiring that an additional five sprinklers be installed. Water for the existing irrigation system is pumped from a nearby pond. The owner would like to use the existing 1.5 hp pump to supply the additional sprinklers as well. Manufacturer pump curve data for this pump is provided in the following tables. The elevation of the pump is 97 ft. Construct a steady-state hydraulic model of the sprinkler system if the pond water surface is at an elevation of 101 ft. Pipes M-3 and M-4 are both equipped with a 1-in. gate valve (K = 0.39) for isolating the system if necessary (for repairs and so forth) and a 1-in. anti-siphon valve (K = 14) to prevent contamination of the pond with substances such as chemical fertilizers. To model the sprinklers, attach a reservoir with an HGL elevation equivalent to the sprinkler head elevation to the sprinkler node with an equivalent pipe. According to the sprinkler manufacturer’s information, a pressure of 30 psi is required at the sprinkler head to produce a discharge of 1.86 gpm. At this flow, the radius of the sprinkler coverage is 15 ft. The sprinkler spacing was determined based on this radius. Given this information, use Equation 9.4 to solve for the sprinkler coefficient, K, and determine the characteristics of the equivalent pipe as discussed in Section 9.5.

S-10 0 L-1

L-8

S-7

S-9

L-9

L-7

PVC Lateral (typ.)

Landscape Area A

L-6 S-6

J-3 M-4

An tiGa sip te hon va lv valv e (ty e ( p. typ ) .)

S-8

J-1 M3

2 M-

1 MPond

S-4 L-5

S-5

L-4

L-1

PVC Main (typ.)

J-2

Landscape Area B

Pump

Water Intake

S-1 L-2

S-2 L-3

S-3

Sprinkler (typ.)

413

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Modeling Customer Systems

Chapter 9

Sprinkler Label

Elevation (ft)

S-1

115.45

S-2

115.40

S-3

115.25

S-4

115.15

S-5

115.10

S-6

115.75

S-7

116.00

S-8

116.10

S-9

115.55

S-10

115.80

Node Label

Elevation (ft)

J-1

115

J-2

115

J-3

115

Main Label

Length (ft)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

M-1

19

150

M-2

80

150

M-3

12

150

M-4

12

150

Lateral Label

Length (ft)

Hazen-Williams C-factor

L-1

17

150

L-2

26

150

L-3

26

150

L-4

16

150

L-5

26

150

L-6

16

150

L-7

26

150

L-8

26

150

L-9

17

150

L-10

26

150

Discussion Topics and Problems

Pump Curve Data Head (ft)

Flow (gpm)

Shutoff

230

Design

187

10

Max Operating

83

20

a) The existing system uses ¾-in. laterals and 1-in. mains. Run the model with only the existing system in operation (that is, close pipe M-3). Is the pump able to adequately supply all of the sprinklers? What is the minimum sprinkler discharge? b) Re-run the model with all sprinklers (existing and proposed) open. Use ¾-in. laterals and 1-in. mains for both existing and proposed piping. Is the pump able to adequately supply all of the sprinklers? What is the minimum sprinkler discharge? c) If you were designing the entire system from scratch (no pipes have been installed yet), what minimum size must the mains and laterals be to meet the minimum flow/pressure requirement? Assume all sprinklers are discharging simultaneously and the pump is the same as described in the preceding tables. d) The owner obviously prefers to continue using the existing piping and would like to save on expenses by using smaller pipes in the new system as well. What could be done operationally to make such a design work?

9.4 This problem is a continuation of Problem 9.3. The irrigation system will be used to water the landscaped areas for 2.5 hours each day. A schedule is established such that Area A will be watered from 4:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., and Area B from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The pipe sizes to be used are ¾-in. laterals and 1-in. mains. a) Using the existing pump and given the minimum system requirements from Problem 9.3, can adequate flow/pressure be supplied at all of the sprinklers? b) You are concerned about whether the pond has enough water for irrigation during a dry spell. Volume data for the pond is provided in the following tables. Model the pond as a tank using this volume data, and run an EPS to determine the total volume of water used by the irrigation system in a daily cycle. Neglecting evaporation and infiltration, extrapolate this rate of consumption to determine how long could a dry spell last before the pond runs dry. Pond Data Total Pond Volume

10,000 ft3

Maximum Pond Elevation

104 ft

Initial Pond Elevation

103 ft

Minimum Pond Elevation

98 ft

Pond Depth to Volume Ratios Depth Ratio

Volume Ratio

0.0 (elev. = 98 ft)

0.0 (vol. = 0)

0.5 (elev. = 101 ft)

0.3 (vol. = 3,000 ft3)

0.8 (elev = 102.8 ft)

0.7 (vol. = 7,000 ft3)

1.0 (elev. = 104 ft)

1.0 (vol. = 10,000 ft3)

415

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9.5 For a building with an Ordinary Hazard Group 1 occupancy classification, the required minimum fire sprinkler capacity is 0.16 gpm/ft2 for a 1500 ft2 area. The coverage area for an individual sprinkler is 130 ft2. a) Compute the number of sprinklers required to provide coverage for a 1500 ft2 area. b) What is the minimum discharge required from each sprinkler to meet the capacity requirement for the 1500 ft2 area? c) If the type of sprinkler being used has a K-value of 4.0, what pressure must be supplied at the sprinkler head to deliver the required flow?

9.6 Use the fixture unit method to estimate the peak design flow for a commercial office complex with the following fixture totals: 32

urinals (flush valve)

60

water closets (flush valve)

50

sinks

2

shower rooms with eight shower heads total

16

drinking fountains

2

dishwashers (3/4-in.)

4

kitchen sinks (3/4-in.)

4

hose connections (3/4-in.)

The complex has lawn irrigation, but it does not operate during peak demand times. The fire service is through a separate line. Therefore, the fire and irrigation demands need not be included in the calculation. Determine the total number of fixture units and the design flow. If you would like a velocity of 5 ft/s in the service line during peak flow, roughly what size pipe would you use?

C H A P T E R

10 Operations

In the early days of water distribution computer modeling, simulations were primarily used to solve design problems. Because models were fairly cumbersome to use, operators preferred measuring pressures and flows in the field rather than working with a complicated computer program. Recent advances in software technology have made models more powerful and easier to use. As a result, operations personnel have accepted computer simulations as a tool to aid them in keeping the distribution system running smoothly. Using a model, the operator can simulate what is occurring at any location in the distribution system under a full range of possible conditions. Gathering such a large amount of data in the field would be cost-prohibitive. With a model, the operator can analyze situations that would be difficult, or even impossible, to set up in the physical system (for example, taking a water treatment plant out of service for a day). A calibrated model enables the operator to leverage relatively few field observations into a complete picture of what is occurring in the distribution system.

10.1

THE ROLE OF MODELS IN OPERATIONS

Models can be used to solve ongoing problems, analyze proposed operational changes, and prepare for unusual events. By comparing model results with field operations, the operator can determine the causes of problems in the system and formulate solutions that will work correctly the first time, instead of resorting to trial-and-error changes in the actual system. Physically measuring parameters such as flow in a pipe or HGL at a hydrant is sometimes difficult. If the operator needs to know, for instance, the flow at a location in the system where no flow meter is present, the location must be excavated, the pipe tapped, and a Pitot rod or other flow-measuring device installed (a substantial and costly undertaking). Also, because operators must deal with the health and safety of

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customers, they cannot simply experiment with the actual system to see what effects a change in, say, pressure zone boundaries will have on them. With a model, however, it is easy to analyze many types of operational changes and plan for unusual events. Unlike design engineers working with proposed systems, operators can obtain field data from the actual system, including pressures, tank water levels, and flows. Solving operational problems involves the integrated use of these field data with simulation results. Some of the most useful types of data that will be referred to frequently in this chapter are hydrant flow tests, pressure chart recorders, and data collected through SCADA and telemetry systems. Assuming that the model is well-calibrated, contradictions between field data and values computed by the model can indicate system problems and provide clues about how they may be solved. Problems that may be discovered by comparing field observations with model predictions include closed valves, water hammer, and pumps not operating as expected. The models discussed in this book do not explicitly examine short-term hydraulic transients (such as water hammer). However, when the other causes of unusual pressure fluctuations are ruled out, water hammer can be diagnosed through a process of elimination. Models are also useful as training tools for operators. Just as pilots train on flight simulators, operators can train on a water distribution system simulation. It is much less costly to have an operator make mistakes with the model than the real system. In addition, operators can determine how to handle situations such as catastrophic pipe failures or fires before they occur. Cesario (1995) described how models can allow operators to attempt changes they might otherwise be reluctant to try. Unusual situations that occur in a real system often give the modeler an opportunity to further calibrate the model according to conditions that the operators purposely would not want to duplicate because of their disruptive and unwanted influence on the system. When these events occur, it is important to gather as much information as possible regarding pressures, system flows, consumer complaints, tank elevations, operator statements, and so on and record it before it is lost or forgotten. In many instances, experienced field crews and plant operators will log all the information while struggling with the problem, and then file or discard it after the crisis is over. The following sections describe how a water distribution model can be used to address some operational problems. This chapter assumes that there is already an existing calibrated model of the system, and covers the following topics: • Solutions to common operating problems • Preparation for special events • Calculation of energy efficiency • Flushing • Metering • Water quality investigations • Impact of operations on water quality

Section 10.2

10.2

Low Pressure Problems

LOW PRESSURE PROBLEMS

The most frequently occurring operational problem associated with water distribution systems is low or fluctuating pressures. Although confirming that the problem exists is usually easy, discovering the cause and finding a good solution can be much more difficult.

Identifying the Problem Customer complaints, modeling studies, and field measurements obtained through routine checks can indicate that a portion of the system is experiencing low pressure. The pressure problem can be verified by connecting a pressure gage equipped with a data logging device or chart recorder to a hydrant or hose bib to continuously record pressure. Occasionally, a customer may report a low-pressure problem when the pressure at the main is fine. In such cases, the low pressure may be due to a restriction in the customer’s plumbing, or a point-of-use/point-of-entry device that is causing considerable head loss. If measurements indicate that pressure in the main is low and a problem in the distribution system is suspected, the next step is to examine the temporal nature of the problem. If the test readings show that the pressure is consistently low, then the cause is probably that the elevation of the area is too high for the pressure zone serving it.

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Pressure drops that occur only during periods of high demand are usually due to insufficient pipe or pump capacity, or a closed valve. If the problem occurs at off-peak times, nearby pumps may be shutting off once remote tanks have been filled, lowering the pressure on the discharge side of the pumps.

Modeling Low Pressures When data are available, the problem can be re-created and simulated in the model. Steady-state runs with instantaneous pressure readings can be used, but more information can be gained by attempting to reproduce a pressure-recording chart using an extended-period simulation (EPS). Though some idea of the cause of the low-pressure problem (elevation, inadequate capacity, and so on) can be quickly gained from the chart recorder readings alone, the model is needed to accurately identify the weak system component causing the problem. For instance, to locate pipes potentially acting as bottlenecks in the system, the model can be checked for pipes with high velocities. The capacity of the high-velocity pipe(s) can then be increased in the model by adding parallel pipes, changing diameters, or adjusting roughness to see if the problem is then solved. If the problem is due to insufficient pump capacity, then pump curve data for a new pump or impeller size can be entered. If elevation is the culprit, then the pressure zone boundaries may need to be adjusted, or booster pumping added. If a pressure problem exists only in a remote part of the system during peak demands, then adding a storage tank may be the solution. In urban situations, the need for storage is typically driven by fire–fighting concerns, and in rural systems, it may be driven by peak hour demands. The need for storage is discussed further in Section 8.3.

Finding Closed Valves Very often, the model does not agree with the chart recorder, especially during high water-use periods or fire flow tests. The model may indicate a much smaller pressure drop than is observed. This discrepancy usually occurs when there is a closed or partially closed valve in the actual system that causes the system to have a significantly reduced capacity when compared to the model. The problem component can typically be located by measuring the HGL throughout the actual system and looking for abrupt changes that cannot be associated with pressure zone divides. If the HGL is significantly lower than model predictions downstream of a specific point, it is likely that a closed valve is located there. As discussed previously, the HGL is equal to the sum of the elevation and the pressure head. Because HGL accounts for both elevation and pressure, it is easier to pinpoint closed valve locations by comparing HGLs than by comparing pressures only. Though the accuracy of the pressure gages affects the computed HGL, incorrect elevation is likely to contribute more significantly to error, because it is the more difficult of the two parameters to measure. Topographic maps usually have too great of a contour interval to provide the required precision and are not the most accurate source of

Section 10.2

Low Pressure Problems

data. Elevations can be more accurately obtained using sewer system manhole elevations, altimeters, or global positioning systems (GPS) (Walski, 1998). A good way to review the data is to compare plots of the measured and predicted HGLs from the water source (or nearby tank) to the area with the pressure problems. As previously noted, an abrupt drop in the measured HGL indicates that potentially there is a closed valve. Because head losses are smaller at lower flows, an abrupt drop in HGL may not occur under normal demand conditions (under normal conditions, the HGL may slope only one to two feet per thousand feet), making diagnosis of the problem difficult, as shown in Figure 10.1. Compounding this difficulty is the inaccuracy of the HGL values themselves, which may be off by more than five feet unless the elevations of the test locations were precisely determined through surveying or GPS. Therefore, the errors in measurement may be greater than the precision of data necessary to draw good conclusions. Figure 10.1 Slope of HGL at lower flows

875 870

High Measure

865 Measured Line

860 855 HGL, ft

Model

850 845

Low Measure

840 835 830 825 820 0

2,000

4,000 6,000 Distance from Tank, ft

8,000

10,000

To overcome these inaccuracies, flow velocities in the pipes must be increased to produce a sufficiently large head loss. By opening a hydrant, or, if necessary, a blow-off valve, the head loss is increased so that the slope of the HGL is significantly greater than the measurement error, as shown in Figure 10.2. Even with the “noisy” data shown in the figure, the model and field data clearly diverge approximately 3,200 ft

421

422

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(975 m) from the tank. For the rest of the range, the slope of the HGL is the same for both model and measured data. Therefore, either some type of restriction exists at around 3,200 ft (975 m), or the model has an error in that area. Figure 10.2 Slope of HGL at higher flows

870 High Measure

860 850 Model

840

Low Measure

HGL, ft

830 820 Measured Line

810 800 790 780 770 760 0

2,000

4,000 6,000 Distance from Tank, ft

8,000

10,000

Because it is usually difficult to keep a hydrant or blow-off valve open for a long period of time while pressure gages are moved from location to location, it may be best to run several fire hydrant flow tests with the pressures at multiple residual hydrants being tested simultaneously. In this way, three tests can yield a significant number of data points. The same hydrant should be flowed at the same rate while pressures are taken at several residual hydrants.

Solving Low Pressure Problems After the cause of the pressure problem has been identified and confirmed, the possible solutions are usually fairly straightforward, and include the following: • Making operational changes such as opening valves • Changing PRV or pump control settings • Locating and repairing any leaks • Adjusting pressure zone boundaries • Implementing capital improvement projects such as constructing new mains

Section 10.2

Low Pressure Problems

423

• Cleaning and lining pipes • Installing pumps to set up a new pressure zone • Installing a new tank Some pressure problems are difficult for the utility to resolve. For example, an industrial customer may demand a very high pressure, or a resident may experience low pressure due to the customer’s own plumbing. When the utility cannot justifiably spend large sums of money to make changes to the system to meet customer expectations or improve customer plumbing, the problem becomes one of customer relations. Using the model, the utility can determine the cause of the problem, study ways of increasing pressure, better decide if the costs of system changes exceed the benefits, or discover that the problem is not in the utility’s system. For example, a commercial customer who has installed a fire sprinkler system requiring 60 psi (414 kPa) to operate will be upset if the utility makes operational changes that cause the pressure to drop to 45 psi (310 kPa), even though this pressure meets normal standards. In another case, the model and field data may show 60 psi (414 kPa) in the utility system, but the customer has only 15 psi (103 kPa). The problem may be caused by an undersized backflow preventer valve, meter, or a point-of-entry treatment unit with excessive head loss. In some cases, customers near a pump station can become accustomed to high pressures, as shown in Figure 10.3. When a pump cycles off, those customers are fed water from a tank that may be some distance away. If the pump should cycle off during a high demand time, the pressure can drop significantly. The model can confirm this drop, and whether or not pump cycling is the cause. If so, it may be necessary to always run some pumps during periods of high demand, even if the tank is full. Figure 10.3 Effect of pump operation on customers near the pump

Tank Water Level

Pressure Drop at Pump Switch

{ Pump

HGL Pump On

Tank HGL Pump Off

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Problems with the model may also surface when trying to reproduce low pressure problems that exist in the actual system. For instance, the model and field data may agree when pumps are off, but not when they are on, indicating that the pump performance curves may be incorrect in the model (for example, a pump impeller may have been changed and not updated in the model). Another possible discrepancy between the model and field data could be the control setting on the PRV. Settings can drift by themselves over time, or may be changed in the field but not in the model. To be useful, a model must reflect operating conditions current at the time the field data were collected. Leak Detection. Unless accurate demands are known, this approach is only effective if the leakage is very large compared to demands. Unless demands are known very accurately, however, this approach is really only effective if the leakage is very large compared to demands [say, a 100 gpm (0.006 m3/s) leak in a pressure zone with 200 gpm (0.013 m3/s) usage]. In such cases, these large leaks show up as surface water, making locating them with a model unnecessary. As an exception to this scenario, modeling can be used to help locate leaks when very high nighttime demands are required to accurately reflect diurnal water usage in part of the system. Unless there are large nighttime water users, such as industries that operate at night, water use will typically drop to about 40 percent of average day consumption. Because leakage is not reduced at night, if very high nighttime usage is required for the model to match historical records, leakage can be suspected in that part of the system. In some instances, the cause of low pressure is a large, nonsurfacing water loss resulting from a pipe failure. In this case, the water may be lost through a large-diameter sewer, a stream, or a low area that is not easily observed. An indicator of this type of leak could be an increase in demand on a pump or an unusual drop in an elevated tank level if it is a very large loss or occurs near one of these facilities. If the leak is on one of the smaller grid mains, its effect would be felt over a smaller area and may not be noticed as an increase in demand. These leaks are generally found by checking sewer manholes for exceptional flows and/or listening on hydrants and valves.

10.3

LOW FIRE FLOW PROBLEMS

Low fire flows are another common operational problem. Solving this problem in an existing system is different from designing pipes for new construction, in that the utility cannot pass the cost of improvements onto a new customer. Rather, the operator must find the weak link in the system and correct it.

Identifying the Problem The possible reasons for poor fire flows in an existing system are • Small mains • Long-term loss of carrying capacity due to tuberculation or scaling • Customers located far from the source • Inadequate pumps

Section 10.3

Low Fire Flow Problems

• Closed or partly closed valves (as discussed in Section 10.2) • Some combination of the preceding Fire flow tests can reveal the magnitude of the problem, but the model will help to determine and quantify the cause and possible solutions. Fire flow tests should first be used to more precisely calibrate the model in the area of interest. If the predicted pressures are higher than observed pressures during fire flow tests, the problem is usually that there are closed valves (or occasionally pressure reducing valves failing to operate properly). Plotting the actual and modeled hydraulic grade line during high flow events can help locate and determine the reason for the low fire flows. If the model can be calibrated and no closed valves are found, then the cause of the poor flow is either pipe capacity or distance between the problem area and the water source. The model provides the operator with a tool for examining velocity in each pipe. If velocities are greater than 8 ft/s (2.4 m/s) for long pipe runs, then the issue is small piping. If the model requires a friction factor corresponding to extremely rough pipe (for instance, a Hazen-Williams C-factor of less than 60), and this value is verified by visual inspection of internal pipe roughness or through testing, then loss of carrying capacity due to tuberculation is to blame. The main size and roughness affect the slope of the HGL, but the length affects the magnitude of the pressure drop. For instance, it is possible to get a much larger flow through 100 ft (30.5 m) of an old 6-in. (150 mm) main than through 10,000 ft (3,050 m) of the same pipe without significantly affecting pressure. In models that have been skeletonized, it may be necessary to add pipes that have been removed back into the model to get an accurate picture of fire flow.

Solutions to Low Fire Flow The best solutions to low fire flows depend on the problems as identified by the model and field data collection. In general, the solutions consist of some combination of • New piping • Rehabilitation (cleaning and lining, sliplining, or pipe bursting) • Booster pumping • Additional storage near the problem area Each of these options affects the system in different ways and has different benefits, so the comparison of alternatives should be performed based on a benefit/cost analysis as opposed to simply minimizing costs. The modeling for this evaluation can usually be performed with steady-state runs. Only if the volume of storage or the ability of the system to refill storage is in question should an EPS model be used. New Piping and Rehabilitation. Sizing new pipes (adding capacity) and rehabilitating existing pipes flattens out the slope of the hydraulic gradient for a given flow rate, as shown in Figure 10.4. By allowing the modeler to examine the HGL, the model can help locate which individual pipes are bottlenecks in need of repair or rehabilitation.

425

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Figure 10.4 Effect of pipe improvements on HGL

Source HGL New or Rehabilitated Pipe

HGL

Small or Rough Pipe

Minimum Required HGL

Booster Pumping. Booster pumping is usually the least costly method of correcting low pressure problems from an initial capital cost standpoint. Booster pumps can significantly increase operation and maintenance costs, however, and do not allow as much flexibility in terms of future expansion as the other available options. Booster pumping increases the HGL at the pump location but does not reduce the hydraulic gradient, as shown in Figure 10.5. Therefore, booster pumps should, in general, be used only to transport water up hills, not to make up for pipes that are too small. Furthermore, booster pumps can over-pressurize portions of the system and even cause water hammer, especially when there is no downstream storage or pressure relief. Figure 10.5 Increasing HGL using booster pumping

Booster Pump Source HGL

HGL With Pump

HGL

HGL With Inadequate Piping

Minimum Required HGL

Adding Storage. Adding storage at the fringe of the system tends to be a costly alternative, but it provides the highest level of benefit. Storage greatly increases fire flows and pressures, because water can reach the fire from two different directions (both original and new sources). This splitting of flow significantly reduces velocities in the mains. Since head loss is roughly proportional to the square of the velocity, cutting the velocity in half (for example) reduces the head loss to one-quarter of its prior value, as shown in Figure 10.6. Storage also increases the reliability of the system in the event of a pipe break or power outage, and helps to dampen transients.

Section 10.4

Adjusting Pressure Zone Boundaries

427

Figure 10.6 Effect of additional storage location on HGL

//=//= Source HGL

Storage HGL with Storage

Inadequate Piping Minimum Required HGL

//=//=//=//=

10.4

ADJUSTING PRESSURE ZONE BOUNDARIES

In spite of efforts to properly lay out water systems as discussed on page 333, utilities occasionally find themselves with pockets of very high or low pressures. Low pressure problems are usually identified and corrected quickly, as described in Section 10.2 on page 419, because of customer complaints. High pressure problems, on the other hand, can persist because most customers do not realize that they are receiving excessive pressures. When it is determined that pressures are too high in an area, it is best to move the pressure zone boundary so that the customers receive more reasonable pressures from a lower zone. However, in some cases, this may not be a practical solution. For example, in Figure 10.7, the pocket of customers on the right may be too far from the low pressure zone on the left to economically be connected, so they must be served through a PRV from the higher zone. Reducing pressure should reduce leakage and improve the service life of plumbing fixtures. It is important that the performance of the PRV be modeled before installation to determine the impacts on existing customers and fire flows. The utility may want to adjust the boundaries of the pressure zones to reduce the energy costs associated with pumping and avoid over-pressurizing the system. The best way to start this work is to decide on the elevation contour that should be the boundary between pressure zones, and close valves in the model along that boundary. For example, in Figure 10.8, the utility has selected the 1,200 ft (366 m) elevation contour as the boundary between pressure zones having HGLs of 1,300 ft and 1,410 ft (396 m to 430 m). The model can aid in pointing out problems that will result from closing valves in the system, and it can help the operator identify solutions. In this case, some of the customers between valves B and D should receive water from the higher pressure zone. However, the 12-in. (300-mm) pipe through the middle of the

428

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figure may be an important transmission main for the lower pressure zone. If valves B and D are closed, the pipe can no longer serve this purpose, so alternative solutions must be explored. Figure 10.7 Serving high pressure pocket areas

Modified Pressure Zone Boundary High Pressure Zone Reduced Pressure Zone

Pump to Higher Zone

PRV

Low Pressure Zone

Feed to Lower Zone Previous Pressure Zone Boundary

Figure 10.8 A single pressure zone

10

ft

1,2

6" A

20

1,

ft

E

F

90

1 1, H 12" B

D

G

C 6"

6"

6"

6"

ft

Section 10.4

Adjusting Pressure Zone Boundaries

429

If the elevation of the area near valve G is only slightly higher than 1,200 ft (366 m), then it may be possible to simply move the pressure zone divide back to valve H, leaving valves B, C, and D open, as in Figure 10.9. If, however, this solution causes customers near G to receive pressures that are too low, then a crossover must be constructed between G and H (Figure 10.10). In addition, a small service line paralleling the 12-in. (300 mm) main and extending to the limits of the 1,410 ft (430 m) pressure zone will be necessary to serve the higher-elevation customers. Note that even though the pressure is lower, any hydrants near G should remain connected to the 12 in. (300 mm) line because of its greater capacity. Figure 10.9 ft 10

1,2

6" A

20

1,

Relocating a pressure zone boundary

ft

E

F

90

ft

1 1, H 12" B

D

G

C 6"

6"

6"

6"

Low Pressure Zone Pipes High Pressure Zone Pipes

This example illustrates just how complex adjustments to pressure zone boundaries can become. The model is an excellent way to test alternative valving and determine the effects of the adjustments. If the model was originally skeletonized, it will be necessary to fill in the entire grid in the area being studied to obtain sufficient detail for the analysis. All pipes and closed valve locations along the pressure zone boundary are important. In Figure 10.10, for example, the node at the intersection near valves E and F is in the higher zone, and the valves themselves represent the ending nodes for two pipes in the lower zone. After the steady-state runs have demonstrated that pressures are in a desirable range for a normal day, the results of hydrant flow simulations near the boundary are com-

430

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pared with actual hydrant test data. This comparison will identify any fire flow capacity problems resulting from a potential boundary change that may, for instance, reduce the number of feeds to an area. In some cases, it will be necessary to add pipes or to close loops. Also, PRVs and/or check valves can be installed between the zones to provide additional feeds to the lower zone, improving reliability. Figure 10.10 Isolating a pressure zone and installing a crossover pipe

10

ft

1,2

00

6" A

ft

2 1,

E

F

90

ft

1 1, H 12" B

Install Crossover D

G

Parallel Pipes

C 6"

6"

6"

6"

Low Pressure Zone Pipes High Pressure Zone Pipes

Adjusting pressure zone boundaries may result in some long dead-end lines with little flow. These dead ends should be avoided because of the potential for water quality problems. Blow-offs (bleeds) may need to be installed at the ends of such lines.

10.5

TAKING A TANK OFF-LINE

Occasionally, water distribution storage tanks must be taken off-line for inspection, cleaning, repair, and repainting. Even a simple inspection can cause a tank to be out of service for several days while the time-consuming tasks of draining, removing sediment, inspecting, disinfecting, and filling are completed. Because tanks are so important to the operation of the system, taking one out of service markedly affects distribution system performance (see page 435 for information on the impact on pressures). The reduction in system capacity can be dramatic; conversely, the system can over pressurize during off-peak periods when demands fall well below pumping capacity.

Section 10.5

Taking a Tank Off-Line

Fire Flows While tanks are important for flow equalization, their main purpose is to contribute capacity for peak hour demand and fire flows. Taking a tank out of service removes a major source of water for emergencies. Fire flows at several locations in the system should be analyzed using the model to determine what effect taking the tank out of service will have, and how much flow can be delivered from other sources (for example, the plant clearwell, pumps, or through PRVs). If the loss of water for emergencies is significant, then the utility may want to do one or more of the following: • Install temporary emergency pumps • Prepare to activate an interconnection with a neighboring utility, if necessary • Install a pair of hydrants at a pressure zone divide so that a temporary fire pump can be connected in an emergency These emergency connection alternatives can be simulated to determine the amount of additional flow provided. Sometimes, adding an emergency connection or pump may only provide a marginal increase in flow because of bottlenecks elsewhere in the system. The utility can use the results of the simulations to better present the impacts of removing a tank from service on fire departments and major customers. In this way, fire departments can prepare for the tank to be out of service, and make appropriate arrangements to supply the water that may be needed if there is a fire in the affected area. For instance, the fire department may be prepared to use trucks to carry water in an emergency rather than rely on the distribution system. Alternatively, they can research the feasibility of laying hose to hydrants in a neighboring pressure zone that has adequate storage.

Low Demand Problems While problems meeting fire demands are most obvious when taking a tank off-line, problems can crop up even during times of normal or low water usage. When a pressure zone is fed by a pumping station with constant-speed pumps and no other storage, the pumps will move along their pump curves to match demand. In off-peak times, the pumps must deliver very low flow compared to design flow (for example, 40 percent of average), and this flow will therefore be delivered at a higher head. Depending on the shape of the pump curve, very high system pressures can result. The worst problems occur with deep well pumps designed to pump against very high heads (that is, their pump curves are very steep), since a slight change in demand can result in dramatic pressure changes. An example of this situation is shown in Figure 10.11 and the corresponding data in Table 10.1. The figure shows pressures at a representative node in the system (for example, the pump discharge) and how pressures at other points vary with elevation. The comparatively low nighttime demands indicate that the system is probably experiencing very little head loss during this time, compounding the effect that the increased pump discharge head has on the system pressures. If the piping of an area

431

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normally operates at a pressure of 85 psi (586 kPa), a 15 psi (103 kPa) increase can cause marginal piping to break [pipes that could not withstand 85 psi (586 kPa) would have broken previously]. If a tank is off-line, the utility can ill afford a major pipe break. Figure 10.11 Effect of a change in demand on a constantspeed pump in a closed system

Table 10.1 Sample discharges and corresponding pressures for pump shown in Figure 10.11 Point

Demand

Pressure (psi)

Flow (gpm)

A

Peak demand

80

520

B

Normal operating point with tank

100

420

C

Average demand

110

350

D

Nighttime demand

125

180

An EPS model can be used to simulate the pressures and flows that occur over the course of a day to determine if the pressures may be too high during off-peak demand hours, or too low during peak demand hours. If the pressures become too high, then a PRV can be installed on the pump’s discharge piping, or a pressure relief valve can be installed to release water back to the suction side of the pump. The PRV can be modeled as a pressure sustaining valve set to open when the pressure exceeds a given set-

Section 10.6

Shutting Down a Section of the System

433

ting. If the pressures are too low during peak times, then additional pumping or a modification of pump controls may be necessary.

10.6

SHUTTING DOWN A SECTION OF THE SYSTEM

Pipes are occasionally taken out of service to install a connection with a new pipe, repair a pipe break, or perform rehabilitation on a pipe section. Without a model, the engineer must either make an intelligent guess about the effect on system performance or perform a trial shutdown to see what happens. Simulations are an excellent alternative or supplement to these options.

Representing a Shutdown The correct location of valves in the model is critical to determining the impact of a shutdown on distribution system performance. Figure 10.12 shows pipe P-140 connecting nodes J-37 and J-38. In shutdown scenario A, pipe P-140 is removed from service, along with nodes J-37 and J-38 and all pipes connected to these junctions. In shutdown scenario B, with valves G and H in service, only P-140 is taken out of service. Models are not usually set up to include small sections of pipe such as the one between valve G and node J-37, so the operator needs to carefully analyze how to modify the nodes and pipes to simulate the shutdown correctly. Most hydraulic simulation packages allow you to simulate pipe shutdowns as a function of the pipe instead of including all of the valves in the model. Figure 10.12 Simulating a pipe shutdown

Shutdown A B

Closed Valve D J-38

J-37 P-140

A

E

C

F

Shutdown B Closed Valve J-37

J-38 G

P-140

H

When shutting down a large transmission main with many taps, the problem can be much more difficult. In this case, all smaller pipes that run parallel to the main must be included in the model, even if they have not been included under the current level of skeletonization (they may not have been considered important when the large main

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was in service). In Figure 10.13, the 6-in. (150-mm) pipe represented by the dashed line may have originally been excluded from the model. During a simulation of the shutdown of the 16-in. (400-mm) pipe, however, the smaller pipe becomes very important and must be included in the model. Figure 10.13 Shutdown of a transmission main

16” Closed Valve 12"

6" Main Shutdown

Closed Valves

Add to Model of Shutdown

8"

16”

8" Valve

Closed Valve 12"

16”

Simulating the Shutdown After the model is configured correctly, it can be used to simulate the shutdown. Prior to performing any EPS runs, steady-state simulations are used to determine if any customers will be immediately without water. This problem may show up in the model output as “disconnected node” warnings, or as nodes with negative pressures. Note that negative pressures do not actually exist in a water distribution system, rather they typically indicate that the specified demand cannot be met.

Section 10.7

Power Outages

After the steady-state runs are successfully completed and it is clear which customers, if any, will be out of water, the operator will move on to EPS runs. An EPS run of the shutdown will show whether or not the affected portion of the system is being served with water from storage. A system that is relying on its storage can have tank water levels that drop quickly. In such cases, EPS runs are then used to study the range of tank water levels and their effect on system pressures. Usually, in short-term shutdowns, the system can be supplied by storage. The model can determine how long it will take before storage is exhausted. If a long-term shutdown is required, the utility can identify the feasibility of alternative sources of water for the area using the EPS results. This additional water supply may be provided by cracking open valves along pressure zone boundaries to obtain water from adjacent zones, opening interconnections with neighboring utilities, using portable pumps, or laying temporary pipes or hoses to transport water around the shutdown area. When a project is planned in which pipes will be out of service for cleaning and lining, temporary bypass piping laid on the ground (called highlining) can be used to transport water and supply customers in the area being taken out of service. When modeling a tank shutdown, the effect that pressure has on demand needs to be considered. In actuality, water demands are a function of system pressure. When pressure drops below normal, less water is used and leakage decreases. When evaluating demands as a function of pressure drop, the model must be adjusted for this change in demand or the simulation results will be conservative. To quantitatively determine the amount to compensate for a change in demand, a model with pressure-dependent demands can be used (some hydraulic models allow you to specify demand as a function of pressure). In practice, however, demand is decreased by a factor related to the change in pressure, usually involving considerable judgment.

10.7

POWER OUTAGES

A power outage may affect only a single pump station, or it can impact the entire system. Typically, utilities attempt to tie important facilities to the power grid with redundant feeds in several directions. No electrical system is perfectly reliable, however, and power may be interrupted due to inclement weather or extreme power demands. Most utilities rely on some combination of elevated storage, generators, or enginedriven pumps to protect against power outages. Generators may be permanently housed in pump stations, or temporarily stored elsewhere and transported to the area when they are needed. The generators located in pump stations may be configured to start automatically whenever there is a power outage, or they may require manual starting.

Modeling Power Outages A power outage can be modeled by turning off all the pumps that do not have a generator or engine. This action will probably result in nodes that are hydraulically disconnected from any tank or reservoir, or in negative pressures. A model that is structured

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this way will generate error messages and may not compute successfully. One possible way to work around this problem is to identify pressure zones that are disconnected and feed them from an imaginary reservoir (or fixed grade node) through a check valve at such a low head that all the pressures in the zone are negative. The negative pressures can then be used to indicate customers that will be without water. Steady-state model runs of the power outage are performed before EPS runs. The steady-state runs identify the nodes that will immediately be without service. After those problems have been addressed, EPS runs are used to study the effects of storage on service during a power outage. Zones with storage will first experience a drop in pressure as water levels fall, and then a loss of service once the tanks are empty. As in the case for systems with no tanks, each zone should have a reservoir at low head connected to the system through a very small pipe, so that nodes will not become disconnected in the model. Customers at lower elevations within a pressure zone may experience very little deterioration in service until the tank actually runs dry. Demands will most likely decrease during a power outage. A factory that does not have power may have to shut down, and so will not use much water. Dishwashers and washing machines also do not operate during power outages. The modeler needs to estimate and account for this effect to the extent possible. In areas where the utility uses portable generators to respond to power outages, the system will operate solely on storage for the amount of time that it takes to get the generator moved, set up, and running. Time-based controls can be set up in the model to turn on the pump after the time it would take to put the generator in place (probably a few hours after the start of the simulation).

Duration of an Outage Estimating the duration of a power outage is one of the most difficult decisions in this type of analysis. Generally, the simulation should be based on the longest reasonable estimate of the outage duration (that is, model the worst-case situation). If the outage is shorter, the system performance will be that much better. The EPS should be run for a duration that would give the tanks enough time to recover their normal water levels after the outage. Therefore, the EPS does not simply end at the time that the power is restored. Full tank level recovery may take hours or days. Although the system may have performed well up to this point, problems sometimes arise in the recovery period. For instance, because tank levels are lower, there is less head to pump against, so the flow rate of the pumps may be too high, causing the motor to overload and trip. Also, after lengthy system-wide outages, recovery may be limited by source capacity.

10.8

POWER CONSUMPTION

One of the largest operating costs for water utilities is the cost of energy to run pumps. Unfortunately, many utilities do not realize that an investment in a few small pump

Section 10.8

Power Consumption

modifications or operational changes is quickly recovered through significant energy savings. Many pump stations provide an excellent opportunity for significant savings with minimal effort. Because so much energy is required for pumping, a savings of only one or two percent can add up to several thousand dollars over the course of a year. Some stations operate as much as 20 to 30 percent under optimal efficiency. Common operational problems that contribute to high energy usage are • Pumps that are no longer pumping against the head for which they were designed • Pumps which were selected based upon a certain cycle time and are being run continuously • Variable-speed pumps being run at speeds that correspond to inefficient operating points In modeling pump operation, a highly skeletonized model can be used because only the large mains between the pump station and tanks are important in energy calculations. Adding detail usually has little impact on the results for this type of application. In addition to the information in the following sections on using models for determining energy costs, publications with guidelines for minimizing energy costs are available (Arora and LeChevallier, 1998; Hovstadius, 2001; Reardon, 1994; Walski, 1993).

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Many researchers have attempted to apply optimization techniques to energy management, with some success. Energy management continues to be a very active research area (Brion and Mays, 1991; Chase and Ormsbee, 1989; Coulbeck and Sterling, 1978; Coulbeck, Bryds, Orr, and Rance, 1988; Goldman, Sakarya, Ormsbee, Uber, and Mays, 2000; Lansey and Zhong, 1990; Ormsbee and Lingireddy, 1995; Ormsbee, Walski, Chase, and Sharp, 1989; Tarquin and Dowdy, 1989; and Zessler and Shamir, 1989).

Determining Pump Operating Points Many pumps are selected based on what the operating points ought to be but are run at operating points that can vary greatly over the course of a day. The simplest kind of analysis for a pump is to calculate pump production versus time of day and compare it with the flow rate at the pump’s best efficiency point. Figure 10.14 shows pump discharge versus time for a two-day period for a pump discharging into a pressure zone with no storage. If the pump’s best efficiency point is approximately 400 gpm (0.025 m3/s), then the pump is running efficiently. If, however, the pump is a 600 gpm (0.038 m3/s) pump, the pump is not being run efficiently and is wasting energy. Figure 10.14 Pump discharge versus time in closed system

600

600 gpm pump

Flow, gpm

500 400

400 gpm pump

300 200 100 0 0

6

12

18

24

30

36

42

48

Time, hr

Variable-speed pumps do not run efficiently over a wide range of flows, as shown in Figure 10.15. For instance, a variable-speed pump discharging against 150 ft (46 m) of head may run efficiently at 500 gpm (0.032 m3/s), but not at 250 gpm (0.016 m3/s). This type of analysis will help the operator determine whether the pump is operating efficiently. Operators will also want to know exactly how much money they are spending on a given pump versus a more efficient pump. The following sections explain the options to correct inefficiencies in pump operation and the calculations necessary to compute the associated costs.

Section 10.8

Power Consumption

439

Figure 10.15 Method for determining pump operating points

95%

Eff icie ncy 70 %

100% Speed

200

55% Effi cien cy

40% Efficie ncy

250

90%

150 Head, ft

85% 80%

System Head Curve

100

50

0 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Flow, gpm

Calculating Energy Costs The cost of pumping depends on the flow, pump head, efficiency, price, and the duration of time that the pump is running. The cost for pumping energy over a given time period can be determined using the following equation: C=Cf QhP pt/(epemed ) where

C Q hP p t ep em ed Cf

= = = = = =