A3(b): HYDRAULIC SIMULATION OF WATER SUPPLY NETWORK

The objectives of simulating the hydraulic behavior of a water supply network, being either real
or planned, focus upon identifying flow, pressure and velocities, following time variant system's
operation or the propagation of water quality in the network, supporting leak detection, verifying
the hydraulic impact of different system's elements, guiding gauging and calibration. Existing
simulation models represented by available software show different capacities regarding control
devices, including pressure control valves, pressure sustaining valves, flow control valves, check
valves, speed regulated pumps—operated combined and simultaneously where convergence may
not be obtained.

In any pipe network, the following two conditions must be satisfied:

1. The algebraic sum of pressure drops around a closed loop must be zero, i.e. there can be no
discontinuity in pressure.
2. The flow entering a junction must be equal to the flow leaving that junction; i.e. the law of
continuity must be satisfied.

Hardy-Cross Method

This method consists of assuming a distribution of flow in the network in such a way that the
principle of continuity is satisfied at each junction. A correction to these assumed flows is then
computed successively for each pipe loop in the network, until the correction is reduced to an
acceptable magnitude.

The Hardy-Cross analysis is based on the principles that

1. At each junction, the total inflow must be equal to total outflow.

ΣQinflow = ΣQoutflow (flow continuity criterion)

2. Head balance criterion: algebraic sum of the head losses around any closed loop is zero.

ΣHLclockwise =ΣHLcounter-clockwise

For a given pipe system, with known junction outflows, the Hardy-Cross method is an iterative
procedure based on initially estimated flows in pipes. Estimated pipe flows are corrected with
iteration until head losses in the clockwise direction and in the counter clockwise direction are
equal within each loop.

PROCEDURE:

1. Outflows from each node are decided.

2. Flows and direction of flows in pipes are estimated by considering the flow continuity
condition. At each node, ΣQinflow = ΣQoutflow

3. Decide the sign of flow direction. Usually clockwise direction (+) and counter clockwise
direction (-). Use the same sign for all loops.

4. Diameters are estimated for the initially assumed flowrates knowing the diameter, length and
roughness of a pipe, headloss in the pipe is a function of the flowrate Q.

According to Hazen William Equation H= 10.68 (Q/C) 1.85 (L / d)4.87

H= KQ1.85 where K = (10.68L)/(C1.85*d4.87)

For any pipe in a closed loop

Q = Q1 + ∆ where Q = actual flow; Q1 = assumed flow and ∆ = required flow correction

H= KQx (i)

x is an exponent whose value is generally 1.85

From (i) H = K(Q1 + ∆)x

Therefore, ∆ = - ∑ H/ [x* ∑ (H)/ Q1]

Find the correction for each loop from ∆ = - ∑ H/ [x* ∑ (H)/ Q1] and apply it to all pipes.

5. Repeat the procedure with corrected values of flow and continue till the correction becomes
negligible

EQUIVALENT PIPE METHOD (HEAD BALANCED METHOD)

The equivalent length method (The Le/D method) allows the user to describe the pressure
loss through an elbow or a fitting as a length of straight pipe.
This method is based on the observation that the major losses are also proportional to
the velocity head(v2/2g).

 The Le/D method simply increases the multiplying factor in the Darcy-Weisbach
equation (i.e. ƒ.L/D) by a length of straight pipe (i.e. Le) which would give rise to a
pressure loss equivalent to the losses in the fittings, hence the name “equivalent length”.
  The multiplying factor therefore becomes ƒ(L+Le)/D and the equation for calculation of
pressure loss of the system is therefore:

All fittings, elbows, tees, can be summed up to make one total length, and the pressure loss
calculated from this length. It has been found experimentally that if the equivalent lengths for a
range of sizes of a given type of fitting are divided by the diameters of the fittings then an almost
constant ratio (i.e. Le/D) is obtained. The advantage of the equivalent length method is that a
single data value is sufficient to cover all sizes of that fitting and therefore the tabulation of
equivalent length data is relatively easy. Some typical equivalent lengths are shown in the table.