Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
MODELS
Helping You Make
Better Decisions
BY SHARAVAN GOVINDAN, TOM WALSKI AND JACK COOK, BENTLEY SYSTEMS, INC.
Figure 1: Elevation contours and pressure/elevation profiles in a water network Figure 2: Finding critical pipes and valves to prioritize
rehabilitation investment
Figure 3: Water pipe network from WaterGEMS software Figure 4: Water asset management for day-to-day operations
exported to Google EarthTM
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• First Quarter1 2009 12/23/08 4:07:21 PM
the distribution system. A different • Fire flow analysis, which evaluates user to visualize the network model as
form of the equations must be solved to available fire flow and pressures it is being built and display output in
predict what will happen during these • Energy, which projects how much tables, on maps, with graphs, contours
events and what can be done to prevent energy pumps should be using dur- and profi les. Some examples of these
damage. ing daily operation are shown across the bottom of pages
Other kinds of model runs include: • Maintenance flushing, which helps 34-35.
• Water quality, which tracks water establish and manage a main flush-
quality or water age through source ing program How do we create a model of our system?
blended systems • Automated design, which helps size Building a model of a particular sys-
• Criticality, which can help you iden- pipes and plan rehabilitation tem consists of obtaining the software,
tify critical pipes and valves in the In addition to the hydraulic equa- learning how to use it and providing
system whose failure might be espe- tion solver, models have a graphical the input data to describe the system.
cially disruptive or costly user interface (GUI), which enables the The input data consists of three overall
types of data:
1. Description of the physical charac-
teristics: pipe sizes and connectivity,
elevations, pump characteristics
2. Assignment (rate and location) of
various types of water demands
3. Selection of the operating conditions
(which pumps are running, what the
tank water level is) to be simulated
To create a model, the minimum re-
quirement is an inventory and consoli-
dation of paper maps of the system and
as-built drawings. Users can directly
and easily draw the network and manu-
ally input descriptive data and demands.
However, it is more frequently the case
these days that commercial tools are used
to automate the model building process.
To relieve the user from the tedium and
potential for error in manual data en-
try, data can be imported from existing
sources such as CAD (Computer Aided
Design) maps, GIS (Geographical Infor-
mation Systems) systems and databases.
The basic law of computer modeling can
be summarized by GIGO – Garbage In –
Garbage Out. The quality of the results of
a model analysis is directly related to the
case exercised by the user in gathering
and entering model data.
In building a model, it is best to
“start small by thinking big.” That is,
it is better to gradually layer detail
into the model by incorporating the
larger mains early in the process and
then adding in smaller diameter mains.
These large main models are referred to
as skeletonized models, and by carefully
crafting your models by layering detail,
you will gain familiarity and better un-
derstanding of the system early on and
nurture a growing understanding about
the behavior and character of your dis-
tribution system.
38 • First Quarter1
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How can I use a model to solve problems? A water system hydraulic model can take the dirty
Basically, models enable you to ex-
periment with alternative solutions to work out of solving a wide range of water distribution
identify the superior solution. By run- hydraulic problems.
ning through many “what if” scenarios,
you can eliminate bad solutions, iden-
tify good solutions and gain insight into costing need for intelligent pump selec- tank levels and PRV (pressure reducing
the behavior of your system before you tion. Sometimes, pumps that work well valve) settings to identify the system
invest any money in solving the prob- alone do not run efficiently with other that best serves the customers.
lem. Some of the problems include: pumps. Modeling can identify those Water quality mixing. In systems
Pipe sizing. Once you have installed mismatches and help you avoid them. with multiple sources, the water quality
a pipe, it is too late to say “Gee, I should Emergency planning. Distribution can vary throughout the system. Cus-
have laid a 12-inch.” You cannot experi- systems need to work well even when tomers often complain when the taste
ment with real pipe sizes in the real sys- there is a pipe break, pump failure or and odor of their water varies. By run-
tem, but in a model, you can experiment a power outage. You cannot afford to ning a water quality simulation with a
with alternative sizes and load them with simulate an actual pipe failure but with model, you can see which customers are
future demands to see not only what will a model, you can simulate how your receiving water from which sources and
work today but what will work when de- system will respond during an outage. how that changes with time of day and
mands increase in 20 years. If a pipe is Sometimes, the model calibration work pump operation. There are often sur-
too small, the model will indicate this will identify mistakenly closed valves prises with the results of the runs.
with very high velocity in the pipe and or pumps not running on their curves. A water system hydraulic model can
low pressures downstream of that pipe. Pressure zone layout. In hilly ter- take the dirty work out of solving a wide
Pump selection. Pumps usually rain, it is difficult to operate a system range of water distribution hydraulic
represent the largest operating cost for that will provide pressures that are not problems. With tens of thousands of dol-
most utilities. Selecting pumps that too high at low points and not too low lars at risk with each decision a utility
work well with the system is essential, at high points. Models can be used to manager makes, use of a model to pro-
and energy costing modules in models simulate pressures in the system for a vide decision support more than justi-
can assist in performing the life-cycle wide range of pressure zone boundaries, fies the investment in the model. P
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• First Quarter 2009 1 10/2/08 11:07:31 AM