Author(s): S. S. Ozger; L. W. Mays

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Water distribution networks; Reliability; Pressure-driven; Demand-driven

Abstract: Hydraulics of water distribution networks can be approached from two different perspectives. In demand-driven analysis, primacy is given fully to nodal demands regardless of actual pressures. Pressure-dependent approach, on the other hand, recognizes a relationship between nodal heads and nodal flows. While the demand-driven approach works well under normal operating conditions, recent research has shown that the pressure-driven approach produces much more realistic results under partially failed conditions of a network and should be used primarily for reliability assessment of water distribution networks. Practical difficulties of using pressure-driven analysis, including field data assembly and calibration of the models and the absence of robust methods for their computational solutions, have made it very desirable that techniques based on existing demand-driven techniques be developed for predicting deficient network performances and reliability assessments of water distribution networks. This paper describes the development and application of a semi-pressure-driven approach, DD-ADF method, around one of the most commonly used network hydraulic models, namely EPANET. Example applications demonstrate that unrealistic results from an initial demand-driven analysis in the form of pressure deficiencies could be transformed into partial fulfillment of nodal demands without losing computational efficiency.

DOI:

Year: 2003