Real-time dynamic hydraulic model of water distribution networks

Abstract

The impact of climate change and increasing urbanisation throughout the world has forced water utility managers to increase the efficiency of water resources. Reduction of real (or physical) water losses plays a crucial role in improving the efficiency of water supply systems. Considering these challenges, it will not be enough to rely only on traditional approaches to solve the problem of water losses. Therefore, more advanced techniques need to be developed and utilized. Recently, a framework for a real-time dynamic hydraulic model for potable water loss reduction was proposed. This paper focuses mainly on the three major components of the proposed real-time dynamic hydraulic model framework for potable water loss reduction, which have been developed recently. These are background leakage detection, pressure management, and water demand forecasting. A background leakage detection algorithm was proposed which, amongst others, permits the localisation of potential critical nodes or pipes with higher leakage flow in the network where such pressure management could be performed. More so, new controllers (algorithms) which perform pressure management by accurately setting the pressure, using either a pressure control valve or variable speed pump, have been constructed. In addition, background leakage flow is greatly affected by demand variations, a water demand forecasting model is constructed with the aim of annexing the demand variation for multi-period leakage analysis. Thus, a short-term water demand forecast utilising the Model Conditional Processor was constructed to forecast the following hour demand and the associated predictive uncertainty. Although each of these components have been tested independently, future work is ongoing for merging these components and integration within the dynamic hydraulic model framework.