Optimal Placement of Isolation Valves in Water Distribution Systems Based on Valve Cost and Weighted Average Demand Shortfall

In this paper a method for optimal placement of isolation valves in water distribution systems is presented. These valves serve to isolate parts of the network (segments) containing one or more pipes on which maintenance work can be performed without disrupting service in the entire network or in large portions of it. The segments formed after the installation and closure of isolation valves are identified and characterised using an algorithm which is based on the use of topological matrixes associated with the structure of the original network and the one modified to take account of the presence of (closed) valves. A multi-objective genetic algorithm is used instead to search for the optimal position of the valves. In the application of the method different objective functions were used and compared to solve the problem as to the optimal placement of the valves. The results showed that the most appropriate ones are the total cost of the valves (to be minimised) and the weighted average “water demand shortfall” (likewise to be minimised); in particular, the weighted average shortfall is calculated considering the shortfalls associated with the various segments of the network (shortfall is the unsupplied demand after isolating a segment) and the likelihood of failures tied to mechanical factors occurring in the segments. The methodology was applied to a case study focusing on a simplified layout of the water distribution system of the city of Ferrara (Italy).     

A Superposed Model for the Pipe Failure Assessment of Water Distribution Networks and Uncertainty Analysis: A Case Study

Pipe failure often occurs in water distribution networks (WDNs) and results in high levels of water loss and socio-economic damage. Physical-based, statistical and data-driven models have been developed to estimate pipe failure rates (failures per km of pipe per year) to efficiently manage water losses from WDNs and to ensure safe operations. Due to the complexities of pipe failure patterns, we develop a superposed statistical model to depict the relationship between pipe failure rate and pipe age. The model’s level of uncertainty was then quantified by simulating pipe failures as Poisson numbers. Part of Beijing’s WDN is taken as a study case, and pipe failure data for a 4-year period, as well as pipe properties, are collected to develop the pipe failure model. The case study results show that the pipe failure rates vary with time in a non-monotonic manner and that the proposed model captures pipe failure behaviour with an R² value of 0.95. A 95% confidence interval of modelled pipe failures for each pipe age group is used to describe the uncertainty level of the model. We find that 88% of the observations fall under the 95% confidence interval. The established model could be applied to prioritize pipes with higher failure rates to optimize pipe replacement/rehabilitation strategies. Our uncertainty analysis of this model can help utility managers understand the model’s reliability and formulate reasonable WDN management plans.     

阀门结构在复杂引水管道中引起的自激振动

本文应用数值模拟方法，研究了因阀门密封失效，在串联管路，分支管路中产生自激振动的最大水压力，压力脉动的主频率，管长搭配对振动的影响。研究表明：在不利的管长搭配中，最大水压力能达到三倍静水头。在分支管路中，当分支管中的流量大于某一值时，自激振动就不会产生。     

引水管道闸门的动水荷载特征与破坏分析

针对引水管道内压力波动诱发强烈振动问题，研究了水电站或泵站蝶阀开启状态时所承受的水流时均和脉动荷载特性，计算了水力诱发阀门的振动响应，分析了阀门锁轴等构件的疲劳效应和阀门突然关闭对管道阀门门体的影响，研究成果可为工程设计和安全运行提供依据。     

An Optimization Model for Crucial Key Pipes and Mechanical Reliability: A Case Study on a Water Distribution System in Taiwan

This study develops a new method to calculate the water distribution system’s mechanical reliability and locates crucial pipes by using the minimum cut-sets method, exhaustive enumeration method and an optimal allocation model. First, a full domain optimization model was established to analyze the water distribution system. Next, the minimum cut-sets method and exhaustive enumeration method were used to discover the water distribution system’s key pipes. At last, water distribution system’s mechanical reliability can be calculated. The major contributions are that we can use optimal allocation model to locate crucial pipelines in the water distribution whose failure will severely impair the source-demand connectivity. Besides, we can calculate water distribution system’s mechanical reliability. Thus we can offer these results for hydraulic construction funds consulting. The developed methodology is applied to a water distribution system in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan.     

Identification of Critical Pipes for Water Distribution Network Rehabilitation

The water distribution network needs to be rehabilitated when the network is unable to perform the desired function. In this study, a methodology is developed to identify the critical pipes in the water distribution network for its rehabilitation by using four network reliability metrics: supply shortage, pressure decline, energy loss per unit length, and the hydraulic uniformity index. These metrics consider different aspects of reliability of the water distribution network using pressure-dependent analysis to calculate the overall criticality of the pipes. In contrast to the conventional reliability index, the present study uses both the normal and abnormal conditions at nodes (fire demand) and pipe (pipe failure) and thus, provides more balance reliability metrics for the network. The literature shows that the node and pipe level metrics have been used separately, whereas in this study both the node and pipe level metrics are combined to develop the present methodology. The methodology is applied to four different water distribution networks, including one typical realistic water distribution network, the data for which is adopted from literature. The results show that the methodology can identify the critical pipes successfully to prioritize the water distribution network rehabilitation and found to be simple in implementation for practicing professionals. The results further show that the critical pipes are found to be located from the source on the paths that do not have a loop or around the nodes of higher demand. The study might also be useful for the extension plan of a water distribution network along with strengthening the deficient nodes/ pipes of the network.

     

供水管道压力调控对漏水量影响的试验研究

在某城市供水管网中,以消火栓模拟管道漏水点,利用减压阀在供水高压区进行管道压力调控,分析不同管径的管道压力变化对漏水量的影响,以及不同减压区间的漏水率降低效果。试验结果表明,压力管理是一种行之有效的漏损主动控制方法,利用减压方式供水在优化管网运行条件的同时,可以有效地减少管网漏水量;漏水量与管道压力呈指数规律变化,该指数随减压阀所安装管道的直径不同而异;降压减漏效果对相同管径的管道在高压区更有效,而对基本相同的压力降压范围,管径越大效果越明显。实际操作中采用何种减压方式及降压范围和管段须结合管网具体情况优化选择。     

基于蒙特卡罗法的城市给水管网可靠性分析

基于蒙特卡罗法对给水管网的可靠性进行了分析.提出了新的可靠度指标计算方法,对管网和各节点分别建立评价指标,并得出了定量的计算结果.通过对可靠性计算结果的分析,能有效识别出给水管网中的关键管段,模拟多管段同时处于故障状态的情况,可以作为给水管网可靠度优化设计的参考.     

供水工程采用调压井初探

厦门供水工程输水高压管道总长39．5km，沿线地形复杂，管道起伏频繁。当泵组运行失电时，为防止负压对管道的破坏，在管道首都设置了调压井。计算表明，调压井可有效地防止负压产生，只要水泵出口阀采用缓慢关闭方式，管道将不会产生较大的正水锤，也不会引起水泵反转速飞逸破坏。     

Thermal field in water pipe cooling concrete hydrostructures simulated with singular boundary method

The embedded water pipe system is often used as a standard cooling technique during the construction of large-scale mass concrete hydrostructures. The prediction of the temperature distribution considering the cooling effects of embedded pipes plays an essential role in the design of the structure and its cooling system. In this study, the singular boundary method, a semi-analytical meshless technique, was employed to analyze the temperature distribution. A numerical algorithm solved the transient temperature field with consideration of the effects of cooling pipe specification, isolation of heat of hydration, and ambient temperature. Numerical results are verified through comparison with those of the finite element method, demonstrating that the proposed approach is accurate in the simulation of the thermal field in concrete structures with a water cooling pipe.     

Location and Calibration of Valves in Water Distribution Networks Using a Scatter-Search Meta-heuristic Approach

Recently, there has been an increase in the use of meta-heuristic techniques addressing water distribution network design and management optimization problems. The meta-heuristic approach applied to water distribution systems has provided interesting results both for optimum pipe diameter sizing and for the location and management of network pressure control devices (i.e., pumps and valves). Regarding the insertion and calibration of pressure regulation valves, the use of meta-heuristic techniques is relatively recent. We search to strategically placing the valves in order to achieve pressure control in the network and, therefore, the valves must be calibrated in relation to water demand trends over time. In the Pressure Reference Method (PRM) described in this paper, the search for valve location is restricted to pipe-branch sets defined on the basis of hydraulic analysis and considering the range between minimum and maximum acceptable pressures in the network. In the PRM approach, the Scatter-Search (Glover and Laguna, 1997) meta-heuristic procedures are applied to obtain the optimal location and calibration of valves in the water distribution network.     

橡胶坝自动化补水系统研究

橡胶坝是一种新型水工建筑物,目前我国建设的橡胶坝多达4000多座。橡胶坝在运行中,由于坝袋锚固、闸阀关闭不严等原因,坝袋经常出现缓慢自行降坝,造成坝整体不均过流。目前,主要采用原有的充排系统为坝袋补水。这种方式在运行时需要同时开启多个较大阀门、大功率水泵,费时费力,增加运行成本。橡胶坝自动化补水消除了大泵补水产生的水锤效应,解决了水锤效应对蝶阀、机泵、管路的破坏问题,延长了机泵、蝶阀、管路的使用寿命,大大提高了橡胶坝工程的运行管理水平。     

应当规范排(进)气阀的生产

输、配水管网因排气不畅而引发气爆型水锤，从而导致爆管的事故时有发生，经补救后再次发生爆管事故的也并不鲜见。近年来，我国的长距离、大口径管道输水工程快速发展，管道输水的排（进）气设计和排（进）气阀的规范生产问题应当引起重视。文中列举了有压管道输水系统中气体产生的原因、赋存形态和危害，对规范排（进）气阀的生产提出了建议。     

Reliability Assessment of Urban Water Distribution Networks Under Seismic Loads

Presented herein is a methodology for the seismic assessment of the reliability of urban water distribution networks (UWDN) based on general seismic assessment standards, as per the American Lifelines Alliance (ALA) guidelines, and localized historical records of critical risk-of-failure metrics pertaining to the specific UWDN under assessment. The proposed methodology is applicable to UWDN under both normal or abnormal operating conditions (such as intermittent water supply), and the assessment of reliability incorporates data of past non-seismic damage, the vulnerabilities of the network components against seismic loading, and the topology of a UWDN. Historical data obtained using records of pipe burst incidents are processed to produce clustered ‘survival curves’, depicting the pipes’ estimated survival rate over time. The survival curves are then used to localize the generalized fragility values of the network components (primarily pipes), as assessed using the approach suggested by the ALA guidelines. The network reliability is subsequently assessed using Graph Theory (Djikstra’s shortest path algorithm), while the system reliability is calculated using Monte Carlo simulation. The methodology proposed is demonstrated on a simple small-scale network and on a real-scale district metered area (DMA). The proposed approach allows the estimation of the probability that a network fails to provide the desired level of service and allows for the prioritization of retrofit interventions and of capacity-upgrade actions pertaining to existing water pipe networks.     

横泉水库供水管线水锤压力计算分析

通过计算机数值计算方法来模拟各种工况条件下输水管路系统的水锤状况,分析可能出现的超常水锤压力情况,校核阀门和压力管路的承受压力,针对计算分析结果采用必要的水锤防护措施,寻求阀门的最优关闭规律,确保整个供水工程的安全运行。     

张河湾抽水蓄能电站机组水环设计与现状分析

水环是抽水蓄能机组所特有的现象,转轮充气压水运行时用以密封气体不进入蜗壳、减小压水用气量。鉴于机组投产初期水环排水管频繁振裂,对水环的释放进行管路改造,取消水环排水管路,水环改为经蜗壳与尾水管均压管路释放排出,保证了水泵方向启动的可靠性。同时由于厂房振动,造成蜗壳与尾水管均压阀卡涩,引起机组启动失败,在振动无法彻底解决前,对均压阀使用环境进行减振处理,提高阀门动作稳定可靠。     

Experimental study on dynamic pipe fracture in consideration of hydropower plant model

In the case of sudden valve closure, water hammer creates the most powerful pressure and damage to pipeline systems. The best way to protect the pipeline system is to eliminate water hammer. The main reasons for water hammer occurrence are valve closure, high initial velocity, and static pressure. However, it is difficult to eliminate water hammer. Water hammer tends to occur when the valve is being closed. In this study, the pipe fracture caused by static water pressure, gradually increasing pressure, and suddenly increasing pressure were compared experimentally in a breaking PVC test pipe. The quasi-static zone, the dynamic zone, and the transition zone are defined through the results of those experiments, with consideration of the fracture patterns of test pipes and impulses. The maximum pressure results were used to design the pipeline even though it is in the dynamic zone.     

重庆市云阳县城市给水总体规划设计

针对重庆市云阳县的地形地势特点,对城市给水系统进行了规划设计,提出了分区域供水、分压供水等规划方案。同时,在各片区的对应分区之间设置连通管道,将各高程分区管网连接成环。在联通管道上设置应急闸阀,通过控制应急闸阀的启闭,对各片区的供水进行合理调配。城市给水总体规划的提出为实现云阳县安全供水的目标提供了可靠的理论依据。     

探索8.3km DN600球墨铸铁管全线完成后的水压试验方法

8.3 km DN600球墨铸铁管全线完成后水压试验,以管线上的蝶阀作为试验管段的分界点,在蝶阀处利用蝶阀伸缩器可调节伸缩量安装法兰封板,使两个相邻的蝶阀间管道形成封闭的试压管段,利用管道安装回填土的摩擦力承载管道水压试验的水压力,避免拆除蝶阀设置封堵管件和混凝土后靠等设施的安装,大大提高了施工效率,同时降低了水压试验费用。     

安装有空气阀的输水管路系统空管充水过程瞬态分析

在输水管路系统中,空气阀在预防水柱分离及再弥合水锤方面发挥着关键作用。现有空气阀的应用研究多集中于满管流状态,但对于空管充水阶段空气阀的水锤防护研究较少。为此,本文建立了空管充水过程中空气阀的数学模型,提出了一种基于改进牛顿迭代法和直接求解法相结合的求解空气阀模型的计算方法,分析了进气阀、普通进排气阀和进气微排阀3种类型的空气阀在曲折管线空管充水过程中的水锤防护效果。定量分析表明,为预防空管充水过程中出现的水柱分离及再弥合高压水锤,选择大口径进气,微量排气的空气阀最为合适。该研究对安装有空气阀的输水管路系统的空管充水瞬态分析具有一定的参考价值。