Steady-State Analysis of Water Distribution Networks Including Pressure-Reducing Valves

Hydraulic networks that contain controlling elements such as pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) are difficult to simulate. Limited literature exists on the explicit modeling of PRVs in a general solution procedure for steady-state analysis of water distribution systems. It is also known that inclusion of PRVs may lead to numerical difficulties. The objective of this article is to develop and present in sufficient detail the modeling of PRVs in combination with the linear theory method for steady-state analysis of water distribution networks. The presentation is explicit enough and leads to a robust algorithm that can be directly implemented in a computer program. The general methodology for simulating water distribution networks that embodies graph theoretic concepts, hydraulic theory, and numerical algorithms is reviewed.