Single Loop Hybrid Search for Hydrant Fire Flow Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire hydrant network systems require inefficient and time-consuming computation to determine design fire flow, as they involve repeated calls to hydraulic solvers and reliance on heuristic search methods, leading to prolonged analysis times for large models.
Innovation Solution
A modified fire flow module with a single-loop algorithm that simultaneously evaluates pressure and velocity violations across all junctions, couples the search for design fire flow within the hydraulic solver loop, and hybridizes physically based and heuristic criteria to efficiently determine hydrant fire flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If prior art algorithms evaluate fire hydrant network systems one hydrant at a time with repeated hydraulic solver calls, then thorough analysis is achieved, but computation time becomes significantly prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple hydraulic solver evaluations into a single unified evaluation that simultaneously assesses all hydrants in the network. Instead of calling the hydraulic solver separately for each hydrant, the system performs one comprehensive evaluation that computes fire flow capacities for all hydrants concurrently, thereby maintaining analysis thoroughness while dramatically reducing computation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal evaluation framework that can determine fire flow capacities for multiple hydrants using a single hydraulic solver call. This multi-functional approach allows the system to analyze the entire network in one operation rather than requiring separate specialized analyses for each hydrant, achieving both efficiency and completeness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If heuristic search methods are used to determine design fire flow, then the algorithm can handle complex network constraints, but the search process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional heuristic search mechanism with a direct hydraulic solver-based evaluation system. Instead of using iterative heuristic methods that gradually converge on solutions, the system uses the hydraulic solver to directly compute fire flow capacities that satisfy all network constraints, thereby maintaining adaptability to complex constraints while significantly improving analysis efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple iterations are performed to ensure convergence of hydraulic parameters, then solution accuracy is improved, but computation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary hydraulic evaluation that establishes initial conditions and constraints for all hydrants simultaneously before beginning the fire flow determination process. By pre-computing network-wide hydraulic characteristics in a single evaluation, the system reduces the number of iterative corrections needed later, thereby maintaining solution accuracy while minimizing iteration time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system provide the ability to determine a hydrant fire flow. Inputs are obtained A critical element is identified. Based on a physical-based heuristic, a new hydrant fire flow guess is determined. The search direction is evaluated and used to maintain/override (using a heuristic method) the fire flow guess. The new guess is assigned as a hydrant demand. Network pressure and flow values are updated. The constraints are evaluated. The guess is reduced if at least one constraint has been violated and increased of all constraints have been satisfied. The new guess is evaluated for convergence and if not converged, the process repeats.