Water Distribution Criticality Analysis Using Isolating Valve Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic models for water distribution systems fail to accurately account for the location of isolating valves, leading to misleading results in criticality analysis and segmentation, as they do not treat valves as junction nodes and segments do not correspond directly to pipe links, making it difficult to identify and quantify the impact of segment outages.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based hydraulic modeling platform that incorporates isolating valves as elements, using graph theory to identify segments and quantify their criticality by calculating the shortfall in demand satisfaction, allowing for visualization and simulation of segment outages, and providing metrics for connectivity and hydraulic analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional hydraulic models treat pipes and junctions as the only elements, then the model structure is simple, but the criticality analysis results are misleading because isolating valves are not properly located
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the water distribution system into segments based on isolating valve locations. Each segment represents a portion of the system that can be isolated by closing valves, allowing accurate identification of outage impacts without manually removing multiple links. This segmentation approach resolves the contradiction by structuring the model to reflect actual system behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces isolating valves as intermediary elements between pipes and junctions. These valves serve as mediators that define segment boundaries and control water flow isolation. By treating valves as distinct elements with specific locations along pipes, the model achieves accurate criticality analysis while maintaining a manageable structure.
2Measurement precision
If segments are defined by multiple pipe pieces rather than single links, then the segmentation accuracy improves, but the network topology complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by identifying segments as collections of pipe pieces bounded by isolating valves. This allows segments to accurately represent isolatable portions of the system regardless of whether they consist of one or multiple pipe links. The segmentation principle resolves the contradiction by providing a flexible framework that adapts to system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves from a simple pipe-link based topology to a segment-based topology that operates at a different level of abstraction. Instead of working with individual links, the model works with segments that aggregate multiple links, effectively adding a dimensional layer to the network representation that simplifies outage analysis.
3Reliability
If manual segmentation is required to simulate pipe outages, then the model can handle complex valve configurations, but the operation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the model to automatically identify segments and their bounding valves without manual intervention. The system self-services by using the stored valve location information to dynamically determine segment boundaries and calculate outage impacts. This eliminates the need for manual segmentation operations while maintaining accurate reliability analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-storing isolating valve locations and characteristics in the model database during system setup. This preliminary information is then automatically utilized during outage simulations, eliminating the need for repeated manual valve location identification and segment reconstruction operations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If isolating valves are not treated as junction nodes, then the valve placement flexibility is maintained, but the valve location becomes difficult to locate within the model
Solution Approach 1:
The patent treats isolating valves as intermediary elements with defined locations along pipe links, rather than forcing them into junction node categories. This intermediary status allows valves to maintain placement flexibility while being explicitly locatable within the model structure, resolving the contradiction between versatility and detectability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent assigns specific local qualities to isolating valves, including their precise locations along pipe links and their associ ation with specific segments. This local quality information makes valves easily detectable and locatable within the model while preserving the flexibility to place them at appropriate positions in the distribution system.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for performing a criticality analysis of a water distribution network is provided. The method and system provides for segmentation of the system which allows a user to determine the set of elements that comprise segments, which in turn are the smallest portion of a water distribution system that can be isolated by valving. Isolating valves are included as elements in the set of elements that are used by an associated hydraulic solver engine to segment the water distribution network. Once the network has been segmented, a criticality analysis is performed whereby a hydraulic simulation is run for an outage of one or more segments, and the shortfall in demand supplied to other segments is calculated. The system provides for a linking of the ability to automatically identify segments with a hydraulic analysis model to enable a user not only to identify segments, but to rank their importance based on a variety of user defined metrics.