Water Network Pressure Control for Low Variability and Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pressure control methods in water distribution networks lead to significant pressure variations, reducing the reliability and life expectancy of high-consequence assets and introducing stress on critical components, which counteracts the objective of minimizing average zone pressure.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that uses Pareto efficient solutions to control actuator valves in liquid conduit systems, optimizing both average zone pressure and pressure variability through the simultaneous minimization of these variables, allowing for optimal trade-offs and reducing asset degradation and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If current pressure control methods are used to minimize average zone pressure, then leakage is reduced, but pressure variability increases causing stress on critical components and reducing asset reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the control parameters from single-point critical pressure to multi-point zone-averaged pressure, and from simple pressure minimization to simultaneous minimization of both average pressure and pressure variability. This is achieved through the objective function that minimizes both the average zone pressure (reducing leakage) and the pressure variability (protecting assets), thereby resolving the contradiction between leakage reduction and asset reliability.
2Loss of substance
If sectorization with kept-shut valves is implemented, then leakage management is improved, but network redundancy is reduced affecting system resilience
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic reconfiguration capability where the network topology can change between single-feed and multi-feed configurations based on operational requirements. The control system can dynamically adjust valve positions and flow paths to maintain multiple supply routes to critical zones, thereby preserving network resilience while still enabling effective leakage management through pressure control.
3Stress or pressure
If control valves are used to achieve desired average zone pressures, then pressure management is improved, but diurnal pressure variability increases due to stochastic demand and non-linear energy losses
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a feedback control system that continuously monitors pressure at multiple points within the zone and adjusts control valve positions to maintain desired average pressure while minimizing variability. The feedback mechanism uses real-time pressure data to dynamically compensate for stochastic demand variations and non-linear energy losses, thereby achieving both good pressure management and pressure stability.
4Stress or pressure
If CP-based feedback control is used to minimize pressure at critical point, then average zone pressure is reduced, but intra- and inter-zone pressure variations increase reducing asset life expectancy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from single-point (critical point) pressure control to multi-dimensional zone-averaged pressure control. By monitoring and controlling pressure at multiple points simultaneously and optimizing the zone-averaged pressure, the system achieves better overall pressure management while preventing extreme pressure variations that would occur with single-point control, thereby extending asset life expectancy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling conditions within a liquid conduit system. The method comprising: defining a zone within the liquid conduit system, wherein pressure within the zone is influenced by one or more actuator valves; controlling the one or more actuator valves in dependence on a Pareto efficient solution to the minimisation of functions of the average pressure within the zone (AZP) and the pressure variability within the zone (PVZ).