Entropic Flow Patterns and Partially Double Pipe Methodology in Looped Systems Design

摘要

The design of Water Distribution Systems (WDS) tries to achieve simultaneously different aims related with a desired good performance of the hydraulic system, namely on what concerns flexibility in pipe failure situations to guarantee previously fixed values of pressure in all nodes of the system. To achieve that purpose the usual solution is the looped network system. The usual configuration of the loops is either rectangular or triangular loop. The desirable option is the rectangular one, allowing an easier decision for the more balanced definition of the entropic flow pattern. However, triangular loops are frequently found in WDS. The analysis of this particular configuration is usually "forgotten" in the presentation of studied cases. The present work makes a more focused analysis and discussion of the possible decision criteria of entropic flow patterns in different possible scenarios including triangular loops and its comparison with the "classical" rectangular loop configuration. In a first stage of the layout definition, four looped configurations are studied and compared. The second stage of the study covers the analysis of alternative methodologies to study alternative solutions for the chosen layout configuration.