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Realistic modelling of leakage in water distribution pipe networks
Several experimental and modelling studies have established that leak areas are mostly not fixed but vary linearly with pressure. Introducing this linear relationship into the orifice equation, results in a two-part modified orifice equation for leakage modelling with pressure head exponents of 0.5...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Civil Engineering
2019
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| _version_ | 1867613608743010304 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Kabaasha, Asaph Mercy |
| author2 | Van Zyl, Jakobus E |
| author_browse | Kabaasha, Asaph Mercy Van Zyl, Jakobus E |
| author_facet | Van Zyl, Jakobus E Kabaasha, Asaph Mercy |
| author_sort | Kabaasha, Asaph Mercy |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Several experimental and modelling studies have established that leak areas are mostly not fixed but vary linearly with pressure. Introducing this linear relationship into the orifice equation, results in a two-part modified orifice equation for leakage modelling with pressure head exponents of 0.5 and 1.5 respectively. Current hydraulic network solvers apply the conventional power leakage equation to model pressure dependent demands such as leakage. The empirically derived power leakage equation does not explicitly consider the leak area variation with pressure and it has been found to be flawed under certain conditions. The aim of this study therefore, was to incorporate the modified orifice equation into the algorithm of a hydraulic network solver and evaluate the impact this has on leakage modelling. Epanet is the hydraulic modelling software whose algorithm of the network solver was modified. In addition, a stochastic model for network leak generation and distribution was developed. The conventional and the modified software were applied to different levels of stochastically generated and distributed leakage in three differently sized pipe networks. It was found that the conventional power leakage equation results in significant leakage volume and flow rate errors under certain conditions. A methodology was also developed to correct the conventional power leakage equation so that it can be used to model leakage realistically without a change of the software to one that uses the modified orifice equation. The methodology was thereafter applied to an existing model that detects leaks in standard water distribution pipe networks, and the results showed significant improvements in the performance of the model. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/29241 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:38:51.629Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publishDateRange | 2019 |
| publishDateSort | 2019 |
| publisher | Department of Civil Engineering |
| publisherStr | Department of Civil Engineering |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/29241 Realistic modelling of leakage in water distribution pipe networks Kabaasha, Asaph Mercy Van Zyl, Jakobus E Engineering Several experimental and modelling studies have established that leak areas are mostly not fixed but vary linearly with pressure. Introducing this linear relationship into the orifice equation, results in a two-part modified orifice equation for leakage modelling with pressure head exponents of 0.5 and 1.5 respectively. Current hydraulic network solvers apply the conventional power leakage equation to model pressure dependent demands such as leakage. The empirically derived power leakage equation does not explicitly consider the leak area variation with pressure and it has been found to be flawed under certain conditions. The aim of this study therefore, was to incorporate the modified orifice equation into the algorithm of a hydraulic network solver and evaluate the impact this has on leakage modelling. Epanet is the hydraulic modelling software whose algorithm of the network solver was modified. In addition, a stochastic model for network leak generation and distribution was developed. The conventional and the modified software were applied to different levels of stochastically generated and distributed leakage in three differently sized pipe networks. It was found that the conventional power leakage equation results in significant leakage volume and flow rate errors under certain conditions. A methodology was also developed to correct the conventional power leakage equation so that it can be used to model leakage realistically without a change of the software to one that uses the modified orifice equation. The methodology was thereafter applied to an existing model that detects leaks in standard water distribution pipe networks, and the results showed significant improvements in the performance of the model. 2019-02-04T11:48:44Z 2019-02-04T11:48:44Z 2018 2019-02-02T09:36:53Z Doctoral Thesis Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29241 eng application/pdf Department of Civil Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Engineering Kabaasha, Asaph Mercy Realistic modelling of leakage in water distribution pipe networks |
| thesis_degree_str | Doctoral |
| title | Realistic modelling of leakage in water distribution pipe networks |
| title_full | Realistic modelling of leakage in water distribution pipe networks |
| title_fullStr | Realistic modelling of leakage in water distribution pipe networks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Realistic modelling of leakage in water distribution pipe networks |
| title_short | Realistic modelling of leakage in water distribution pipe networks |
| title_sort | realistic modelling of leakage in water distribution pipe networks |
| topic | Engineering |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29241 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kabaashaasaphmercy realisticmodellingofleakageinwaterdistributionpipenetworks |