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Pressure Dependent Analysis in Premise Plumbing System Modeling
Citation:
Burkhardt, J., J. Minor, F. Shang, AND W. Platten. Pressure Dependent Analysis in Premise Plumbing System Modeling. AWWA Water Science. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 5(3):e1344, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1344
Impact/Purpose:
Understanding how flow is impacted by pressure is critical to modeling actual flow rates for uses at each fixture in premise plumbing systems. Each fixture in a building could have unique pressure-flow relationships and a system could experience variable service pressure and demands throughout a day. Experiments were conducted to develop pressure-flow parameters for four faucets, a shower fixture and toilet for use in hydraulic modeling tools. Results showed that each fixture had a unique set of pressure dependent parameters. The Water Network Tool for Resilience (WNTR) was used to model two simple skeletonization problems for a single home case or a four homes combined case to highlight how uses in homes translate to larger distribution system scales. Minimum pressures of skeletonized nodes are likely non-zero when considering pressure dependence at the distribution scale and must account for pressure drops related to flow, elevation differences from distribution main, and additional sources of pressure drop like backflow preventers or water meters. Results showed that the flow is impacted by pressure in premise plumbing systems in complex ways, and usage and system characteristics must be considered to be modeled accurately. Knowledge about and the ability to model the pressure-flow relationship within homes is important for people studying premise plumbing systems. This may be of use to academics, modelers, or researchers interested in these systems. This work was conducted to support improved guidance related to flushing of premise plumbing systems.
Description:
Premise Plumbing Modeling - Demonstrating effectiveness of new modeling for premise plumbing systems
