Performance of water valves required by water supply network digitalization process

Abstract

Abstract Digitalization process has the capacity to increase productivity and efficiency, to improve the business and reducing costs. Working with big data, using sensors, meters, digital controls and analytic tools, or artificial intelligence in smart water management, the water industry has known a profound transformation with the aim to improve the water services and consumption in the context of our day’s water threats. The water supply networks are exposed permanently to more leaks when water pressures are high which mean higher energy costs and more water losses. For this reason, water supply systems need to monitor in real time the main hydraulic parameters and to control and drive all the hydraulic equipment, to predict consumption and to anticipate the problems. The new water technology is using valves which regulate the water inlet to a system and receiving real-time wireless pressure values. Staring from the quality of services in water distribution systems, the present paper presents a pneumatic actuator used to control and drive water valves. The pneumatic actuator is controlled by a proportional valve. The numerical simulation results highlight the pneumatic actuator performance regarding the dynamic behaviour.