Comparison Between Calibration and Sensitivity Approach in Water Network Management in Emergency Conditions

Abstract

When a network works in emergency conditions, due to a pipe failure, an appropriate management of the system is necessary. These events can cause a bad service for the users, because the pressure in some nodes of the network (critical nodes) decreases and the required demand is not guaranteed. In fact, a pipe failure causes the isolation of the intervention area, modifies the circulating flow along pipes and can produce a pressure reduction in some nodes.In network management the aim is to increase the pressure, and consequently the flow rate delivered at critical nodes in order to minimize disruptions during the time between the failure and the repair.In this paper, a methodology based on the nodal demand control is proposed. The nodal demand control proposed is possible by using control valves and by identifying the nodes where the control should be done. The control nodes can be chosen by using sensitivity matrices or an approach based on calibration techniques. A case study shows the results obtained with both methods for the real network of Praia a Mare in the South of Italy.