User Friendly Numerical Hydraulic Model for Complex Pipe Networks. Case Study: Mbale School Zone, Uganda

Abstract

Whenever there are substantial variations in quantity of demands within a metropolitan water network, it is necessary to assess the pipe network. Variations in demand exist every time new industries or residences are connected to the network. In cases where no analyses are done prior to making new connections, unnecessarily huge funds are incurred and use of unreasonably bigger pipes is inevitable, some of which may stay redundant. The present study aims at developing a user friendly numerical hydraulics model for analysing compound pipe networks: The case of Mbale School zone in Uganda. The model was developed using the V-Model approach, written in visual basic language, to resolve the elementary pipe system equations using improved Hardy Cross method. This program examines steady state flows, head losses, flow velocities, and pressures for single, two, three, and four loop water distribution network. The four loop example represents the entire network of the case study area in consideration. The comparative study conducted on results from the program and EPANET indicated consistency in the results as coefficient of determinant, 𝑅2, for all the computed variables was approximately unity(1). The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Bias Error (MBE) were found to be reasonably so small. Therefore, it can be concluded from the statistical analysis that the model is reliable.