Pipe Network Analysis
Pipe Network Analysis determine the flow rates
and pressure drops in the individual sections of a
hydraulic network. Hardy Cross Method is the
oldest and probably best known solution method
for pipe networks. In this method, each loop
correction is determined independently of other
loops. Epp and Fowler (1970) developed a more
efficient approach by simultaneously computing
corrections for all loops. This article illustrates use
of Simultaneous Loop Flow Adjustment Algorithm
in modelling pipe network analysis in excel
spreadsheet.
Example
A water supply distribution system is shown in the
figure below. All pipes are cast iron with lengths
and diameters as provided in table below. Perform
pipe network analysis and calculate water flow in
all branches.
An initial flow estimate is made across all pipe
branches that satisfies continuity at all nodes.
Head loss across a pipe is determined using Darcy
– Weisbach equation.
HLoss = K Q²
K = 8fL/ π²g D 5
Head loss across each loop is made.
F(I) : K1.Q1² + K3.Q3² - K8.Q8² - K4.Q4² -
K2.Q2² = 0
F(II) : K5.Q5² + K7.Q7² - K6.Q6² - K3.Q3² = 0
F(III): K6.Q6² + K10.Q10² - K9.Q9² + K8.Q8² = 0
Newton Raphson method is used to solve above
equations for change in flow ΔQ (ΔQI, ΔQII, ΔQIII)
across each loop. In vector form all loops can be
written as :
JL.ΔQ = - F(Qm-1)
JL = δF / δ(ΔQ)
where Qm-1 is vector of pipe flow, ΔQ is vector of
loop flow corrections and F(Qm-1) is the vector of
residuals of loop conservation of energy equations
evaluated at Qm-1. JL is first derivatives of the loop
equations evaluated at Qm-1.
Once above matrices are formed, it is solved
linearly for ΔQ and pipe flows are updated by the
loop corrections as Qm = Qm-1 +/- ΔQ.
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Coefficient Matrix, JL
Derivative for single pipe is obtained as:
δ(K1.Q1²)/δ(ΔQI) = 2.K1.Q1 = 2.HL1/Q1
Diagonal terms are obtained by adding derivatives
of all pipes in a loop and always have a positive
sign. eg.
δFI/δ(ΔQI) = n( |HL1/Q1| + |HL3/Q3| + |HL8/Q8| + |
HL4/Q4| + |HL2/Q2| )
= 979.03
Off-diagonal terms are gradients for pipes that
appear in different loops and always have a
negative sign.
δFI/δ(ΔQII) = -n( |HL3/Q3| ) = δFII/δ(ΔQI)
= -165.60
In above derivative change in Loop I due to flow
change in Loop II will be due to common pipe 3.
Above gradient is also for δFII/δ(ΔQI). The JL matrix
is obtained as following.
F(Qm-1) is evaluated based on head loss across each loop.
FI = HL1 + HL3 - HL8 - HL4 - HL2
= -10.94
F matrix is obtained as
F(Qm-1)T = [-10.94 -6.40 43.62 ]
Below matrix is solved in excel to obtain ΔQ.
JL.ΔQ = - F
JL-1 is determined using Minverse function. Select
3×3 cells in excel and type MINVERSE(Input
Array) and press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to
evaluate inverse of matrix.
Do multiplication of JL-1 and -F vector using MMULT
function. Select 3×1 cells in excel and type
MMULT(Inverse Array, F array) and press
CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to evaluate multiplication.
ΔQ array is obtained as following.
ΔQ = [ 0.00066 -0.00261 -0.03133]
As flow changes are larger another iteration is
done, with flows adjusted based on ΔQ values. For
example flow rate in Pipe 3 will become.
Q3 = Q30 + ΔQI - ΔQII
= 0.12 + (0.00066) - (-0.00261)
= 0.123
New flowrates are calculated and above steps are
repeated. To do more iterations copy entire rows
and paste them below the above cells to carry out
further calculation till change in flowrates become
negligible. For this example ΔQ becomes
negligible in 5 iterations. Final flows in m³/s are as
following.
If a pipe’s flow direction changes from the
assumed value, the signs for that pipe head loss
terms are switched for all loops containing the
pipe during the
next iteration in loop equations. JL matrix signs will
remain same as above.
Example
Perform pipe network analysis and calculate water
flow in all branches.
This problem is solved based on methodology
developed above, refer attached excel
spreadsheet for solution. In this case, 3 loop
equations will be made and it takes 4 iterations to
converge.
Example
Perform pipe network analysis and calculate water
flow in all branches. Hazen Williams coefficient for
each pipe is provided in table below.
Head loss is calculated using Hazen-Williams equation.
HL = 10.67LQ1.85 / C1.85 D4.87
Based on method discussed above 7 loop
equations are formed and it takes 5 iterations to
converge to final flow values. Refer attached
excel spreadsheet for solution.
Spreadsheet for Pipe Network Analysis
