Method hardy cross and software epanet in drinking water systems design comparison

Abstract

The problems of pipe hydraulics (for example: Potable Water Supply Systems Projects) historically have come to solve by Hazen Williams' "empirical" method due to its explicit nature. However, this method has restrictions for its application, which often do not take into account in the design process. Reason why it is important to return to the methodology based on classical physics as the case of the method of Darcy - Weisbach wich don’t have any limits. With the help of computers this method is no longer complicated as in its beginnings (1936). For current research were use power loss by friction in pipes calculation method’s lDarcy - Weisbach 's in conjunction with the Colebrook - White equation using the Swamee - Jain equation as a reference value in a fixed point iterative numerical analysis process to calculate Darcy' s friction factor in
pipes. With wich was posible implemented the method of "Hardy Cross with Correction of Flows" in the distribution network and, later, observe the variations in respect to the EPANET software. It was demonstrated that the use of both methods generates results below 1% of variability, which shows that both methodologies are congruent. Convergence exhibits a considerable sensitivity to changes in decimal precision.