Compartmentalized impedance matrix for flexible transient analysis of pipe network systems

Unsteady flow analysis is an important and challenging engineering problem in large pipe network systems, requiring pressure and flow rate management analyses and reliable drinking water quality maintenance. Efficiently solving the hyperbolic partial differential equation and integrating it with various boundary conditions under the complex layout scenarios of pipe networks had been a challenging issue for pipeline modellers. In this study, the compartmentalized frequency domain and time domain response modelling was developed as an alternative to the traditional method of characteristics. In order to relax a substantial array size for large pipe network systems, an innovative transient analysis method was developed in context of compartmentalized impedance matrix formulation. The solution largely solves the substantial complexity problem and cost-intensive computational issues in the transient analysis for large and complicated pipe networks. The developed method was applied to a field pipe network system and its performance compared to existing approaches. The algorithm of the proposed method fundamentally solved the computational problems associated with other methods, and its developed scheme allowed feasible integration with the compartmental formulation that can be tailored to the modeller’s preferences. The proposed method's strength can be amplified according to the size and complexity of the pipe network system owing to its unique complementary validation capability.