Pipes not flowing full - which program instead of EPANET? 1

[KatieTX]

We have a pipe running from a spring to a water tank in our water distribution system. This pipe is not flowing full. It is my understanding that EPANET cannot model this situation. Is there a way to work around this within EPANET? If not, what is the best (free) program to use instead? SWMMM?

 

[BigInch]

Ignore that pipe entirely and start the modeling at the tank. Its a simple matter to design that pipe by hand later.

I don't use EPANET, but you should be able to do something like creating constant pressure nodes where the pipe is not flowing full and hold the pressure at those nodes to the vapor pressure of the fluid.

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"Pumping accounts for 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25-50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities."-DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[katmar]

The theory for part-full flow and some tables of examples are given in the document

http://www.cispi.org/handbook/chapter8.pdf

Katmar Software
Engineering & Risk Analysis Software

http://katmarsoftware.com

 

[KatieTX]

Thanks to both of you!

 

[BigInch]

You might have to play with the inlet and outlet elevations and maybe the diameter to get the "work-around" to "work".

Let us know if you're sucessful.

**********************
"Pumping accounts for 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25-50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities."-DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[cvg]

just use mannings equation. there are plenty of free programs online and already listed in the forums here

 

[KatieTX]

I don't need to design the pipe, as it is already part of the system. I wanted to see how it affects or is affected by the pressurized system that it ties into.

 

[cvg]

if it is not flowing full, than it is not pressurized and is not affected by your system. how is your system pressurized? Is the tank elevated or on a hill?