Untitled

Burst Trial Collaboration March/ May 2001

Overview | Burst methodology | Images | Results and analysis

Overview

A series of burst trials is underway in collaboration with the University of East Anglia and Yorkshire Water. In these trials, bursts are simulated by flushing hydrants. The first set of trials took place in March 2001 and the second set in May 2001. A further series is planned for July/ August 2001 and will include participation by the Water Engineering Research Unit from Sheffield University. The experimental site is zone K709 in Yorkshire Water's Keighley distribution system, which provides water for around 26,000 customers. The K709 zone provides an isolated environment for tests as it is effectively disconnected from neighbouring zones and the area is supplied solely by Highfield reservoir. Further, it has a high level of instrumentation with flow, pressure and opacity sensors deployed and also the capability of deploying further pressure loggers as needed.

Burst Methodology

The following map (figure 1) illustrates the pipe geometry on the zone and sensor placement. The pressure logger locations (in pink) are for the March trials - these changed slightly for the second trial. Total sensor numbers are: 3 DMA level (flow and pressure), 10 opacity and 16 portable pressure loggers. Logging interval for these sensors was set at 1 minute for 10-14 days. In addition, the UEA team used 4 leak noise correlators.

Figure 1: Zone K709 with sensor locations

Summary of flushing for March/ May trials

Eight artificial bursts created by flushing hydrants.

Duration between 3 and 5 hours, one per night (between 9pm and 3am).

Flow rates 5 to 7 litres per second.

Average total flow per burst was 73,500 litres for trial 1 and 93,000 litres for trial 2.

A more systematic flushing programme is under consideration for the next trial.

Data Collection

Figure 2 summarises the data collection for the sensors involved in the trials. DMA level sensors are on a telemetry system. The opacity sensor data is downloaded by laptop (though for the second trial in May an additional logger unit allowing remote access via modem was deployed). Pressure loggers are downloaded by a hand held psion when collected.