Dr. Don J. Wood Receives Civil Engineering Career Achievement Award

April 17, 2013, 9:13 am

≫ Next: Journal of Applied Fluid Transients (JAFT)

Dr. Don J. Wood was awarded the Civil Engineering Career Achievement Award from the University of Kentucky College of Engineering. This award is one of the highest honors the university bestows on its faculty.

This prestigious award is a tribute from the civil engineering alumni of the University of Kentucky to recognize civil engineers who have exhibited outstanding ability, integrity, service, ethical behavior and significant achievement in their professional careers. This award characterizes the admiration and respect held by civil engineering alumni of the University of Kentucky for the awardees and will serve to inspire them and other civil engineers in their professional careers

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Journal of Applied Fluid Transients (JAFT)

May 8, 2014, 3:06 pm

≫ Next: Pipe2016: KYGIS

≪ Previous: Dr. Don J. Wood Receives Civil Engineering Career Achievement Award

A new online journal for Hydraulic Engineers, Journal of Applied Fluid Transients.

The mission is to provide a platform for rapid dissemination of ideas and research findings associated with the application of modeling tools for solving complex and real-world pipeline transient problems.

Rapid economic development in certain parts of the world coupled with aging pipeline infrastructure in developed countries has spurred interest in hydraulic transient modeling. Utilities and consultants are looking for the most economical ways to design and protect vital pipeline infrastructure having realized the trade-off between stronger pipelines and reliable surge protection systems. There is a wealth of information published on fluid transients in journals, conference proceedings, and other books but much of that information revolves around improved methods for solving the fundamental partial differential equations describing transient flow problems. Though that information is quite useful for those building the software tools, most users are concerned about using the software tools effectively to find economical solutions to complex real-world transient flow problems. While academic journals are engrossed in finding advanced solution methods and trade journals are pre-occupied in promoting surge protection equipment manufacturers, the need for a dedicated platform for discussing practical solutions to complex transient flow problems is self-evident.

Download the content overview to learn more about the Journal, it's board members and current contributors.

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Pipe2016: KYGIS

July 28, 2014, 11:02 am

≫ Next: Presentation Generator

≪ Previous: Journal of Applied Fluid Transients (JAFT)

Mapping & Record Keeping for Small Water Utilities

Create a great map that can be quickly updated and maintain all types of records for your water utility.


Element Data & Reports Each element (hydrant illustrated above) has its location precisely defined by the desired coordinates and associated attributes. The data, e.g., tests, maintenance, model, install date, etc., can be displayed graphically, in tables and updated continually.	Fast & Simple Layouts It's easy, simply right click (RC) and left click (LC) to add pipes, elements and graphics. A scaled GIS model of your system can be created in minutes.
Easily Import Internet Maps Maps can be scaled and referenced to any desired coordinate system. Display Google maps in street, satellite, or terrain view and use Google elevations.	Color Coding Color code elements in the distribution system to easily identify different elements, pipe diameters and more.
Fire Flow Test Data Create a Hydrant Plot to predicted fire flow based on the available data.	Data Labels Additional information such as hydrant test dates can be added with the data label tool.
Determine Valve Isolation Location A GIS model will determine all the valves which must be closed to isolate a location. Each valve can also have a location map. The map can be a full scale version, which can be used in the field to quickly locate valves in an emergency situation.	Hydraulic Analysis Potential If the need for hydraulic analysis arises, the data format is immediately ready for use in KYPipe.

Email orders@kypipe.com or call 469-250-1362 for more information.

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Presentation Generator

September 8, 2014, 9:10 am

≫ Next: Classic and KYnetic User Interfaces

≪ Previous: Pipe2016: KYGIS

Create detailed PowerPoint, WORD & HTML reports within the KYnetic interface. Add maps, images, videos, tables and graphs for dynamic presentations. *Presentation Generator feature is only compatible with MS Office 2007 and later.

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Classic and KYnetic User Interfaces

March 13, 2015, 1:05 pm

≫ Next: Surge Short Course Presented at ASCE/EWRI World Enviromental & Water Resources Congress

≪ Previous: Presentation Generator

As of version Pipe2012, users have the option of two user interfaces. The original Classic Interface uses drop-down menus and tabs to provide navigation to the many features while the new KYnetic Interface uses icons for this purpose. Using icons provides users with an interface more like AutoCAD and ArcGIS and can provide quicker access (fewer clicks) to various features. In addition the KYnetic Interface offers many additional features for navigating and displaying data and results.

While we recommend the KYnetic Interface, a new user will have the option to decide which interface to utilize. A user who is more familiar with icon-driven interfaces will find the KYnetic Interface preferable. The Classic Interface has more descriptive menu headings which new users may appreciate. Both interfaces have tutorial videos to get the user started however the Classic tutorials currently cover a wider range of topics. Self-Paced Training videos are available for purchase which utilize the Classic Interface.

Future development emphasis will be toward the KYnetic Interface, but the Classic Interface will continue to be supported, updated and available for our users. We encourage you to try out both of these powerful and user-friendly program environments. We also would greatly appreciate feedback from users regarding the two interfaces. We have found that by far our most valuable resource leading to improvements is user input.

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Surge Short Course Presented at ASCE/EWRI World Enviromental & Water Resources Congress

May 11, 2015, 12:05 pm

≫ Next: Hydraulic Modeling and Dynamic Open Flow Calibration

≪ Previous: Classic and KYnetic User Interfaces

ASCE/EWRI World Enviromental & Water Resources Congress Austin, Texas - May 21, 2015
Course: Effective Surge Protection – Going Beyond Modeling Tools
Presented by: Dr. Srinivasa Lingireddy

Short Course Description:	With more than 300,000 water main breaks each year in North America alone, it is no surprise that more water utilities are gearing towards comprehensive transient modeling of their pipeline infrastructure. Though this was inconceivable a few years ago, the advent of high speed computing coupled with Lagrangian-based unsteady flow modeling tools is allowing for designing efficient surge protection systems even for very large water distribution systems. While sophisticated modeling tools help build and analyze transient network models with ease, a prudent designer needs to go well beyond modeling tools for arriving at an efficient and robust surge protection system. This short course is aimed unraveling the relationships between surge protection methods and surge protection equipment along with an in depth discussion on limitations of mathematical models and critical analysis of the results. The presentation will draw from more than two decades of experience encompassing research and development of modeling tools, designing and commissioning of surge protection systems, and close working relationships with surge protection equipment manufactures. Several real case studies from around the world will be embedded into the presentation.
Learning Objectives: Understand the limitations of modeling tools for transient analysis of pipe systems Identify the data constraints Relate functional aspects of surge protection devices with the associated surge protection methods Appreciate the power of Lagrangian-based modeling tools for transient analysis Understand the relative merits of different surge protection methods and equipment
Outline: Causes and effects of hydraulics transients in pipeline systems Modeling tools – brief overview of Lagrangian Method and its computational power Methods for mitigating pressure surgess Surge protection equipment – flywheels to bladder vessels Case Studies Best Modeling Practices

Go to EWRI Congress for more information.

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Hydraulic Modeling and Dynamic Open Flow Calibration

May 13, 2015, 9:25 am

≫ Next: Upcoming Training Courses

≪ Previous: Surge Short Course Presented at ASCE/EWRI World Enviromental & Water Resources Congress

The following is a very useful article on hydraulic modeling of firewater sprinkler systems:

Hydraulic Modeling and Dynamic Open Flow Calibration

By Phil Smith, Project Manager and Chen-Hsiang Su, PE, Senior Consultant, Glenview, IL, Aon Fire Protection Engineering

The first paragraph shown below summarizes the article which can be accessed from the following link: http://newsletter.aonfpe.com/2012/Volume-2/fire-protection.aspx

A hydraulic model is a computer program configured to simulate flows for a hydraulic system. The system could be a sprinkler system, a firewater distribution system, or oil pipeline, etc. for either an existing network or one in development. The primary purpose for constructing and calibrating a hydraulic model is to create a tool that will provide a realistic representation of the hydraulic performance of the firewater system under study. A hydraulic model is a computer program that applies Hazen-Williams equations to simulate flow and pressure loss given a flow input such as a pump curve and an output demand. With a program such as KY Pipe and a reasonably accurate firewater map, the model can be easily created. However, the model needs crucial information about the pipe C-factors (Roughness Coefficient) for it to produce meaningful results.

Don J. Wood

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Upcoming Training Courses

June 8, 2015, 6:19 am

≫ Next: Pipe2016's Travel Time & Distance

≪ Previous: Hydraulic Modeling and Dynamic Open Flow Calibration

Attend a KYPipe training course and learn how to avoid critical mistakes and analyze hydraulic models accurately.

Lexington, KY March 9 - 11, 2016

Dublin, Ireland April 19-20, 2016

Course Details

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Pipe2016's Travel Time & Distance

September 25, 2015, 11:43 am

≫ Next: Laying out a Pipe Network in the KYnetic Interface - Lesson One

≪ Previous: Upcoming Training Courses

Travel Time & Distance is only available in the KYnetic interface.

Travel Distance

The travel distance from any node to all other nodes in the system is displayed. The distance may be shown in contours and labels.

Travel Distance Contours

Travel Path/Time

The path of the flow emanating from the select node over time is animated.

The image below shows an animation snapshot of the travel path from Tower B after a segment of time has elapsed. The green color emphasis is expanding to show the progression of flow through the network and the arrows show flow direction.

Travel Path/Time

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Laying out a Pipe Network in the KYnetic Interface - Lesson One

January 12, 2016, 9:11 am

≫ Next: Using Control Valves for Surge Protection

≪ Previous: Pipe2016's Travel Time & Distance

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Using Control Valves for Surge Protection

November 26, 2012, 5:04 pm

≫ Next: Info Windows: How to Input and Edit Data - Lesson Two

≪ Previous: Laying out a Pipe Network in the KYnetic Interface - Lesson One

Suppose you need to shut down the flow in a pipeline in a specified period of time. This action will always cause a pressure surge related to the deceleration of the fluid in the pipeline. The type of valve you use and how it is operated can have a very significant effect on the magnitude of the pressure surge and can provide protection against the development of an excessive pressure surge.

The magnitude of a pressure surge associated with a valve closure largely depends on the closure characteristics of the valve. Figure 1 shows the closure characteristics of some standard types of valves. The effective flow area ratio Ao/AF is based on the geometry of the valve and is essentially equivalent to the Cv ratio for the valve. This figure shows, for example, that when a gate valve stem movement position is at 50% open the Cv ratio is 61% while for a ball valve it is only 38%. This means that the ball valve exerts significantly more control on the flow when the valves are in the 50% stem movement position. Valves which exert more control earlier tend to throttle the flow more evenly and, thus, limit the deceleration during the final stages of closure resulting in lower pressure surges for valve closures occurring over the same time period.

Figure 1 Open Ratio vs Stem Movement Position for Standard Valves

In order to demonstrate this a 10 second valve closure on the downstream end of a 6 inch, 1000 foot long pipeline carrying 400 gpm of water was analyzed for both a gate and ball valve with a 100% Cv = 1500. Figure 2 shows the pressure transient for a 10 second valve closure initiated 1 second into the simulation. The pressure surge for the gate valve was 190 psi compared to 165 psi for the ball valve. Figure 3 depict the flow variation and shows that neither valve has a significant effect on the flow until around 8 seconds (valve stroke around 70% complete). The ball valve does throttle the flow at a much higher rate than the gate valve after 8 seconds resulting in a significant reduction in the liquid deceleration at the time of complete closure.

Figure 2 Pressure Surge due to 10 second valve closure

Figure 3 Flow variations due to 10 second valve closure

Neither of these valves throttled the flow effectively during the initial phase of the closure stroke. This demonstration effectively illustrates the problem with most valves from the standpoint of providing closures which limit pressure surge. Most valves provide very little control during the initial 50-80 % of the closure. Because of this the actual deceleration of the fluid is much greater than one might expect for a 10 second closure of a 400 gpm flow. The problem of the lack of control during the initial stages of valve closure is familiar to everyone who has closed the valve to a garden hose of just an ordinary faucet. Normally the valve needs to be 70 - 90 % closed before the valve closing action has a significant effect on the flow.

A simple and effective way to reduce the surge pressure due to a fixed time valve closure is to initially throttle the valve. For many situations throttling the valve to 25% open (stem position), for example, will have very little effect on the steady state operation but will result is a significant reduction in the pressure surge following valve closure. Figure 4 shows the pressure surge generated by closing a gate and ball valve which are initially throttled to 25% of the stem position. The maximum surge pressure is reduced from 190 to 170 psi for the gate valve and from 165 to 115 psi for the ball valve.

Figure 4 Pressure Surge due to 10 second valve closure valves initially throttled to 25% open

Selecting a valve which provides good control throughout it entire opening and closing stroke often provides much improved operations and also can result in much lower pressure surges following a valve closure. One such valve is a V Notch Ball valve. A number of these types with 15, 30, 60 and 90 degree notches are available. Figure 5 (below) shows a 30 degree V Notch Ball Valve.

Figure 5

Figure 6 shows the pressure surge following a 10 second closure of this valve and compares it to the pressure surge generated by the closure of a standard ball valve. As shown the maximum pressure due to the valve closure is lowered from 165 psi to 115 psi by the use of this valve. Of course the V Notch Ball Valve has a significantly lower Cv than the standard ball valve. For this case the Cv 100% = 350 for the 30 degree V Notch vs 1500 for the standard ball valve. In most applications this will not be a significant problem, The pressure drop across the V Notch valve at 400 gpm is 1.3 psi vs 0.1 psi for the standard valve.

Figure 6 Pressure Surge due to 10 second valve closure of standard vs 30 degree V Notch Ball Valve

Summarizing, it is possible to limit the pressure surge following a valve closure by selecting a valve with closure characteristics providing more control during the initial part of the closure stroke. Also modifying the operation of the valve by throttling the valve during normal operation can often significantly reduce pressure surges following valve closures. Finally there are designs available to increase control during the closure stroke which will produce reduced pressure surges. Selecting and operating a valve to lower the valve closure surge pressure often provides economical and effective option for surge protection.

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Info Windows: How to Input and Edit Data - Lesson Two

April 19, 2016, 1:18 pm

≫ Next: Modern Pumping Today Article: The Importance of Proof of Design

≪ Previous: Using Control Valves for Surge Protection

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Modern Pumping Today Article: The Importance of Proof of Design

April 25, 2016, 11:43 am

≫ Next: Flow Control Article: Properly Mitigating System Shaking & Water Hammer

≪ Previous: Info Windows: How to Input and Edit Data - Lesson Two

The informative article below describes typical sewage pump station force main problems that can arise after startup.

The Importance of Proof of Design read more...

The first paragraph of the article, as shown below, summarizes the article which can be accessed from here:

You may have heard the term, “wastewater flows downhill.” In this article, we will refer to this as gravity flow. In many cases, municipal wastewater systems have to pump the fluid uphill first. This presents many issues with regard to minimum flow velocities and pressure surge issues. This article describes the typical sewage pump station force main problems that can arise after startup.

Frank Knowles Smith, III. "The Importance of Proof of Design - Modern Pumping Today®." Modern Pumping Today. 09 Sept. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

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Flow Control Article: Properly Mitigating System Shaking & Water Hammer

September 9, 2016, 11:48 am

≫ Next: Performance Guarantees Confirmed Via “Proof of Design”: Part 2 of 2

≪ Previous: Modern Pumping Today Article: The Importance of Proof of Design

The first paragraph of the article, as shown below, summarizes the article which can be accessed from here.

Flow Control Article: Properly Mitigating System Shaking & Water Hammer
Surge analysis software helps protect against hydraulic transient.

Process control engineers and operators face many challenges to keep pumping systems running efficiently and reliably. For users of positive displacement (PD) or PD-style pumps, the issues of addressing damaging pulsations caused by the stroke of the pump are all too common and unavoidable. These pulsations will often violently rattle or shake piping, causing noise, premature wear and potentially a complete break in the pipe itself or damage to valuable components in the flow path downstream of the pump. Traditionally, the solution has been to install a pulsation dampener on the discharge side of the pump.

Steve Mungari, and Frank Knowles-Smith III. "Properly Mitigating System Shaking and Water Hammer." Flow Control Network. N.p., 2016. Web. 09 Sept. 2016.

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Performance Guarantees Confirmed Via “Proof of Design”: Part 2 of 2

November 7, 2016, 8:57 am

≫ Next: Pioneering Developers of Pipe Network Analysis Technology

≪ Previous: Flow Control Article: Properly Mitigating System Shaking & Water Hammer

The article below is part 2 of 2 of The Importance of Proof of Design article that describes typical sewage pump station force main problems that can arise after startup.

Performance Guarantees Confirmed Via “Proof of Design”: Part 2 of 2 read more...

Frank Knowles Smith, III. "Performance Guarantees Confirmed Via “Proof of Design”: Part 2 of 2 - Modern Pumping Today®." Modern Pumping Today. 09 Sept. 2016.

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