Analysis of a Water Distribution Network by Newton-Raphson Multivariable Method: A Case of Negligible Minor Losses

Abstract

A logical, analytical evaluation of a water supply network is a daunting engineer's task. Amongst other concerns, concentrated effort is directed at forestalling huge, avoidable installation and operation costs. This paper examines the water supply network for a two-wing student hostel, consisting of 20 rooms per block and 10 blocks per hostel wing. The plumbing fixtures per block were noted as 6 shower faucets, 8 lavatory sinks, 6 water closets and 2 hose bibs. A water supply pipe network consisting of 13 pipe sections was proffered. Solution sets of the network were generated through a computer implementation of a Newton-Raphson multivariate procedure and a pipe-sizing algorithm. Each solution set is a data collection of a possible mix of 13 pipe sizes and their respective flow rates that satisfy the fluid dynamics conditions and the acceptable velocity range of 0.5m/s to 2.44m/s. An optimal solution set is further selected as one with the least head loss at the first index node. This work is a viable tool for analyses of networks with similar scope.