Advantages of Pressure Management
Improved pressure control presents dual benefits of reducing leakages and stabilizing system pressure which increases asset life to the distribution network.
Pressure Management is considered the most beneficial, important, and cost-effective leakage management activity. Most pipe bursts occur due to fluctuations causing the pipe to expand, resulting in pipe fractures. Pressure management is the fundamental foundation for optimization of water distribution system. The higher the lower the pressure, the higher or lower the leakage rate. However, the pressure should be kept at the minimum to ensure sufficient and efficient supply to users and consumers.
Pressure Management with intelligent AVK Control valves
There are several methods for reducing pressure in the system, including speed pump controllers and break pressure tanks. However, the most common and cost effective is the automatic pressure reducing valve or PRV. PRVs are instruments that are installed at strategic points in the network to reduce or maintain network pressure regardless of the upstream pressure or flow-rate fluctuations. PRVs are usually sited at the entrance of a pressure zone, next to the flow meter.
The PRV should be downstream so that turbulence from the valve does not affect the meter’s accuracy. It is good practice to install the PRV with bypass pipe to enable future major maintenance works.
Stable pressure means:
- Reduced bursts
- Reduced Leakage Recurrence
- Reduced Detect and Repair activity.
- Reduced Cost to maintain stable leakage level
- A calm network for operations and the customer
- The number of unscheduled network event
Benefits of Low Pressure
The rate of leakage in water distribution networks is related to the pressure applied by pumps or by gravity. There is a physical relationship between leakage flow rate and pressure and the frequency of new bursts is also a function of pressure:
- The higher or lower the pressure, the higher or lower the leakage.
- The relationship is complex, but utility managers should initially assume a linear relationship )10%less pressure = 10% less leakage)
30% pressure lower pressure = 30% less water waste
- Pressure level and pressure cycling strongly influence burst frequency 1% pressure reduction = 0.2 years lifetime extension of pipe network.
38% lower pressure = 53% pipe burst
