Criticality of Isolation Valves in Water Distribution Networks with Hydraulics and Topology

Occasional, random pipe bursts are inevitable in water distribution networks; thus, properly operating isolation valves is critical. During a shutdown, the damaged segment is segregated using the neighbouring valves, causing the smallest isolation possible. This study analyses the importance of isolation valves individually from the perspective of the demand shortfall increment. An in-house, open-source software called STACI performs demand-driven simulations to solve the hydraulic equations with pressure-dependent demand determining the nodal pressures, the volumetric flow rates, and the consumption loss. The system has an additional consumption loss if an isolation valve cannot be closed. The criticality of an isolation valve is the increment in the relative demand shortfall caused by its malfunction. Moreover, centrality indices from complex network theory are applied to estimate the criticality without the need for computationally expensive hydraulic simulations. The distribution of criticality values follows a power-law trend, i.e. some of the isolation valves have significantly higher importance during a shutdown. Moreover, Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between the centrality and criticality values indicate limited applicability. The criticality analysis can highlight which isolation valves have higher importance during reconstruction planning or maintenance. The Katz and the Degree centrality show a moderate positive correlation to the criticality, i.e., if numerous hydraulic simulations are not feasible, these quantities give an acceptable estimate.

Automated summary

This study analyzes the importance of isolation valves in water distribution networks, using hydraulic simulations and complex network theory to estimate their criticality and determine which valves are more important during shutdown or maintenance.