Chapter
Apr 26, 2012
Pressure vs. Flow Relationship for Pipe Leaks
Authors: Thomas Walski, Brian Whitman, Mary Baron, and Fred GerloffAuthor Affiliations
Publication: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009: Great Rivers
Abstract
Leakage can be reduced by reducing pressure in a water distribution system. The magnitude of that reduction depends on the equation used to predict leakage. A common equation is to use a power function where the flow is estimated from the pressure terms raised to an exponent. There are a wide range of values reported in the literature for that exponent. Laboratory experiments were performed in which flow and pressure were measured for a wide range of leak shapes and sizes. The median value of the exponent was 0.54 which is lower than most reported but close to the theoretical value for an orifice. The high values in the literature can be explained in some cases as due to the method for estimating leak reduction. This is illustrated using a model of a small zone.
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© 2009 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Published online: Apr 26, 2012
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ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bibliographies
- Continuum mechanics
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Flow (fluid dynamics)
- Flow measurement
- Fluid dynamics
- Fluid mechanics
- Hydrologic engineering
- Information management
- Infrastructure
- Measurement (by type)
- Pipe flow
- Pipe leakage
- Pipeline management
- Pipeline systems
- Pipes
- Pressure (type)
- Pressure pipes
- Solid mechanics
- Water and water resources
- Water leakage and water loss
- Water management
- Water pressure
- Water supply
- Water supply systems
Authors
Affiliations
Thomas Walski
Bentley Systems
Brian Whitman
Wilkes University
Mary Baron
Wilkes University
Fred Gerloff
Wilkes University
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Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.