EPANET Tutorial 02.03 - Project Setup | Hydraulic Modeling

Summary

In this tutorial, Mark Wilson, founder of A Q Model, guides viewers through setting up a project in EPANET version 2.3, focusing on project defaults and ID labels. He explains how to use auto-increment for unique identifiers, set property defaults for nodes and pipes, and choose flow units between SI and English standards. Wilson also touches on head loss formulas, accuracy settings, and default patterns, providing foundational knowledge for hydraulic modeling enthusiasts.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video is a tutorial by Mark Wilson, founder of a Q model, focusing on EPANET version 2.
• 🔍 It follows the EPANET User's Manual, section by section, with advanced topics in a separate playlist.
• 🏗️ The tutorial covers project setup, specifically section 2.3 of the manual.
• 🆔 Discusses 'Project Defaults' and the importance of setting ID labels for auto-generated IDs.
• 📏 Explains how to set property defaults like node elevation, tank diameter, height, and pipe length.
• 🔗 Highlights the use of 'auto lengths' for calculating pipe length based on a properly set background map.
• 🌀 Details the significance of choosing the right flow units, which affects all units in the model including length and diameter.
• 🔢 Points out that the core unit in EPANET is cubic feet per second (CFS) and feet, with other settings converted in the background.
• ⚙️ Mentions the selection of head loss formula (Hazen-Williams, Darcy-Weisbach, or Manning) and the importance of accuracy settings.
• 🚫 Advises against setting the accuracy too high to avoid node continuity problems.
• 🌧️ Notes the default pattern setting in EPANET, which can affect how unassigned demands are handled.
• 🖼️ Discusses view dimensions and options for setting up the map area and model visualization.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video?

The speaker is Mark Wilson, the founder of a Q model.

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic is the project setup in EPANET version two, as outlined in section 2.3 of the EPANET user's manual.

What is the purpose of the 'ID labels' tab in the project defaults?

The 'ID labels' tab is used to prepend a piece of text to each automatically generated ID, helping to identify and organize model components.

Why is it important to set the flow units at the beginning of the project?

Setting the flow units at the beginning is crucial as it determines whether the model uses SI units or English standard units, affecting all related measurements such as length and diameter.

What is the significance of the 'auto increment' in the ID labels tab?

The 'auto increment' ensures that each new ID is unique, incrementing by a set number after each entry, which is essential for distinguishing different model components.

What is the default flow unit in EPANET, and why is it important?

The default flow unit in EPANET is cubic feet per second (CFS). It's important because it serves as the core unit for all flow-related calculations in the model.

What are the three options for head loss formula in EPANET?

The three options for head loss formula are Hazen-Williams, Darcy-Weisbach, and Jessen-Manning.

Why might a user choose a non-standard value for pipe roughness, such as 19.99?

A non-standard value like 19.99 can serve as a flag to indicate that no engineering judgment was used in determining the roughness, allowing for adjustments during the calibration process.

What is the role of the 'default pattern' setting in EPANET?

The 'default pattern' setting ensures that any demand not specifying a pattern other than one will adopt that pattern, which can be crucial for uniformity in demand distribution.

What does the 'global demand multiplier' setting do in the model?

The 'global demand multiplier' allows for quick adjustments to peak demands, such as during the max day or max hour, providing a simple way to scale demand across the model.

Why is the 'view options' section important for the model setup?

The 'view options' section is important for setting up the visual aspects of the model, including symbology, flow arrows, and background color, which aid in the model's interpretation and analysis.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ EPA Net Project Setup Basics

Mark Wilson introduces the tutorial series on EPA Net version two, focusing on project setup as outlined in section 2.3 of the EPA Net user's manual. He explains the importance of setting project defaults, including ID labels which are prepended to automatically generated IDs, and the selection of an auto-increment for the latter part of the ID. He also discusses other property defaults such as node elevation, tank diameter, height, pipe length, and the option to use auto lengths based on map defaults. The tutorial touches on the significance of flow units in determining whether the model uses SI or English standard units, and the core unit of CFS in EPA Net. Mark also mentions the head loss formula options and the importance of setting the accuracy for model simulations to avoid node continuity problems.

05:03

📏 Advanced EPA Net Settings and View Options

In the second part of the video script, Mark delves into more advanced settings of the EPA Net model, including the stop setting for model imbalances, default pattern considerations, and global demand multipliers for adjusting peak demands. He also addresses less commonly modified settings such as emitter status report, check frequency, and max check damp limit, promising to cover these in future advanced videos. The tutorial concludes with a discussion on view options, where viewers are informed about setting up the map area, map units, and the appearance of the model, including symbology, flow arrows, and background color. Mark encourages viewers to stay tuned for the rest of the video series to learn more.

Keywords

💡EPA net

EPA net is a computer program developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for modeling the hydraulic and water quality behavior within pressurized pipe networks. In the video, it is the main software discussed, with the tutorial focusing on its version two, indicating its importance in the context of hydraulic modeling.

💡Hydraulic modeling

Hydraulic modeling involves the use of computer simulations to analyze the behavior of water flow in various systems, such as pipes, rivers, or canals. In the script, the founder of a Q model discusses inspiring confidence in hydraulic modeling, which is the central theme of the video as it pertains to EPA net's capabilities.

💡Project setup

Project setup refers to the initial configuration of a modeling project, including defining parameters and settings that will guide the simulation. The video script specifically addresses section 2.3 of the EPA net user's manual, which covers project setup, indicating its fundamental role in preparing to use the software for hydraulic analysis.

💡ID labels

ID labels are unique identifiers used to label different components within a hydraulic model. In the script, the presenter explains how any text entered in the project defaults will be prepended to each automatically generated ID, which is crucial for organizing and referencing model elements.

💡Auto increment

Auto increment is a feature that automatically increases a numerical value by a set amount each time a new entry is created. In the context of the video, it is used to generate unique IDs for model components, starting with 'J - 1' and incrementing with each new addition.

💡Flow units

Flow units are the units of measurement used to express the rate of fluid flow within a system. The script emphasizes the importance of setting flow units early in the project setup, as it determines whether the model uses SI units or English standard units, affecting all subsequent measurements.

💡Head loss formula

Head loss formulae are mathematical equations used to calculate the loss of pressure or 'head' as fluid flows through a pipe due to friction. The video mentions several formulas, including Hazen-Williams and Darcy-Weisbach, which are essential for accurately modeling hydraulic behavior in EPA net.

💡Calibration

Calibration in hydraulic modeling is the process of adjusting model parameters to ensure that the simulation results match real-world observations. The script suggests using a flag value for roughness during initial setup, which can be refined during calibration for more accurate modeling.

💡Node continuity

Node continuity refers to the balance of flows into and out of a node (a point where pipes meet) in a hydraulic network. The script warns against setting the accuracy too high to avoid node continuity problems, which can lead to simulation errors.

💡Pattern ID

Pattern ID is a unique identifier for a specific pattern of demand or usage within a hydraulic model. The script explains that if a demand does not specify a pattern other than one, it will take on the pattern with ID one, which is a default setting in EPA net.

💡View options

View options pertain to the visual aspects of a hydraulic model, including how elements are represented and the overall appearance of the model. The script mentions setting up symbology, flow arrows, and background color, which contribute to the clarity and usability of the model.

Highlights

Introduction to the EPA net version two tutorial series by Mark Wilson, the founder of a Q model.

Discussion of project setup as outlined in section 2.3 of the EPA net user's manual.

Explanation of project defaults and the use of ID labels for automatically generated IDs.

The importance of selecting an auto increment for the latter part of the ID in project setup.

QuickStart tutorial reference and its indication of not using certain ID settings.

Property defaults for nodes, tanks, diameters, heights, and pipe lengths in hydraulic modeling.

Use of auto lengths for calculating pipe lengths based on map defaults.

The option to use auto link for generating pipe length or manually adjusting for schematic models.

Setting default pipe diameter and roughness with a flag value for later calibration.

The significance of flow units in determining the model's use of SI or English standard units.

Core unit in EPA net is CFS, and other settings are converted using a conversion factor.

Head loss formula options: Hazen Williams, Darcy Weisbach, and Manning's formula.

The common use of Hazen Williams in the water industry for hydraulic modeling.

Accuracy settings and the potential for node continuity problems with higher values.

The use of stop settings to halt simulations when the model becomes unbalanced.

Default pattern settings in EPA net and their impact on unassigned demand patterns.

Global demand multiplier as a tool for adjusting peak demands during model calibration.

Advanced topics such as emitter status report, check frequency, and max check damp limit to be covered in future videos.

Setting up view dimensions and map area for hydraulic modeling, including auto size feature.

View options for model symbology, flow arrows, and background color customization.

Closing remarks and invitation to subscribe for more tutorials in the series.

Transcripts

hello folks my name is Mark Wilson and

I'm the founder of a Q model where we

inspire confidence in hydraulic modeling

this is another video in tutorial series

on EPA net version two in this video

we'll be calling a following along with

the EPA net user's manual as far as

section by section and then it will also

post more advanced videos in another

playlist today we're going to talk about

project setup that's section 2.3 of the

user's manual the first item of setup I

want to show you is the project defaults

so when we open up the project defaults

the first tab is the ID labels now what

happens here is any piece of text that

you type in here will be prepended to

each automatically generated ID so

typically you'll do something like J -

or J underscore and then you also need

to select an auto increment for the

latter part of the ID so in this

scenario our first ID would be J - 1 and

then once we create another one it would

be J - 2 etc etc the QuickStart tutorial

in the users guide indicates that none

of those will be used so we'll just

leave that blank other property defaults

you can give it a node elevation tank

diameter height pipe length you can

switch to auto lengths so this will

based on the map defaults that we'll set

here in just a minute we'll give

automatically calculate the length this

is used mostly if you've got a

background map and you're tracing over

the background and you've set it up

properly you can use auto link to

generate the pipe length otherwise you

probably want to leave that off and get

a default

then just change it manually if you're

doing more of a schematic model you've

got a default pipe diameter and

roughness a lot of times what I'll do is

choose a more realistic one but put a

flag value off to the end like one 19.99

the 0.99 is kind of a flag value you can

do anything like one point five point

five five it's really the decimal part

that kind of gives you a excuse me that

gives you an indication that no

engineering judgment was used in

determining that roughness but then when

you get into calibration you can you can

round those off and use a more

thought-out value as far as hydraulics

goes you've got flow units this is very

important one to set up in the beginning

this determines whether the model uses

SI units or English standard units so

any flow unit that you choose here that

is English will mean that everything

else is in English units such as your

length diameter etc one thing to note

that the core unit in EPA net is CFS

cubic feet per second and feet

everything else is that you if you

choose other settings it's just

converted in the in the background with

a conversion factor and it's also good

to note that the flow unit this is kind

of a unwritten when we're talking flow

units this not only goes for flow in the

pipe but also the demand the UN ran for

each Junction will be in these Samians

so pipe flow as well as junction demand

you can choose from three options for

head loss formula Hazen Williams Darcy

Weisbach Jessie Manning typically in the

water industry we're using Hayes and

Williams and specific gravity relative

viscosity

things usually left at the default

accuracy this is one that I'll cover in

a more advanced topic this is a good

starting space though point zero zero

one you would typically try not to go

over 0.01 if you can help it

what happens if you get it too high

you're going to get some node continuity

problems so we're going to go and back

off to point zero zero one usually that

only you're only gonna have to change

that if you have a very complex network

with lots of pumps and P RVs that are

changing all over the place typically I

use this stop setting so if the model

becomes unbalanced we want to go ahead

and stop the simulation instead of

continuing and this one's a little

tricky ones default pattern this is

something inherent to EPA net and it

carries over into some other commercial

packages like info water where if you

have a pattern with an ID of one in the

model anything any demand that does not

specify a pattern other than one will

take on that one pattern and sometimes

that's a little tricky to troubleshoot

and certain models global demand

multiplier that's a quick and easy way

to peak up demands the max day or max

month back the peak hour that kind of

thing the other settings here emitter

status report check frequency max check

damp limit I'll cover those in a future

advanced video now for view we want to

look at dimensions so this one allows

you to set up what the map area will be

if you don't know what the map area is

and you're just doing it more of a

schematic model then this is fine just

to pick one and I guess the map units

don't really matter in that case because

you can override all of the length

values in the model

if you are going to use a backdrop and

trace over the top you'll want to be a

little bit more careful in setting this

up and give actual coordinates

whether that be in feet meters or

lat/long he would set these up more

correctly so that when you bring in that

background image everything is the way

you want it to be you can also do an

auto size and it will help you out with

that last thing is for view options this

is where we would set up how things look

in our model symbology flow arrows

background color etc well that's all for

now and thanks for watching stay tuned

subscribe to the rest of the video

series to learn some more

you