Abstract
Pressure reducing valves (PRVs) effectiveness for water distribution networks’ (WDNs’) optimal pressure management is proven, but problems and operational limitations have been highlighted by some recent studies. In this work, the functioning of a piston-actuated pressure reducing valve (PA-PRV), subjected to low flow regimes, is investigated by means of a laboratory test set. The results obtained highlight that the PA-PRV tends not to respect the imposed set-point value, and can present an unstable behaviour, characterised by significant pressure oscillations under some flow-rate conditions.
Highlights
Pressure reducing valves (PRVs) are often used for the management of complex water distribution networks (WDNs), aiming at regulating the pressure at the inlet point of districts in order to limit water losses
This paper aims to characterise a piston-actuated PRV with a mechanical pilot subjected to low flow regimes by means of laboratory tests
The analysis of the laboratory tests highlights that the piston-actuated pressure reducing valve (PA-PRV) presents a correct behaviour, i.e., it is capable of maintaining the imposed pressure at the downstream section in the face of the flow rate variation ∆Q, when the final flow rate Qfin is higher than or equal to 0.7 L/s
Summary
Pressure reducing valves (PRVs) are often used for the management of complex water distribution networks (WDNs), aiming at regulating the pressure at the inlet point of districts in order to limit water losses. Among the different types of pressure reducing valves, the most common are diaphragm valves, in which the pressure regulating device operates in a transverse direction to the flow. Diaphragm pressure reducing valves have been extensively investigated, from the device modelling in combination with the eventual electronic control apparatus [1], to the optimisation of their location in the networks and their setting value [2]. The physical behaviour of PRVs has been investigated by a limited number of studies
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