Efficient and robust modeling systems include a
computation module, or hydraulic solver, which is the
core driving engine for modeling packages. Conventional
hydraulic models can be used to analyze operational
scenarios for a variable-speed pump (VSP) delivering
target hydraulic characteristics of either the fixed
hydraulic head or the desired pump flow. However,
modelers must repeatedly adjust relative speed factors
for achieving the target hydraulic performance, which
can be a time-consuming task. This article presents an
enhanced variable-speed pump (VSP) solution method
to automatically calculate the relative pump-speed coefficient
for attaining the prescribed hydraulic head or
pumping the preferred amount of flow. Engineers can
use this method to model not only a single VSP but also
multiple VSPs with rule-based logic controls. This
allows the target control head to be specified at any
location or for the target flow to be specified for VSPs
of different capacities. The extended method provides a
flexible, robust modeling approach for engineers to
analyze a variety of VSP configurations in water and
wastewater collection systems. Includes 9 references, tables, figures.