Types of Reservoir Problem
reservoir is the head lost in the pipe.
Type 1: Given the discharge in one of the
pipes, or given the pressure at the junction P,
and the required is the elevation one of the
reservoirs or the diameter or length of the
pipes, and
Type 2: Given all the pipe properties and
elevation of all reservoirs, find the flow in
each pipe, which can be solved by trial and
error.
In any of these types, the main objective is
to locate the position (elevation) of the
energy at the junction P. This position
represent the water surface of an imaginary
reservoir at P. The difference in elevation
between this surface and the surface of
another reservoir is the head in the pipe
leading to that reservoir
Procedure in Solving Reservoir Problems:
TYPE 1:
1. With known flow in one pipe leading to
or flowing out from reservoir of known
elevation, solve for its head lost hf.
2. Determine the elevation of the energy
grade line at the junction of the pipes (P) by
adding or subtracting (depending on the
direction of flow) the head lost in the pipe
from the elevation of the water surface in the
reservoir.
3. If the unknown value is the pressure at P,
the elevation of P’ is the elevation of P +
elevation head.
4. Draw a line from P’ to the surface of the
other reservoir. These lines represent the
EGL’s of each pipe. The difference in
elevation between P’ and the surface of the
TYPE 2:
1. Given all elevation and pipe properties,
determine the direction of flow in each pipe.
Of cours, the highest reservoir always have
an outflow and the lowest always have an
outflow and the lowest always have an
inflow, but the middle reservoir (B) may
have an inflow or outflow
2. To find out the direction of flow in pipe 2,
assume that Q1=0 such that P’ is at
elevation B, then the values of hf1 and h3
figure can be solved. (In the figure shown,
hf1=20m and hf3 = 30m). With hf1 and hf3
known, solve for Q1 and Q3. If Q1 > Q3, then
Q2 is toward B and P’ is below reservoir B.
3. After determining the direction of Q2 (say
towards reservoir B), express all the head
lost in terms the other, say in terms of hf1.
Let hf1=x
With all head hf expressed in terms of x, all
flow Q can be also expressed in terms of x
(usually in the form √𝑥 + 𝑏 )
Example, if Darcy- Weishbach of Maning
formula is used, hf varies with Q2.
Simplify the equation and solve for x. We
may also use trial and error solution.
4. Once x is determined, substitute it value
to equation (1), (2), and (3) to solve for Q1
Q2 and Q3, respectively.
Determine the flow in each pipe in the three
reservoir.