‘Upgrade of the hydraulics laboratory for the modeling of water supply networks & design and operation optimization study’ ΑΝΑΒΑΘΜΙΣΗ/0609/34
Upgrade of the hydraulics laboratory for the modeling of water supply networks & design and operation optimization study - ‘HYDROGIS LAB’
The proposed upgraded research infrastructure will be housed in the new industrial area of Limassol (Ipsonas area, Agios Silas). All Partners and other external associates of theirs will take part in the design for the upgrading of the laboratory so as to ensure the use of the lab infrastructure in similar, complementary and new research activities, which is also an objective of the Call. The upgraded laboratory is designed with a main focus on resilience in respect of the swift development of new experimental setups so as to provide the opportunity for in-depth research where needed. Moreover, because of the nature of the Project and the fact that networks in Cyprus are currently facing serious problems, all necessary provisions will be made to guarantee the swift change of experimental representations of networks and systems for crisis management, since it will be relatively easy to model part of the network or its system so as to offer optimum solutions in time without wasting this precious good unnecessarily. The main setup of the research infrastructure is as follows:
Control room with state-of-the-art central, automated system for the operation and control of the experimental setups (HMI) and automatic data acquisition in real time. The control room will be equipped with specialized software and data acquisition systems controlled by the Main Lab PC.
Main Water Reservoir (~1000m3) with all necessary baffles and manifold piping so as to fully control the outflow (i.e. the main supply in the lab) and inflow of returns with the aim of reducing turbulence in the reservoir. The reservoir will give the flexibility of conducting all studies according to international standards avoiding any heating effects due to circulation.
Elevated Tank (~20m3) placed in 6m above the floor level, with all necessary baffles and manifold piping for the experimental modeling of the water ‘source’ with a natural difference in altitude (e.g. supply through gravity). The tank will be connected to the main reservoir through (a) a small pressure system which will function with a flow level switch, activated as soon as the level in the tank falls, and (b) through return piping for control purposes.
Submersible Pumps for the Main Water Supply, which will end in a manifold to regulate the required supply in the experimental setups. These pumps will serve to pump the water from the underground reservoir to the floor level.
Main Manifold with Electronic Control Valves of different diameters from where the piping of all experimental setups will start. The main manifold will be made in such a way as to enable it to accept piping of different diameters, guaranteeing the resilience of the lab. The Equipment for the Operation of the Laboratory Infrastructure
- Control Valves. Apart from the main valves of the lab, which are globe-control valves to guarantee accurate flow control, the necessary network valves with an automatic electronic activation system (electric actuators) will be installed to enable the control of their operation from the Main Control Room through the Main Lab PC.
- Pressure Relief Valves. Apart from the electric actuated pressure relief valves which are installed for the safety of the experimental setups, the necessary pressure relief valves, connected to the main reservoir through a flowmeter to record the network’s operation data, will also be installed in the network/model.
- Electric Motors (Submersible and Surface). All pumps will operate with calibrated electric motors to ensure accurate power transmission and rotating speeds.
‘Upgrade of the hydraulics laboratory for the modeling of water supply networks & design and operation optimization study’ ΑΝΑΒΑΘΜΙΣΗ/0609/34