TABLE OF CONTENTS The emergence of digital electronics has had a tremendous impact on industrial societies throughout the world. In the water system industry, the development of digital electronics has brought an end to the use of many mechanical devices; typical of this is the diminished use of mechanical devices for the control of pressure in water systems. Today's digital control systems, with built-in intelligence, more accurately evaluate water and system conditions and adjust pump operation to meet the desired water flow and pressure conditions.
Drafting boards and drafting machines have disappeared from the design rooms of water system engineers and have been replaced by computer-aided-drafting systems. Computer programs developed for specific design applications are rapidly and accurately doing the tedious calculations that were once done manually. All of this has left more time for creative engineering on the part of designers to the benefit of their clients.
The entire design process for today's water systems, from initial design to final commissioning, has been simplified and improved as a result of the new, sophisticated computer programs. Today's technology allows the informed engineer to graphically design the piping system while, at the same time, entering friction data about specific components. When completed, the software gives a clear representation of the entire system, which the engineer can use to find specific data about any one point in the system.
The hydraulic gradient diagram provides a visual description of the changes in total pressure...
