Create a flush sequence for a UDF model

Any referenced datasets can be downloaded from "Module downloads" in the module overview.

Video quiz

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Which constraint does NOT need to be obeyed to use the Isolate Target Pipes tool?

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Step-by-step guide

In InfoWater Pro UDF, a flush sequence is a series of operations that defines how a flush zone will be flushed. The goal is to start from a clean water source, such as a pump station or a previously flushed sequence, and then select a hydrant to be flushed. Then, determine which valves need closing to increase the water velocity, so that it exceeds the minimum flushing (or scouring) velocity in the pipes leading to the hydrant. The hydrant must remain open for at least the time needed to turn over the water in the pipes being flushed. This is referred to as minimum flushing time.

  1. To begin, open a UDF model with UDF hydrant and valve layers and symbols already set, and flush zones created.
  2. From the Model Explorer toolbar, click Run to open the Run Manager.
  3. Click Run to run a simulation and create outputs for a base scenario.

In the Model Explorer toolbar, Run highlighted in red, and in the Run Manager, the Run button highlighted in red.

  1. Click OK to close the Run Manager.

To create one or more flush sequences:

  1. In the Model Explorer, switch to the UDF tab.
  2. Expand the zone drop-down and pick a zone—for this example, select ZONE_01.

The Model Explorer, UDF tab, with ZONE_01 selected and highlighted in red.

  1. In the map, zoom to a clean water source to select the flush sequence starting point. In this case, a fixed head reservoir is selected.
  2. In the Contents panel, right-click the Pipe layer and pick Label.

The map updates with pipe IDs.

  1. From the UDF tab, click Sequence Manager.

Model Explorer, UDF tab with Sequence Manager selected.

  1. In the Flush Sequence Manager, click New.

This adds Sequence 1 to the list of sequences.

  1. In the General tab, set a Date and Start Flush Time for the new sequence.
  2. For this example, set the No. of Turnovers to 3.

This is the number of times the pipe volume will be flushed from the main.

In the Flush Sequence Manager, the New button, the newly created sequence, and the General settings for this example highlighted in red.

To pick the pipes to include in the sequence:

  1. From the Target Pipe(s) group box, click Select >.
  2. If necessary, drag the dialog out of the way for a better view of the map.
  3. In the map, click and drag to select each pipe and highlight it in blue. Here, pipes 176, 194, 196, 198, and 314 are chosen.

In the Flush Sequence Manager, the Select > button highlighted in red; and in the network map, the selected pipes highlighted in blue and outlined with a red square.

  1. When finished making the selection, right-click the map and select Enter.

The Target Pipe(s) group box updates to show the IDs of the selected pipes.

The Flush Sequence Manager, with the pipes selected in the map now listed in the Target Pipe(s) box, highlighted in red.

  1. Switch to the Operations tab.
  2. Under Hydrant to Operate, next to the Primary Hydrant ID field, click the arrow (>) button.
  3. In the map, click and drag to select the hydrant to use—in this example, FH31, since it is located at the end of the sequence of pipes to be flushed.

In the map, hydrant FH31 is called out with a red arrow, and in the Flush Sequence Manager, Operations tab, hydrant ID FH31 appears in the Primary Hydrant ID field, highlighted in red.

  1. From the toolbar, click Isolate Target Pipes to automatically populate the Valves to Operate table.

In the Flush Sequence Manager toolbar, Isolate Target Pipes highlighted in red, and in the Operations tab, the populated Valves to Operate table highlighted in red.

The Valves to Operate table defines which valves are set as open and closed during each sequence, in order to isolate the pipes being flushed.

Three constraints must be obeyed to use this tool:

  • There is only one flow path among the pipes defined for flushing. In other words, the pipes must be in series without any branches.
  • The sequence is continuous, meaning all pipes in the current sequence are connected.
  • The sequence starts from a clean water source.

If any of these constraints are violated, a warning appears. Note that warnings do not affect flush sequence results, but simply inform that the simulation results do not meet the specified characteristics.

  1. Click Run Sequence, noting any warnings.

In the Flush Sequence Manager toolbar, the Run Sequence button highlighted in red.

  1. Repeat this process to create and run new sequences as needed.

To save created sequences:

  1. From the InfoWater ribbon, Project panel, pick Save Project As.
  2. Specify a name and location.
  3. Click Save.
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