Steps below will guide on converting Node (like Junction or Hydrants) to Isolation Valve.

Steps to Accomplish

A)  Create a Selection Set

 1) Select the desired elements. It can be selected as shown below or by creating a windw (by clicking and draging).
 2) After selecting, right click > Create Selection Set.
 3) Give a name when prompted.
 x) Above steps and media below can also be found at:
http://communities.bentley.com/products/hydraulics___hydrology/w/hydraulics_and_hydrology__wiki/how-to-create-a-selection-set.aspx
http:/communities.bentley.com/products/hydraulics___hydrology/w/hydraulics_and_hydrology__wiki/how-to-create-a-selection-set.aspx" target="_blank">

B)  Batch Morph elements from Junction to TCV (or GPV or PBV)

1) Create a selection set OR simple select the elemnts that you like to morphed to something else.
2) Tools > Batch Morph
3) Depending on whether you have a selection set or elements selected in the model, select appropriate radio button. In the media below, Selection is used as elements selected the drawing are planned to use.
4) Select the desired type of element and click OK.
x) Above steps and media below can also be found at:
http://communities.bentley.com/products/hydraulics___hydrology/w/hydraulics_and_hydrology__wiki/how-to-batch-morph-elements-from-one-type-to-another.aspx

C)  Convert TCV, GPV or PBV to Isolation Valve

1) Open up Skelebrator (Tools > Skelebrator Skeletonizer)
2) Right click on Inline Isolating Valve Replacement and click on Add Inline Isolation Valve Replacement
3) Put a check mark on TCVs, GPVs, or PBVs (depending on elements that you like to convert to)
4) [Optional] You may add some condition under Conditions tab.
5) [Optional] Click on preview button.
6) Either click on Manual or Automatic button
x) Above steps and media below can also be found at:
http://communities.bentley.com/products/hydraulics___hydrology/w/hydraulics_and_hydrology__wiki/how-to-convert-tcv-gpv-or-pbv-to-isolation-value-using-skelebrator.aspx

The steps to convert node to isolation valve have been illustrated here:
http://communities.bentley.com/products/hydraulics___hydrology/w/hydraulics_and_hydrology__wiki/how-to-replace-node-with-isolation-valve.aspx 

Problem Description

The labels that are in my shapefiles are not showing up in the standalone version of my product when I add the file as a background. I see the labels in ArcMap in my shapefile though. Why is this and how can I get the labels to show up in my backgound?

Reason

The labels you are seeing in ArcMap are displayed "on the fly" on your display panel by the computer. They are not "real" graphical objects. ArcMap is able to read the attributes of the shapefiles database table and display these labels for you through a rendering process. Since our standalone software's background files only display graphical objects and the labels are not part of the shapefile as graphical objects they cannot be displayed in the background with some manipulation. 

Steps to Resolve

Export the labels to annotations and convert the annotations to a dxf file

1. Add the Shapefile to a new map in ArcMap

2. Right click on the layer and select 'Label Features'

3. Make sure the labels look as you want them to look in standalone. If it is not correct right click on the shapefile > Properties > Labels Tab  and make changes there for which field you want to be labeled and how you want to display it.

4. Right click on the layer and select "Convert Labels to Annotation."

5. Pick the options you want, and select a destination to save the file to. After conversion you should see the new Annotation layer in your map

6. Open ArcToolbox and then open Data Interoperability Tools > Quick Export

7. For the Input Layer, select the annotation layer just created. For the Output Dataset , click the "..." button to open the Specify Output Data Destination dialog, then press the "..." to chose a format. You need to select AutoCAD DWG/DXF, but make sure you give the dataset a .DXF  extension. Hit Ok after naming the output Dataset, then OK again to perform the conversion.

8. In WaterGEMS, add the newly created DXF file as a background layer, along with the original shapefile
   
   

   You might have to play with the the text size and label placements a little bit if you get some overlap, but in general this should work fine. 

See Also

WaterGEMS for ArcMap

Noted, thanks Daniel. I really want to focus on water age only, Il hence input some reservoirs. Thanks.

Background

When using the PondMaker tool to size a pond for multiple return events, how can you simulate different tailwater conditions for each one? For example you may want to take the downstream tailwater from a separate analysis of each return event, in cases where that tailwater may rise above the bottom of the pond and effect outflow.

In the outlet design step, only one outlet structure can be selected, which applies to all return events in the worksheet.

Steps to Accomplish

Option 1 - use separate PondMaker worksheets

1. If you have an existing worksheet, delete all return events (rows) except for the highest (for example 100 year). Or, if you do not have a pondmaker worksheet set up yet, right click on the pond, choose design pond with pondmaker, then enter only the highest return event (not the others) in the first pondmaker step.

2. Go through the steps to design your pond for the highest return event. When you get to the outlet design step, select Constant Tailwater for the tailwater type in the composite outlet structure, then enter the corresponding tailwater elevation that you'd like to use. In this case, you will likely only be sizing the outlet's weir, but be sure to include the other outlet components (such as orifices and risers) as they will contribute to total flow.

3. After completing the routing step, create a new pondmaker worksheet using the new button at the top, then repeat step 2 for the next lowest return event that you need to design for (for example 50 year). This time, use the same pond dimensions and outlet from the first pass (with the highest return event), except change the tailwater to correspond to what you want to use for that return event. In this case, you may be designing the size of just the riser.

4. Repeat the process again for the other return events. You may need to go back and forth between outlet design steps of each pondmaker run (each return event), as a tweak to the outlet could effect higher return events.

Option 2 - Use ICPM with a time-elevation table on the outfall node

1. Set up different Boundary Condition alternatives for each return event and assign them to the corresponding scenarios.
2. In the properties of the outfall downstream of the pond, choose time-elevation for the boundary condition type.

3. Set up the time-elevation table to have a constant elevation, covering the full duration of the simulation.

4. Switch to the next return event's scenario and repeat, entering the tailwater corresponding to that return event.

5. Repeat for each return event. If the alternatives are set up correctly, each return event will have a separate tailwater.

6. Set up and proceed with your PondMaker worksheet, entering all the desired return events. When you reach the outlet design step, select "user defined tailwater" as the tailwater of the composite outlet structure. For the minimum and maximum tailwater elevation, enter the pond bottom and top elevation.

7. When you compute the outlet design step, each return event should pick up on the corresponding tailwater from the outfall.

Hello Ken,

The best method will be to use submodel importing and exporting. The following TechNote provides details on this process and a couple of sample modeling scenarios that can be used for this method.

communities.bentley.com/.../4539.aspx

Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

Regards,

Scott Kampa

Bentley Technical Support

Is there anyway to make a responsible assumption for the pump transient properties if accurate data is not available?  I have a distribution system model that I've been asked to do some transient analysis for.  The model has detailed pump curves but I don't have any additional information on the pumps to determine the inertia and pump speed.  How sensitive are these parameters to the ultimate model solutions?

-Brian

Problem Description

Why does WaterCAD/GEMS enter intermediate timesteps for Logical Controls when EPANET does not?

Reason

In WaterGEMS this is the expected behavior of a Logical Control.

Instead of determining the exact timestep at which the control would occur (like with simple), it will check every 1/10 of a hydraulic calculation timestep. If a control condition would occur, the action is applied and an intermediate timestep will be created to reflect this.

EPANET does actually do the exact same as WaterGEMS. It is just difficult to visualize within the EPANET reporting results. The EPANET reporting does not show intermediate timesteps directly in the report Table.

However you can visualize the attached Status Report to see that the events are triggered at the exact same times as in WaterGEMS. This seems to be standard across EPANET and WaterGEMS. To visualize the Status Report correctly in EPANET you have to go to Hydraulics Options > Edit and change the Status Report option to FULL.

You will then see the intermediate time step values are identical to the counterparts in WaterGEMS.

This only happens with Logical Controls and is expected behavior. Simple controls will not carry this same logic.

See Also

http://communities.bentley.com/products/hydraulics___hydrology/w/hydraulics_and_hydrology__wiki/8983.aspx

Problem

When using the Implicit dynamic solver, I can use a conduit between a wetwell and a pump. With the GVF Convex solver, I'm forced to use a pressure pipe in this case. Why?

Solution

This is mainly a technical limitation due to the numerical solvers running behind the scenes.

The GVF Convex (SewerCAD) solver calculates pressure networks separately using the EPANET engine where all pipes are assumed to be full, so a pressure pipe is expected. With the implicit dynamic solver, all parts of the network (both pressure and open flow/gravity) are solved at the same time, by the same solver. The Preissmann slot method is used to simulate pressurized flow in both pressure pipes and conduits.

For compatibility between solvers, it may be best to use pressure pipes. Both conduits and pressure pipes can be designated as "virtual" as well (no hydraulic significance - flow in=flow out) for cases such as submersible pumps.

No problem. I created that wiki just now, in response to your post.

If you have some piping (and headloss) between the pump and wetwell, you can choose "false" for "is virtual?" and enter the physical properties to account for headloss. If you need to use a virtual link with the Explicit Dynamic (SWMM) solver, you could account for those losses to the downstream pipe.

Problem Description

In WaterCAD/WaterGEMS V8, what is the effect of toggling the "evaluate as simple
control" check box in the controls window? What is the difference between simple
and logical controls?

Reason

Simple Controls

 1) Used in both steady state and EPS simulations.

 2) Only basic conditions and actions are supported. For example, IF A THEN B. Composite actions cannot be created; for example: IF A OR B THEN C AND D.

 3) Time based controls ignore the operator when evaluated as simple, and always use ‘=’.
- Steady state only uses simple controls, and only if the "use simple controls?"
calculation option is enabled. If it is unchecked, no controls will be considered.

 4) For a particular timestep, the engine goes through iterations to converge. If it converges at an even iteration (for example 8) then simple control conditions are checked. If another simple control condition is met, it iterates again until the hydraulics converge. If the hydraulics converge on an odd timestep, simple controls aren't checked and the hydraulic timestep is complete. The act of only checking on even iterations is a mechanism used to defeat situations where the iterations would go on forever. Basically if the control's action causes another control to trigger and that control causes the first one to trigger, it could go back and forth forever and the model would not be able to converge. This is typically an indication that your controls should be revised. It is important to realize that this can also result in an incorrect solution, for example if another simple control action would have occured, but the solution converged on an iteration where that check is not made. This is a good reason to use logical controls instead, since the logic is different (see below.)


Logical Controls 

 1)  Not used in steady state. (Since the action doesn't apply until the next intermediate
timestep)

 2) Can define more complex controls, with composite conditions/actions (due to the way that they are evaluated) For example: IF A OR B THEN C AND D.

 3)  Instead of determining the exact timestep at which the control would occur (like with simple), it will check every 1/10 of a calculation timestep. If a control condition would occur, the action is applied and an intermediate timestep will be created to reflect this.

Another thing worth checking in a situation like this is the control priority. It's important to note that for logical controls, the highest priority is 5 (not 1). This may give you an alternative solution.

See more in the help under Contents > Modeling Capabilities > Controls > Controls Tab.

What does the user notification "Pump exceeds the maximum operating point specified for the pump curve" mean?"

This warning message usually indicates that the pump is operating beyond the user-entered pump characteristic curve (pump defintion). This will happen when the pump definition is not defined all the way out to zero head.  WaterCAD and WaterGEMS will use extrapolation the pump curve that you entered so that it extends all the way to zero head, and will operate past the user entered range if the system conditions warrant. The pump curve that you see in the system head curve viewer is an extrapolated pump curve.  This message tells you that the real pump may not be able to operate correctly in this condition. Basically, the system conditions are such that the head that the pump needs to add is less than the lowest head value in your pump curve. 

You can always check the operating point and extrapolated pump curve by right clicking the pump and selecting "Pump Curve".

You should compare the operating point to the actual pump curve that you have defined under Components > Pump Definitions, and not to the system head curve window.

Sometimes you may also get this message if you are using a multiple point pump curve with large gaps between flow values.  If this is your situation, the issue can be resolved by adding one or two flow values with its corresponding head value to make the gaps between consecutive values smaller.

Error or Warning Message

Pump PMP-1 cannot deliver flow or head.

Explanation

This message normally happens if the pump was trying to operate at the shutoff point (zero flow), but it will also show iff the pump is operating beyond the defined pump curve.  WaterCAD/GEMS will extrapolate out the pump characteristic curve past the maximum operating point if the curve does not go out to zero head, but it is not desirble for a pump to operate past the defined pump curve.

Data on the pump inertia and speed should be something that is available through the pump manufacturer. If specific speed is not available from the manufacturer, there is a formula in the HAMMER Help documentation to estimate the specific speed (under the Help topic "Specific Speed"). If inertia is unavailable, there is a calculator in the Transient tab of the pump definition that can use speed and brake horsepower at the Best Efficiency Point that can solve for the inertia. Overall though, if the data is available through the manufacturer, it may be best to go through them.

In terms of how sensitive a model is to these parameters, it will depend on the system you are modeling and modeling situation. One thing that you can try is to do a sensitivity analysis on your system. This is done by trying a range of values for each pump parameter where you have no or limited information and then checking the transient response. You can then use a conservative value based these observations.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions on the issue.

Regards,

Scott Kampa

Bentley Technical Support

This describes how to compact your database in the Haestad line of water and wastewater products in order to save space, increase speed, and prevent possible corruption.

Background

If you make a lot of changes in a database and do it often, portions of the database may become fragmented. Fragmentation can lead to issues where the database does not function optimally and over time this can cause performance issues or possible corruption. Three of the top reasons to compact the database and purge record regularly are 1) Save space 2) Increase speed of processing 3) Prevent possible future corruptions. For this reason we offer a few ways to maintain the health of your project database files. The first is by automatic database compaction based on the number of times you open the database file via the File > Open function. The second is the manual option.

Steps to Accomplish

Set your software to automatically compact the database file after opening it a given number of times

*Please note that by default the software is set to compact databases automatically after every 10 times you perform a File > Open.  

1. Open a project file or start a new project

2.  Go to Tools > Options

3.  On the Global tab under the General section (first section) you should see a check box that says "Compact database after". To the right of that you are given the option to set the number of times.

4. After you are done click the "Ok" button to enable the changes

Manually compact the database

1. Open the software but, do not open your project file. This can be done by clicking on the application icon and selecting close on the Welcome window.

2. Go to Tools > Database Utilities > Compact Database..

3.  In this next step you are presented two options: 1) Retain record to optionally allow elements to be completely restored later 2) Purge records to save space. Option 2 for purging records will work best to help the database functional optimally as it reduces the number of unnecessary records saved.

Problem Description

When I open my software I am getting a message that says, "The license server could not be contacted during the required period...".

Reason

Sometimes when you don't use the software for a while the log files that are required to be transmited to our servers, which verify the license status, are not pushed automatically. In this case they need to be sent manually.

Steps to Resolve

Make sure the default license configuration is set and send the log files manually

 The following steps use WaterCAD as an example, but work for all the Haestad line of programs:

1. Make sure the software is closed before proceeding to step 2 

2. Go to Start > All Programs > Bentley > WaterCAD > Municipal License Administrator

3. Click on Tools > Options > Verify (sometimes this button is shown as "test connection") - ensure that this verifies. If it does not, make sure that you are connected to the internet and that you typed the server name and activation key in correctly. Make sure there are no spaces before or after the server name or the activation key.

4. Click the OK button and go back to the main Municipal License Administrator window then click "Refresh configurations" and make sure the features column shows the correct information for your Haestad licenses.

5.  Click on the license that you would like to use and then click "make default". You will see a ">>>" in the "Default" column next to the license.

6. Close the Municipal License Administrator and then browse back to Start > All Programs > Bentley > WaterCAD and click on "license management tool".

7. Go to Tools > "Send Logs Now" - when this completes, go back and run this command a few more times to ensure that everything is synchronized.

8. Open the program. If any warnings appear, acknowledge them, close the program and move on to step 9.

9. Go back to the license management tool and perform the "send logs now" command again.

10.  Reopen the program and see if the message comes up again. If it does please contact Bentley Support.

Problem Description

Getting an error message like below when using/testing the Citect datasource:

---------------------------
SCADAConnect Message
---------------------------
Citect ctAPI dlls are missing. Please copy the required ctAPI dlls into the WaterGEMS installation folder.
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------

Reason

There are some dll (assembly) files needed to use the Citect DataSouce in SCADAConnect and they need to be at the same location where WaterGEMS/WaterCAD/HAMMER is running.

Steps to Resolve

Please make sure you have following dll files in the directory where the product is running (generally C:\Program Files (x86)\Bentley\WaterGEMS or WaterCAD or HAMMER\).

Version 7 (or 6) of Citect needs:
CiDebugHelp.dll
CtApi.dll
CtEng32.dll
Ctg32.dll
CtRes32.DLL
CtUtil32.dll
Ct_ipc.dll

The above listed files can be obtained from the computer where Citect is installed. Pleae copy/ these files to the directory from where software (WaterGEMS, WaterCAD, HAMMER) is running.

If you couldn't obtain the files listed above, please contact Technical Support Group.

Problem

How do I sort a flextable (such as pipe or conduit) in order of upstream to downstream?

Background

By default, element flextables are ordered by their element ID, which is based on the order that they were drawn or inserted into the model. Sometimes it is necessary to view a flextable in a different order such as upstream-downstrean, not by ID or label. Our storm and sewer products have an ability to do so because the flow is always in the same direction. However our water modeling products can have flow in either direction, so the situation is different.

Steps to Accomplish

StormCAD, SewerCAD, SewerGEMS or CivilStorm

1. If you want to see all elements sorted upstream-downstream at once, first open the flextable. Otherwise if you want to see only a specific path/branch, select the elements in the path that you want to sort, either manually in the drawing or using one of the drawing queries.

2. Right click any column header and choose either "Sort Upstream->Downstream" or "Sort Downstream->Upstream".

WaterCAD, WaterGEMS, HAMMER

1. Select the elements in the path that you want to sort, either manually in the drawing or using one of the drawing queries such as "trace downstream" or "find shortest path"

2. Right click in the drawing plan view, choose "Edit Group", then double click the pipe table

3. Ensure that the Hydraulic grade (start) or Hydraulic Grade (stop) field is added to the table

4. Right click the HGL start or stop field and choose either Ascending or Descending, depending if you want to sort upstream or downstream. This of course assumes that you have at least some flow in the pipes you're sorting, so as to have a decrease in HGL as you move downstream.

Note: If you want complete control over order, you could add a numeric User Data Extension field, add that column to your FlexTable, enter a value to specify the order for each row, then sort by that field.

Thanks, Rob. I've incorporated that suggestion in the solution wiki mentioned in my previous post.