Calculate stable water level use case (Water Overlay)
For water management purposes it can be relevant to know how water will stabilize throughout the system. This can be in a default situation, where there is a nominal amount of water in- and outflow. This can also be in a situation where the system is under duress, such as with a consistent amount of rainfall. There are multiple possible definitions of a stable water system, but a common characteristic is that the inflow and outflow match up, leading to either a consistent amount of water in the system or a predictable water rise/fall at points of measurement.
For the purposes of this scenario, a simple hydrological model will be assumed, with an inflow of water from an upstream source and a downstream means for water to leave the water system.
How to
The use-case can be implemented through the following steps.
- Configure a base hydrological system. For the specified scenario, the rainfall overlay is recommended.
- Ensure the simulation is set up to output a reasonable amount of timeframes. For a stabilization case, one timeframe per 12 hours of simulation time is reasonable.
- Also ensure the hydrological system has appropriate inflows and outflows for the hydrological system.
- Also ensure the hydrological system has a SURFACE_LAST_VALUE result type, either as main result or as a child result type.
- Ensure the overlay is (re)calculated.
- Inspect the "Surface last value" result overlay.
- In the location where water should stabilize, place a point measurement using the measurement tool. The graph will demonstrate whether the water stabilizes, and if so at what level.
Notes
A possibility for water to stabilize is most likely if the water inflow is constant, but the outflow increases as water in the system increases. A weir at the outflow side of the water system can effectuate this.
It's possible that the water does not stabilize, if the water flows in faster than water can leave the water system.
It's possible that the water in the water system is effectively exhausted before stability is reached, if water flows out faster than water water enters the system.