Microsoft Excel 14.

0 Answer Report
Worksheet: [ThreeReservoirProblem.xlsx]Sheet1
Report Created: 08/05/2011 12:48:15 PM
Result: Solver found a solution. All Constraints and optimality conditions are satisfied.
Solver Engine
Engine: GRG Nonlinear
Solution Time: 0.047 Seconds.
Iterations: 2 Subproblems: 0
Solver Options
Max Time Unlimited, Iterations Unlimited, Precision 0.000001
Convergence 0.0001, Population Size 100, Random Seed 0, Derivatives Central
Max Subproblems Unlimited, Max Integer Sols Unlimited, Integer Tolerance 1%, Assume NonNeg
Objective Cell (Value Of)
Cell
Name
$D$15 Velocity (m s-1) Pipe 3

Original Value Final Value

-0.2571377996
0

Variable Cells
Cell
Name
$B$18 Flowrates Pipe 1
$C$18 Flowrates Pipe 2
$D$18 Flowrates Pipe 3

Original Value Final Value Integer

3.04E-03
0.00E+00 Contin
-1.90E-03
0.00E+00 Contin
-1.14E-03
0.00E+00 Contin

Constraints
Cell
Name
$B$22 Restriction Q1+Q2+Q3= Pipe 1
$D$15 Velocity (m s-1) Pipe 3

Cell Value
Formula
0.00E+00 $B$22=0
0 $D$15=0

Status
Binding
Binding

tions are satisfied.

1%, Assume NonNegative

Slack
0
0

Microsoft Excel 14.0 Sensitivity Report

Worksheet: [ThreeReservoirProblem.xlsx]Sheet1
Report Created: 08/05/2011 12:48:16 PM

Variable Cells
Cell
Name
$B$18 Flowrates Pipe 1
$C$18 Flowrates Pipe 2
$D$18 Flowrates Pipe 3

Final Reduced
Value Gradient
0
0
0
0
0
0

Constraints
Cell
Name
$B$22 Restriction Q1+Q2+Q3= Pipe 1
$D$15 Velocity (m s-1) Pipe 3

Final Lagrange
Value Multiplier
0
0
0
0

The Three Reservoir Problem

http://excelcalculations.blogspot.com
Click here to discover how the equations were derived and for complete documentation

Liquid Properties
Viscosity (Pa s)

0.001

Density (kg m-3)

1000

Pipe 1
Reservoir Height (m)
Roughness (m)
Diameter (m)
Length (m)

120
0.0005
0.1
500

Pipe 2
80
0.0005
0.05
600

Pipe 3
60
0.0005
0.075
700

Flowrates (m3 s-1)

Area

0.0164654 -0.000924 -0.00554107

0.007854 0.0019635 0.00441786

Velocity (m s-1)
Reynolds Number
Friction Factor

2.0964406 0.4707593 1.25424211

209644.06 23537.963 94068.1586
0.0308403 0.0402632 0.03401841

Junction
Head at Junction (m)

85.457431

External Demand (m3 s-1)

0.01

Set
initial
guess
values

Set initial guess value

Sum of flowrates
in pipes (constraint)

Errors in Bernoulli equation in each pipeline

Errors
-6.44E-07 5.06E-06

-8.51E-07

2.68E-11

Total error
(to be minimized)

Legend
Parameters you specify
Calculated values
To be varied by Solver
Constraint in Solver
To be minimized by Solver

Solver Instructions

Minimize the Total Error by varying the Flowrates and the Head at Junction while main
the External Demand at 0.01 m3 s-1

at Junction while maintaining

The Three Reservoir Problem

Introduction

This article discusses how you can solve the Three Reservoir Problem with Excel. Firs

If you just want the tutorial spreadsheet, click here, but I enco

Theory

Three reservoirs at different elevations are connected by a pipe network. The comm

Assuming that the liquid level in each reservoir is constant and the surface is open to

Equation 1

where zi is the elevation, fi is the friction factor, Li and Di are the length and diamet
But the volumetric flowrate Qi and the cross sectional area Ai of the pipe are

Equation 2

Equation 3

Substituting Equations 2 and 3 into Equation 1 to eliminate Vi gives

Equation 4

To determine whether liquid is flowing into or out of a reservoir, we need to preserve

Equation 5

If Qi is positive, liquid is flowing out of the reservoir, and if Qi is negative, liquid is fl

We only need a few more relationships to completely specify t

where Rei is the Reynolds Number,

Additionally, the sum of the flowrates from each reservoir is equal to the external de

Excel Implementation
Moving all terms in Equation 5 to the right-hand side gives

Equation 6

However, if we don't know the exact values of the flowrates in each pipeline (Qi) or t

Equation 7

We'll use Excel's Solver add-in to find the values of Q1, Q2, Q3 and Hj that minimize

Equation 8

...while keeping the total flowrate at the junction equal to the external demand.

Equation 9

Step1. Specify fixed parameters (such as densities, viscosities, reservoir heights, pip

Step 2. Set initial guess values for the flowrates in each pipe

Step 3. Specify calculated values

Step 4. Specify an initial guess value for the head at the junction, and the sum of all

Step 5. Specify the errors for each pipeline (as given by Equation 7), and the total er

We can now use Excel's Solver Add-in to find the flowrates (Q1, Q2 and Q3) and head

Step 6. Initiate Excel's Solver menu (if you haven't already, you'll need to load it in th

Step 7. Make the appropriate changes in the Solver window such that you minimise t

Step 8. Click Solve. After dismissing the following window, you'll find that the flowra

Step 9. We're not finished yet! Check that the Total Error specified in Step 5 is a very

ee Reservoir Problem with Excel. First, we develop the governing equations by applying Bernoulli's Equation and the Continuity Equation. We then e

sheet, click here, but I encourage you to read the rest of the article so you understand how the spreadsheet w

nected by a pipe network. The common junction of the piping network is subject to an external demand Qj of 0.01 m3/s. We will develop the theor

is constant and the surface is open to atmosphere, the Bernoulli Equation for Reservoir i (where i=1, 2 and 3) is

r, Li and Di are the length and diameter of the pipe connecting the reservoir to the junction, Vi is the liquid velocity and g is the gravitational const

ctional area Ai of the pipe are

o eliminate Vi gives

ut of a reservoir, we need to preserve the sign on the Qi^2 term by writing Equation 4 thus

rvoir, and if Qi is negative, liquid is flowing into the reservoir.

hips to completely specify the system. The friction factor fi is given by the Haaland approximation to the Cole

h reservoir is equal to the external demand

he flowrates in each pipeline (Qi) or the head at the junction (Hj) then we can define an error for each pipe.

of Q1, Q2, Q3 and Hj that minimize the total error...

on equal to the external demand.

ies, viscosities, reservoir heights, pipe diameters and roughnesses etc)

in each pipe

ad at the junction, and the sum of all flowrates in each pipe (as given by Equation 9). The External Demand will act as the constraint for Excel's Solv

given by Equation 7), and the total error (as given by Equation 8).

flowrates (Q1, Q2 and Q3) and head at the junction (Hj) that minimize the total error (as set in Step 5) subject to the flowrate constraint (as set in

n't already, you'll need to load it in the File > Options > Add-ins menu)

ver window such that you minimise the total error by varying the flowrates and the junction head while maintaining the external demand at a set v

ng window, you'll find that the flowrates in each pipeline, and the junction head have changed. Bear in mind that positive flowrates indicate flow o

otal Error specified in Step 5 is a very small number, and the External Demand (in Step 5) is equal to the value specified in Step 7.

d the Continuity Equation. We then explore how these equations can be solved in Excel.

tand how the spreadsheet was developed. Read on for the Three Reservoir Problem solution.

0.01 m3/s. We will develop the theory required to calculate the flowrates in each pipe (Q1, Q2 and Q3), the head at the junction (Hj) and determin

locity and g is the gravitational constant.

d approximation to the Colebrook-White Equation,

l act as the constraint for Excel's Solver

ct to the flowrate constraint (as set in Step 4).

aining the external demand at a set value (for this example, I've set the external demand to 0.01 m3/s). Additionally, set the solving method to GR

hat positive flowrates indicate flow out of a reservoir, while negative flowrates indicate liquid flow into a reservoir.

specified in Step 7.

em solution.

ead at the junction (Hj) and determine whether liquid is flowing into or out of each reservoir

onally, set the solving method to GRG Nonlinear.