SIEMENS is developing a new simulation tool which it claims will allow engineers to test automation technology while water networks are still at the planning stage.
According to SIEMENS, the new technology will allow water utilities to enhance the security of supply as well as reduce energy requirements. It will also be possible to test all various components of a new water network and ensure they work in harmony before any construction work begins.
The company claims this procedure is suitable not only for designing and planning new water networks but also upgrading existing ones.
SIEMENS Corporate Technology has developed physical models of all various elements of a water network as well as algorithms to simulate water flows. On the basis of this digital library, the company claims it will be possible to construct a virtual process model in order to test and refine the actual automation technology of a water network.
In a subsequent step, the control operations developed on computer will be applied to real control systems and then tested and fine-tuned on a model network. In this way, a range of scenarios can be acted out and various system failures simulated.
According to SIEMENS, the system will only be implemented for the real water network once it has demonstrated its reliability. This new procedure is based on SIWA PLAN, a water management system from SIEMENS that is used to model water networks for planning and training purposes as well as enhance operational management online.
SIEMENS is planning to unveil a prototype of the tool in 2010.