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Module

CEG8102 : Introduction to Practical Hydraulics

  • Offered for Year: 2023/24
  • Module Leader(s): Professor David Graham
  • Lecturer: Professor Russell Davenport, Professor Adam Jarvis, Professor David Werner
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0

Aims

A sound grasp of practical hydraulics, i.e., the physics of water, has always been useful for those working in the water industry. Therefore, all who enter the industry should be aware of the physical precepts of water, including how good environmental design often centres on physical factors rather than biological or chemical phenomena. However, many people now enter the water industry who do not have a traditional engineering training. Many of these individuals are unaware of, and even intimidated by core hydraulic principles that are extremely useful. This course is an accessible and practical introduction to this area. It will introduce the students to the founding concepts of hydraulics and show how they can be applied to problems in drainage, sewers, water supply systems, and the specification of pumps. A key element is learning how one integrates hydraulic, biological, and chemical principles into environmental engineering design.

Outline Of Syllabus

Conceptual basics: Statics, the conservation of mass and energy (Bernoulli's equation), ideal and non-ideal flow Reynolds number. Pipe Flow: Empirical and theoretical equations, simple pipes, branched networks, circular networks, flow measurement. Open channel flow: Uniform flow and Manning's equation, non-uniform flow, the design of drainage networks, and flow measurement. Pumps: Pump types, optimal selection and management. Network analysis: An introduction to hydraulic network optimization will be provided, using EPANET for water distribution systems. Integrated design: Estimation of pollutant fluxes within a catchment and prioritizing strategies and targets for water quality and quantity monitoring.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion125:0025:00Design report on catchment monitoring
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture141:0014:0014 x 1.0 hr lectures across the week
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion124:0024:00Revision and preparation for final exam
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical11:001:001 hr demonstration of experimental hydraulics facilities in the Multipurpose and Novak labs in the Stephenson building
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical33:009:001 field methods practical, 1 computer practical on EPANET, and 1 workshop on integrated design
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching71:007:00Tutorials - Working sessions with demonstrators to assist in solving practice calculations
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study120:0020:00N/A
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Basic principles will be provided in the lectures and physical practices provided in laboratory and field activities. Problem solving ability and confidence will be built up in the tutorials and through independent study, which will be followed up with face-to-face tutorials, workshop activity, and practicals. Practical activity includes work with EPANET software in the computer cluster and field work on the Ouseburn River. The exam and design report will be used to revise, reinforce and apply learned materials from the lectures.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1201A60An exam assessing quantitative work
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Design/Creative proj1M40Submitted report on the design of a monitoring system for a river catchment.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam assesses the student’s ability to perform hydraulic calculations in practical problems and qualitative knowledge related to professional elements of the class. The report assesses the ability to write a report, perform hydraulic calculations that consider biological and chemical factors, and design a catchment monitoring system.

Reading Lists

Timetable