What is a Scenario?

The HydrauliCAD user can define a combination of conditions that might exist in the network after an initial hydraulic state of the system is computed, and statements that determine how the network must operate over time based on those conditions. This combination of conditions and statements is named Scenario.

Using Scenarios, user can change the status of selected valves or pumps; or demand of selected nodes as a function of time, tank water levels, and pressures at select nodes within the network.

There is a Tab in HydrauliCAD palette, dedicated to Scenarios. The Scenarios can be defined, modified, or deleted using the user interface in that Tab. There is no limit on the number of conditions and statements that can be used in each scenario.
Activating or deactivating a scenario is very straightforward.

If in Scenarios' ComboBox in Scenario Tab of HydrauliCAD palette, "NONE" is selected, dynamic analysis of network will be solely based on settings of nodes and links preset in the drawing. For example, an operating tank's Actual Water Level would lower, and pressures might fall over time without anything to replace the water being used. Often a system running over time will fail at some point where pressures become negative. Many simulations must, at a minimum, have a scenario(s) to refill Tanks for example.

If a scenario other than "NONE" is selected, after each hydraulic step, it evaluates all conditions in the scenario and if a condition is met, it changes the status and settings of specified nodes and links accordingly for the next step.

A scenario can also be used to Play What IF!
· Examine if a certain property of one or several objects is changed, how it can impact the network. For example if the pipe size of some pipes is changed, without actually replacing the new pipe size in the drawing.
· Examine the impacts of different loading conditions.
· Search for optimal parameter estimates.
· And evaluate changes in operating policies.

Please Note: Our Scenario Engine, AKA Hal, was created to perform virtually any Scenario the operator wishes to create, its potential limited only by need and the imagination.

It is extremely straightforward to use, once the basic premises become familiar to you.

We strongly suggest that you at least View (and preferably mimic) the Video on Building Scenarios on a page below this page. This step by step scenario construction introduces the techniques needed for most scenarios, and will make you familiar with all the tools you will need to turn your own ingenuity loose, create your own stock scenarios, then Play "What If" to your heart's content.

Most of the scenario items are operational, a few likely never used items may remain unusable. If you see any not yet thought of items that you would like created for your uses, please let us know as we wish to expand it relative to need.