Collocation modeling with experimental validation for pipeline dynamics and application to transient data

A new model has been established in order to represent one-phase water flow transients in pipeline systems. This model is based on a system of hyperbolic partial differential equations solved via the orthogonal collocation method. An observer can be designed from this model in order to estimate the unsteady friction when a transient event occurs in the pipeline. The Extended Kalman filter is chosen as an observer for this estimation. The observer and the model response are tested and compared respectively with experimental data obtained from a pilot water pipeline.