Beyond Deterministic Hydraulics: Introducing the EPANET-GoldSim Bridge

The EPANET-GoldSim Bridge is now available, offering a simple way to leverage GoldSim’s simulation capabilities for water distribution system analysis. This Windows DLL enables users to embed an EPANET hydraulic engine directly within a GoldSim model, bridging the gap between standard hydraulic modeling and probabilistic systems simulation. By integrating these two platforms, organizations can move beyond single-scenario analysis to truly quantify risk and reliability across their networks.

Why Connect Them?

While EPANET is the industry standard for hydraulics, it's typically used for deterministic analysis. Integrating it with GoldSim allows you to:

• Quantify Uncertainty: Run thousands of realizations to see how demand fluctuations or equipment failures impact system pressures.
• Test Complex Logic: Use GoldSim's control elements to drive pump speeds, valve settings, and demands at every timestep.
• Track Performance: Monitor hydraulic head, flow, and even real-time pump power/efficiency to calculate operating costs.

Screenshot of the GoldSim model interface with the EPANET element

Physically Based vs. Feedback Control Models: Choosing the Right Approach for Water System Simulation

 Posted by  Jason Lillywhite

We’ve often been asked about the best way to simulate flow between two tanks: should it be modeled physically, based on fluid mechanics, or actively controlled using a feedback mechanism? With the release of GoldSim 15 and its new Controller element, now is a good time to compare these approaches and perhaps even combine them. In this post, we’ll examine the performance of our existing physically based model (Flow Between Two Tanks) alongside a feedback-controlled version using the Controller element. By comparing these methods, we’ll explore their strengths, limitations, and when one approach might be preferable over the other.