A critical evaluation of the methods for the determination of required volumes for detention tank

Simplified methods allow a straightforward and quick determination of parameters of interest. A simplified method of calculation to be used must provide sufficiently accurate simulation results. This paper presents the results of tests completed to evaluate the effects of the parameters which describe a sewer catchment area and network on the value of Tp, a parameter applied in the Dziopak method [18]. The results of 2997 hydrodynamic simulations allowed to formulate an artificial neural network the application of which enabled the determination of the value of Tp dependent on the design parameters of a sewer catchment area and network. The artificial neural network had a very low error R2 = 0.9972 between the expected and determined values of Tp. The completed tests indicated a relationship by which an increase of the rainfall duration, a parameter used in the dimensioning of detention tank, is concomitant to an increase in the value of Tp. The calculations made so far included an assumption that the Tp value is constant irrespective of the design rainfall duration for the dimensioning of detention tank; this assumption has led to gross calculation errors. The paper also provides proof that the inclusion of these relationships allows a more precise determination of the service volume required for a multi-chamber detention tank.