Optimization of path for water transmission and distribution systems

Abstract

The efficient design of water adduction mains and distribution systems involves several optimization processes among which an important place is held by their path optimization. A principal application of the branched network optimal path is to evaluate the hydraulic performance of the distribution system based on selected schemes for many types of network analysis (e.g., design, operation, calibration). Already known algorithms for solving this problem usually determine a sole solution which in some cases proves to be suboptimal. This chapter is a mathematical approach of the adduction mains and branched pipe networks path optimization for water transmission and distribution. That is why there are developed two deterministic mathematical models for optimization of water adduction main path, based on techniques of sequential operational calculus, implemented in a computer program. Using these optimization models could be obtained an optimal solution for selection of source location and of water adduction main path based on graph-theory and dynamic programming. Also, it is developed an algorithm based on graph-theory which generates all minimal trees of the graph comprising nodes where consumers are placed and links (pipes) between them and is implemented in a computer program. Numerical example will be presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed optimization models. These show a good performance of the new models. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.