An optimal network model for the design of water distribution systems

• Main Authors: Banaga, Marissa A., Bernardo, Cesar N., Garzon, Bernardo S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1998
• Subjects: Water-cranes; Hydraulics; Mathematical optimization; Mathematical models; Engineering design; Water distribution; Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_honors/117
• Institution: De La Salle University

Water distribution systems are systems consisting of water sources, network of pipes, and pumps that are designed to transport water and meet the demands at various points along the pipe network. The traditional procedure in designing these systems involves either basing the design decisions on past experiences or manually constructing the system based on personal judgement. Several researchers tried to simplify the process of designing water distribution systems through the application of optimization models. However, their models failed to consider certain factors such as pump sizing, reliability, multiple water sources and provisions for different pipe materials. For this reason, a model was developed that generates a least cost design of looped water distribution systems considering reliability, multiple water sources, different pipe sizes and materials, and pump sizing decisions, given the three-dimensional network of feasible connections, location of water sources and the forecasted demand at each node in the given network. The model is supported by hydraulic principles such as the Continuity Principle and Energy Principle in order to ensure that hydraulic consistency is achieved in the design. The model was validated using the problem consisting of six (6) nodes, nine (9) feasible connections, two (2) water sources, two (2) possible pipe size and material and three (3) possible pump capacities, inputted in the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) software. The optimal solution obtained for this problem is a network with a total cost of P 4,354.21. In addition, a computer program called OPT -WATER was developed to be able to provide a suitable user interface for water distribution system designers. It is also through the application of the computer program that the solution to the problem of manually designing water distributions systems will be achieved.