DefinePK

Abstract

The determination of pipe network optimal path is important for an effective modeling and optimization of water-distribution systems. 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 paper is a mathematical approach of the branched pipe network path optimization for water distribution. 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 for PC microsystems. Thus, can be determined all optimal solutions, for a given criterion. The optimization model is applicable to design of the distribution networks for hydro-urban and hydro-amelioration systems. Numerical example will be presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed optimization model. These show a good performance of the new model.