Fuzzy node flow analysis of water distribution networks using Jaya algorithm

Abstract

Fuzzy analysis helps in understanding how the uncertainty in various independent parameters of water distribution network such as, nodal demands, pipe roughness values, reservoir heads, pipe diameters and so forth will affect the dependent parameters such as pipe velocities, discharges and nodal pressures. The membership functions of dependent parameters are obtained by considering membership functions of uncertain independent parameters. The Impact Table method from literature suggests a repetitive analysis by considering the monotonous relationship between dependent and independent parameters. The Impact Table method was also employed for carrying out fuzzy analysis under pressure deficient condition to obtain fuzzy membership function of nodal outflows. Optimization based methods of fuzzy analysis are more useful when relationship between dependent and independent parameters are non-monotonous. A novel algorithm, Jaya is used in this study for performing fuzzy analysis on a benchmark network by pressure dependent approach. The analysis is performed by setting up hydraulic model in the software EPANET and linking it with the MATLAB for performing optimization through an EPANET-MATLAB toolkit. The propagation of the uncertainties of the input parameters for some non-linear hydraulic responses were identified and the algorithm was found to be a powerful tool for optimization.