Multilevel Partitioning with Multiple Strategies for Complex Water Distribution Network

Abstract

The operation and dispatching of large-scale water supply systems is becoming more and more complex, and effective partitioning is a good response measure to this increasing complexity. This paper presents a multilevel partitioning method using freely configurable strategies suitable for multiobjective situations such as allocation of water sources, pressure regulation, and flow measurement. The method mainly relies on two strategies. Using Strategy A, water supply features are constructed based on water sources and a partition clustering is implemented that is suitable for the overall partitioning of a water supply from multiple sources. Using Strategy B, important pipes are first extracted to simplify the search path and then various constraints (pressure boundary, flow shunt, cross-river management) are used to select control points and partition by graph theory searching. This strategy is suitable for refining partitioning of the structure of a specific source. A combination of the aforementioned strategies was applied to the first-level and second-level partitioning in a case study. By flexibly configuring strategies and constraints, good partitioning is achieved and multiple management goals are accomplished satisfactorily. This research enhances understanding of the operational issues in complex water systems. The overall management of water networks can be disassembled into tasks at all levels and with their own objectives performed in stages. The solution provided in this study has the advantages of flexibility and effectiveness for a variety of complex water distribution situations, contributing insights into the real challenges of partitioning large water distribution networks.