Optimal design of water distribution networks using whale optimization algorithm

Abstract

ABSTRACTA new optimization technique called Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) is applied for the least cost design of pipe networks. The rounded search agents of the algorithm were considered to cope with the discrete nature of pipe diameters as the decision variables in the optimization process. In addition, a new performance indicator based on both number of generations and the minimum number of evaluations is proposed to measure the performance of the optimization technique. The algorithm is applied to three pipe networks and the results are compared to that obtained by optimizing the networks using different optimization techniques and proved that WOA is a promising optimization model since it provided the least cost network design when compared to most of the optimization techniques available in the literature. However, the values of the performance indicator suggested that further research is recommended for more refinement of the algorithm for faster convergence towards the optimal solution.