Shortest-Path-Based Two-Phase Design Model for Hydraulically Efficient Water Distribution Network: Preparing for Extreme Changes in Water Availability

Seungyub Lee,Donghwi Jung

doi:10.1109/access.2021.3070722

Abstract

Environmental issues can cause changes in source water availability in water distribution networks (WDNs). Thus, an efficient connection between the source and consumers is important for securing water serviceability, which can generally be achieved by minimizing energy losses. In this study, a novel two-phase design (TPD) model is proposed to design an energy-efficient WDN by maximizing a hydraulic geodesic index (HGI), which is the weighted shortest path from the source to the demand node. Before applying the TPD model for WDN design, a correlation analysis between the system HGI, hydraulic performance, and graph theory indices is conducted using 33 J-City networks to verify the proposed HGI. Next, the TPD model is used to determine the optimal layout of the grid network (Phase I). Based on this layout, the optimal diameter set is identified in Phase II. The TPD is thereafter compared with the traditional single-phase design (SPD) model, which determines the optimal layout and diameter simultaneously, and a least-cost model for each phase in the grid network layout and pipe-sizing problem. The correlation analysis clearly indicates that the system HGI with the weighted graph theory successfully determines the hydraulic performance without any hydraulic analysis. Furthermore, TPD is advantageous for designing energy-efficient, hydraulically and structurally sustainable, and resilient networks, as compared to SPD and the least-cost model. The TPD model is expected to provide a better opportunity to prepare for extreme water availability changes by enhancing the hydraulic performance and efficiency through a better connection between the source and nodes.

Highlights

A water distribution network (WDN) requires pipes, valves, and pumps to connect consumers with distant water sources
The proposed model was first applied to J-City networks to validate the hydraulic geodesic index (HGI) method, and a layout and pipe diameter design for a grid network was demonstrated
The average value of the HGI is defined as the system HGI (SHGI), and the two-phase design (TPD) model considers maximizing the SHGI as an objective function

Summary

Introduction

A water distribution network (WDN) requires pipes, valves, and pumps to connect consumers with distant water sources. Emerging environmental issues, such as climate change and extreme drought, may cause significant changes in the availability of water from water sources. This decreases the available volume and total head of water in the sources. (generally the point with the maximum potential energy); the resultant potential energy used to deliver according to customer demands may be less than that under normal conditions [1] Under these circumstances, an efficient connection between the source and consumers is important to secure the serviceability of a WDN, which can generally be achieved by minimizing energy losses [1]–[3].

Methods

Results

Conclusion