Solution Algorithm for the Routing Problem in Capacitated and Periodic Arcs Applied to Hydroelectric Plant Monitoring

Abstract

Objective: The present work presents a linear model capable of optimizing the routes that a reader takes to make measurements of the auscultation instruments installed in a hydroelectric plant. Theoretical framework: Tirkolaee's work was a reference for solving the problem of determining the best routes, serving as one of the bases of this work, as in this article, in addition to being concerned with solving the PCARP, we sought to minimize the number of vehicles needed to carry out the task. But he doesn't work with a predefined frequency like in Chu or with multiple tasks like in Cleverson. Since Cleverson is a generalization of Chu's work, as the edge has different demands, that is, different tasks. These tasks would be reading the auscultation instruments, that is, reading the Thermometer, Pendulum, Seismograph and Piezometer. But it differs from this, as it does not aim to reduce the number of vehicles. Method: Develop a model that can take into consideration the following characteristics: one must choose which of the combinations of days of the week will be used to perform each of the reader's tasks; determine which of the readers will read route y that contains gallery x and which instruments will be read; the reader will necessarily have to pass once performing the task, however he may have to pass the edge without performing any task to maintain the continuous flow; readers may not be qualified to perform all tasks, as they do not have knowledge of how to use the device that reads a given instrument; the reader will have to leave the deposit, which is represented by the vertex “0” and return to it at the end of the day; the time to travel the path to the warehouse, take instrument readings and return to it cannot exceed the reading worker's working hours per day; Results and conclusion: The result points to an improvement of 81% in relation to the reduction in distances covered by vehicles in all instances tested using AS, in 76% of instances tested with AS the solution without subcycle was achieved in less time, as well as a decrease in number of vehicles needed to meet the same demands of 66% when we analyze the maximum number of vehicles used in a day and 66% when we add the total number of vehicles used in the period. Implications of the research: Model that can be applied both in determining the best route for the reader and in other real situations, such as analyzing equipment measurement routes within an industry and in garbage collection. Originality/value: The Solution Algorithm, in addition to the linear model, brings originality to its construction and compilation, as the algorithm constitutes a way to find a feasible solution. With the solution algorithm it is possible to find a feasible solution that determines the shortest distance and together with the smallest number of surveyors needed to carry out the work, which ends up taking less time to carry out all inspections.