OPTIMIZED DESIGN OF WATER DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS THROUGH NONLINEAR PROGRAMMING

Abstract

In the search for efficient solutions to improve drinking water systems in regions with limited resources, the use of nonlinear programming has emerged as a promising method to optimize the design of water distribution networks. This approach allows the identification of minimum pipe diameters needed to minimize implementation costs, while meeting all the hydraulic constraints necessary for efficient operation.

The research presented demonstrates that through the application of nonlinear mathematical models, it is possible to achieve a balance between costs and the technical specifications required, such as water pressure and flow rate in the network. This balance is achieved by maintaining the mass and energy conservation equations at each node and section of the network, respectively.

Using accessible tools like spreadsheets with add-ons like Solver, engineers can implement these models in their projects, facilitating the optimal design that ensures proper water distribution to all consumption points. The results indicate that in all studied cases, regulations and minimum requirements have been met, ensuring adequate flow rates at each point of the network.

This advancement not only optimizes financial resources, increasingly scarce in developing countries, but also promotes the adoption of more efficient and accessible design practices for engineers dedicated to the planning of critical infrastructures such as drinking water systems.