Leakage optimization of water distribution networks by pressure control

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Tezin Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mühendislik Fakültesi, İnşaat Mühendisliği Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2018

Öğrenci: EZGİ KÖKER GÖKGÖL

Danışman: AYŞE BURCU ALTAN SAKARYA

Özet:

Excess water losses from drinking water distribution network is a serious problem in many countries all over the world including Turkey where total water losses is around 40% of the distributed water. Total water losses are divided into two parts namely (i) apparent or commercial water loss and (ii) real or physical water loss. Apparent water loss is from sources such as illegal water usage (water theft), inaccuracy in customer water meters, and meter reading handling errors. Real water loss is from sources such as leakage in water mains, leakage from connection to buildings, overflow from distribution reservoirs and from the water lost by pipe bursts. Water losses cause a lot of energy and economic losses and also results in water quality and sustainability problems. Thus, it is important to determine, reduce and manage water loss. It is proven by many studies that excess unnecessary water pressures lead to excess water loss. In this study, it is aimed to optimize pressure in a water distribution system in order to minimize the leakage. In addition, as a new approach, Chance Constraint is applied to cover uncertainties in the system which are resulting from various factors affecting leakage. LSGRG2 code is used for solving non-linear optimization problem and EPANET is used for hydraulic analysis.