scholarly journals Towards Model-Free Pressure Control in Water Distribution Networks

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2697
Author(s):  
Thapelo C. Mosetlhe ◽  
Yskandar Hamam ◽  
Shengzhi Du ◽  
Eric Monacelli ◽  
Adedayo A. Yusuff
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Numerical Solution ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Water Distribution Networks ◽  
Model Free ◽  
Control Schemes ◽  
Optimisation Procedure

Pressure control in water distribution networks (WDNs) is one of the interventions commonly employed to improve the reliability and sustainability of water supply. Various approaches have been proposed to solve the problem of pressure control. However, most schemes that have been proposed rely on the accuracy of a model in order to precisely control a real WDN. Therefore, any deviation between a model and real WDN parameters could render the results of control schemes useless. As a result, this work proposes the utilisation of the reinforcement learning (RL) technique to control nodes pressure in WDNs without solving the model. Quadratic approximation emulators of WDNs and RL agents are used in the proposed scheme. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is tested on two WDNs networks and the results are compared with the conventional optimisation scheme that is commonly used for simulation cases. The results show that the proposed scheme is able to achieve the desired results when compared to the benchmark optimisation procedure. However, unlike the optimisation procedure, the proposed scheme achieved the results without the numerical solution of the WDNs. Therefore, this scheme could be used in situations where the model of a network is not well defined.

scholarly journals Appraising the Impact of Pressure Control on Leakage Flow in Water Distribution Networks

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 2617
Author(s):  
Thapelo C. Mosetlhe ◽  
Yskandar Hamam ◽  
Shengzhi Du ◽  
Eric Monacelli
Keyword(s):  
Water Distribution ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Water Distribution Networks ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Model Free ◽  
Critical Nodes ◽  
Control Scheme ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Nodal Pressure

Water losses in Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) are inevitable. This is due to joints interconnections, ageing infrastructure and excessive pressure at lower demand. Pressure control has been showing promising results as a means of minimising water loss. Furthermore, it has been shown that pressure information at critical nodes is often adequate to ensure effective control in the system. In this work, a greedy algorithm for the identification of critical nodes is presented. An emulator for the WDN solution is put forward and used to simulate the dynamics of the WDN. A model-free control scheme based on reinforcement learning is used to interact with the proposed emulator to determine optimal pressure reducing valve settings based on the pressure information from the critical node. Results show that flows through the pipes and nodal pressure heads can be reduced using this scheme. The reduction in flows and nodal pressure leads to reduced leakage flows from the system. Moreover, the control scheme used in this work relies on the current operation of the system, unlike traditional machine learning methods that require prior knowledge about the system.

scholarly journals A Model for Selecting the Most Cost-Effective Pressure Control Device for More Sustainable Water Supply Networks

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Fernández García ◽  
Daniele Novara ◽  
Aonghus Mc Nabola
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Water Distribution Networks ◽  
Supply Network ◽  
Water Supply Network ◽  
Sustainable Water Supply

Pressure Reducing Valves (PRV) have been widely used as a device to control pressure at nodes in water distribution networks and thus reduce leakages. However, an energy dissipation takes place during PRV operation. Thus, micro-hydropower turbines and, more precisely, Pump As Turbines (PAT) could be used as both leakage control and energy generating devices, thus contributing to a more sustainable water supply network. Studies providing clear guidelines for the determination of the most cost-effective device (PRV or PAT) analysing a wide database and considering all the costs involved, the water saving and the eventual power generation, have not been carried out to date. A model to determine the most cost-effective device has been developed, taking into account the Net Present Value (NPV). The model has been applied to two case studies: A database with 156 PRVs sites located in the UK; and a rural water supply network in Ireland with three PRVs. The application of the model showed that although the investment cost associated to the PRV installation is lower in the majority of cases, the NPV over the lifespan of the PAT is higher than the NPV associated with the PRV operation. Furthermore, the ratio between the NPV and the water saved over the lifespan of the PAT/PRV also offered higher values (from 6% to 29%) for the PAT installation, making PATs a more cost-effective and more sustainable means of pressure control in water distribution networks. Finally, the development of less expensive turbines and/or PATs adapted to work under different flow-head conditions will tip the balance toward the installation of these devices even further.

scholarly journals A New Device for Pressure Control and Energy Recovery in Water Distribution Networks

Water ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Sinagra ◽  
Vincenzo Sammartano ◽  
Gabriele Morreale ◽  
Tullio Tucciarelli
Keyword(s):  
Energy Recovery ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Water Distribution Networks ◽  
New Device

scholarly journals Adaptive water distribution networks with dynamically reconfigurable topology

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1280-1301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Wright ◽  
Ivan Stoianov ◽  
Panos Parpas ◽  
Kevin Henderson ◽  
John King
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Pressure Control ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Water Distribution Networks ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Major Drawback ◽  
Dynamically Reconfigurable ◽  
Minimum Night Flow

This paper presents a novel concept of adaptive water distribution networks with dynamically reconfigurable topology for optimal pressure control, leakage management and improved system resilience. The implementation of District Meter Areas (DMAs) has greatly assisted water utilities in reducing leakage. DMAs segregate water networks into small areas, the flow in and out of each area is monitored and thresholds are derived from the minimum night flow to trigger the leak localization. A major drawback of the DMA approach is the reduced redundancy in network connectivity which has a severe impact on network resilience, incident management and water quality deterioration. The presented approach for adaptively reconfigurable networks integrates the benefits of DMAs for managing leakage with the advantages of large-scale looped networks for increased redundancy in connectivity, reliability and resilience. Self-powered multi-function network controllers are designed and integrated with novel telemetry tools for high-speed time-synchronized monitoring of the dynamic hydraulic conditions. A computationally efficient and robust optimization method based on sequential convex programming is developed and applied for the dynamic topology reconfiguration and pressure control of water distribution networks. An investigation is carried out using an operational network to evaluate the implementation and benefits of the proposed method.

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