A Continuous Pump Location Optimization Method for Water Pipe Network Design

Pump location optimization is a key issue in the design of water pipe networks to reduce energy consumptions and associated costs. The pump location variables in previous papers were typically discrete, resulting in potentially sub-optimal solutions. If the discrete variables are densified, the solving time increases substantially. To overcome the shortcomings of the discrete pump location optimization method, a novel continuous location optimization method is proposed. The hydraulic calculations of pipes and operation of pumps are coupled in the model to make it practical. The objective function minimizes the installation and operating costs of pumps. A branch and a looped water pipe network are studied. The proposed continuous location optimization method is compared with the previous discrete method. The results show that the proposed method has advantages regarding cost-minimization and it reduces the time required to produce solutions. The method is generic and can be applied to other real cases to determine the optimal pump locations to achieve the goals of cost-minimization and energy saving.