Optimal Design of Water Distribution Network System by Genetic Algorithm in EPANET-MATLAB Toolkit

The emergence of computers in engineering applications increase the demand for improving the already available computer application tools for solving water distribution networks (WDNs). The demand is inevitable for both educational and practical purposes. In this thesis, the well-known computer application software EPANET is used in collaboration with MATLAB toolkit to optimize a water distribution network system given in the literature. In order to focus more on the practical aspects of computer application, and the resultant life cycle cost of a simple pipe network, a selected case study in northern part of Cyprus is analysed using these EPANET and MATLAB toolkits. The computer application tools are applied for the purpose of improving the methodology of water distribution network systems. This has been achieving by optimizing the design results of any network system. In order to minimize the diameter of the pipes (minimizing the cost) used in the water distribution network system an optimization model is carried out through genetic algorithm process coded in MATLAB. This was achieved while preserving the hydraulic design principles in balance. The model is limited for using the hydraulic design principles that is valid only for water as a liquid and circular cross-sectional shape of the pipes. The validity is tested through the water distribution network system of Hanoi city in Vietnam. The water distribution of this city was previously tested by other researches to achieve optimized solutions. Therefore, the results of this thesis got the opportunity to compare results with previous findings. As the validity is confirmed, the model is tested over Karaoğlanoğlu region in North Cyprus in order to select the best result for three different alternative scenarios. This is achieved by comparing the life cycle costs of the three scenarios. Although the basics of the implementation are sufficiently covered, the provided software and codes can be improved if life cycle cost analyses can be added to the EPANET- MATLAB toolkit.