A Content-Based Active-Set Method for Pressure-Dependent Models of Water Distribution Systems with Flow Controls

In this paper a new method is proposed that solves for the steady state of pressure-dependent models (PDMs) with flow control valves. Rather than model flow devices individually, the method solves the more general problem in which a water distribution system (WDS) has some link flows constrained to lie between upper and lower, or possibly equal, set limits. No heuristics are used to determine device states. The method is shown to be fast, and its effectiveness is demonstrated on PDM WDSs with up to about 20,000 links and 18,000 nodes and 60 link flow constraints, some of which prescribe a fixed flow. The method has applications in network management, network design, and flow control to deal with water distribution where there is insufficient supply.