Pressure Management in Water Distribution Networks Using Optimal Locating and Operating of Pressure Reducing Valves

Given the growing need for water and the crises caused by its scarcity, managing water resources is of great importance. High pressure in water networks can cause several problems, and the most important of which is the increase of water leakage from the network. In order to prevent water loss and also to manage the network pressure, pressure reducing valves (PRVs) can be used. The optimal location and adjustment of PRVs were determined by single- and two-objective differential evolution (DE) algorithms linked to the EPANET hydraulic solver. For this purpose, the network was investigated in two pressure dependent and demand dependent analysis, and finally, by applying this strategy in a real water distribution network in Tehran city, the maximum pressure of the network was decreased by 60%, while the total shortage of nodal demands was reduced by 58%. This significantly improves network performance.