Methodology for Optimal Operation of Pumping Stations in Water Distribution Systems

A methodology based on solving a large‐scale nonlinear programming problem is presented for the optimal operation of pumping stations in water distribution systems. Optimal operation refers to the scheduling of pump operation that results in the minimum operating cost for a given set of operating conditions. The mathematical model for pump operation is a large nonlinear programing problem. The methodology is based on an optimal control framework in which a nonlinear optimization model interfaces with a hydraulic simulation model, which is used to implicitly solve the conservation of flow and energy equations describing the hydraulics of flow in the optimization model. The methodology has been applied to a pressure zone of the Austin, Texas, water distribution system, showing how a reduction in operating costs could be accomplished using the simulation‐optimization model developed.