Calibração automática de rugosidades de tubulações em sistemas de distribuição de água com aplicação de algoritmos genéticos

Abstract

Simulation of hydraulic equilibrium conditions on distribution network is fundamental to technically analyze water supply systems. In order to reproduce reliable results on fluids flow by using simulation models it is very important that the system parameters are precisely evaluated. Considering the resistance coefficient of pipes as the most difficult variable to be determined due to its dynamic characteristics, it was developed a computational routine to calibrate the absolute roughness or Hazen-Williams coefficient of distribution networks, by applying the genetic algorithms method as an optimization technique. The calibration model proposed allows the choice of genetic operators, making possible a comparative study among chromosomes replacement methods, selection, mutation and crossover operators, as well as evaluating the influence of initial population size on the solution quality found. The calibration results achieved in a hypothetical network pointed the advantages and disadvantages of the main parameters and operators of genetic algorithms method, demonstrating that the research made the technical knowledge on the subject broader, thus contributing to a more efficient application of the method.