Estudo comparativo de métodos de otimização de redes malhadas pressurizadas.

Abstract

Computers have made Hardy Cross methods widely used for sizing pressured water distribution networks. These techniques, like other classic or conventional ones, however, do not per se take into account the minirnization of the system's total costs over its expected life span. This dissertation: a) in-depth surveys two methods (GRANADOS' and WADISO's) for economic sizing of pressured networks and extends GRANADOS' method from branched to looped networks; b) shows how these methods are implemented in computer programs and how to apply them to find a new solution to an already dimensioned real-world sistem, comparing the new solutions against the previous one; c) compares one optimization method against the other, arriving at some generalizations and at some guidelines on how to choose and apply them to particular applications. The conclusion is that cosi optimization methods bring such a significative cosi economy that defmiti vely grants them to be almost mandatoríly advisable for sizing pressured water distribution systems.