Sequential Convex Optimization for Detecting and Locating Blockages in Water Distribution Networks

Abstract

Unreported partially/fully closed valves or other type of pipe blockages in water distribution networks result in unexpected energy losses within the systems, which we also refer to as faults. We investigate the problem of detection and localization of such faults. We propose a novel optimization-based method, which relies on the solution of a non-linear inverse problem with 1 regularization. We develop a sequential convex optimization algorithm to solve the resulting non-smooth non-convex optimization problem. The proposed algorithm enables the use of nonsmooth terms within the problem formulation, and exploits the sparse structure inherent in water network models. The performance of the developed method is numerically evaluated to detect and localize blockages in a large water distribution network using both simulated and experimental data. In all experiments, the sequential convex optimization algorithm converged in less than three seconds, suggesting that the proposed fault detection and localization method is suitable for near real-time implementation. Furthermore, we experimentally validate the developed method for near real-time fault diagnosis in a large operational water network from the UK. The method is shown to successfully detect and localize blockages, with real system modelling uncertainties.

Regularization of an Inverse Problem for Parameter Estimation in Water Distribution Networks

“…short and long-term planning). Key operational tasks that extensively rely upon the application of hydraulic models include advanced pressure control (Pecci et al 2017), the design and control of dynamically adaptive WDNs (Wright et al 2014;Ulusoy et al 2020), water quality management (Abraham et al 2017), pump scheduling and demand response (Menke et al 2016;Nerantzis et al 2019), and hydraulic model based leakage and blockage detection (Sanz et al 2016;Blocher et al 2020;Pecci et al 2020). Therefore, it is important that hydraulic models are calibrated to a degree of accuracy which is required for their applications in order to effectively support critical operational and investment decisions.…”