Efficient optimization of pressure regulation in water distribution systems using a new-relaxed pressure reducing valve model

In this paper, we develop a mathematical model for PRVs capable of describing complete operation modes of PRVs in practice. In addition, we show that the PRV model equation can be relaxed so that it is useful for formulation of NLP. With the proposed PRV model, the formulated NLP can be solved by NLP algorithms based gradient methods to high quality solution and in less computation time. Two benchmarks of WDSs are taken to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed PRV model.