Optimal parameters of protection devices for controlling hydraulic transient using genetic algorithms

Air valves and pressure vessels are among the most important protection devices used to protect the main pumping lines due to their reliability in controlling transient pressures. The proper and rational design of the water hammer protection devices ensures high efficiency in controlling the values of transient pressures. For this purpose, the genetic algorithm approach was adopted in the process of selecting the optimal parameters for both pressure vessels (size, orifice diameter) and air valve (orifice diameter of inlet and outlet, discharge coefficients of inlet and outlet) in addition to determining the type and location of the air valve. The performance of the proposed protection devices was verified by comparing three objective equations: (1) minimizing the cost of protection devices, (2) minimizing the difference between the maximum and minimum pressure, and (3) minimizing difference between the maximum and minimum pressure with a specific constraint on the budget of protection devices. The study results showed that selecting the optimal design parameters for pressure vessels and air valves helps control the cost of protection devices and transient pressure values.