Heuristic for Layout Design of Rural Gas Systems

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Abstract
A model for layout and design of branched rural natural gas distribution systems is presented. The approach used in the model is based upon Dijkstra's and minimal spanning tree algorithms. These approaches are not, by themselves, able to produce layouts which conform exactly with practical aspects of the design problem. A series of heuristics that incorporates experience‐based design criteria into the approach is combined with the formal optimization algorithms in an iterative procedure to produce a final layout. As a result, the procedure reflects closely the way in which these networks are traditionally designed. The model then designs the constituent components of the network for the layout so produced. The model is implemented on a microcomputer environment and automates much of the routine input and calculation effort.

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