Optimal dimensioning of pipe networks with application to gas transmission networks

We develop an algorithm to solve the problem of the optimal dimensioning of a fluid (gas or water) transmission network when the topology of the network is known. The pipe diameters must be chosen to minimize the sum of the investment and operating costs. This two stage problem is solved by application of the bundle method for nonsmooth optimization. The validity of the approach is tested on a problem corresponding to a real situation: the optimal design of a reinforcement of the Belgian gas network.