Pumping Selection and Regulation for Water-Distribution Networks

Abstract:Water irrigation systems are required to provide adequate pressure levels in any sort of network. Quite frequently, this requirement is achieved by using pressure reducing valves (PRVs). Nevertheless, the possibility of using hydraulic machines to recover energy instead of PRVs could reduce the energy footprint of the whole system. In this research, a new methodology is proposed to help water managers quantify the potential energy recovering of an irrigation water network with adequate conditions of topographies distribution. EPANET has been used to create a model based on probabilities of irrigation and flow distribution in real networks. Knowledge of the flows and pressures in the network is necessary to perform an analysis of economic viability. Using the proposed methodology, a case study has been analyzed in a typical Mediterranean region and the potential available energy has been estimated. The study quantifies the theoretical energy recoverable if hydraulic machines were installed in the network. Particularly, the maximum energy potentially recovered in the system has been estimated up to 188.23 MWh/year) with a potential saving of non-renewable energy resources (coal and gas) of CO 2 137.4 t/year.

Section: Methodology For Determining the Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Irrigation Networks for the Quantification of Potential Energy Recovering: A Case Study

Sánchez

Sánchez‐Romero

Ramos

et al. 2016

“…At each angular position of the lateral line (36 angular positions spaced 10 • ) the minimum pressure required to pressurize the irrigation system was determined. Therefore, at each position, the adequate pumping pressure head (H i ) was estimated: (15) where H p is the pressure head at the fixed pumping speed (m), H min(i) is the minimum pressure head along the lateral line at each angular position i, m (obtained in EPANET), and H * prv is the PRV pressure head, including the pressure regulator loss (69 kPa + 34 kPa).…”

Section: Determination Of Specific Energy Consumption (Cee)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This means that the pumping station is oversized during most of the lateral line rotation, and the energy is wasted. Pressure regulating valves are installed before the emitters, so pressure fluctuations that are due to topographical differences and oversizing of the pumping station do not influence the flow rate of the emitters [14].An option to adjust the pumping pressure of this equipment is the use of variable speed drives (VSDs) to control the speed of these pumps [15,16]. This control provides a substantial reduction in power in relation to the reduction of flow and pressure in pressurized irrigation systems [13,17].Several researchers have used variable speed drives to control pumping stations to reduce energy consumption.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feasibility of the Use of Variable Speed Drives in Center Pivot Systems Installed in Plots with Variable Topography

Baptista

Córcoles²,

Colombo

et al. 2019

Pumping systems are the largest energy consumers in center pivot irrigation systems. One action to reduce energy consumption is to adjust the pumping pressure to that which is strictly needed by using variable speed drives (VSDs). The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of including VSDs in pumping systems that feed center pivot systems operating in an area with variable topography. The VSPM (Variable Speed Pivot Model) was developed to perform hydraulic and energy analyses of center pivot systems using the EPANET hydraulics engine. This tool is able to determine the elevation of each tower for each position of the center pivot using any type of digital elevation model. It is also capable of simulating, in an accurate manner, the performance of the center pivot controlled with a VSD. The tool was applied to a real case study, located in Albacete, Spain. The results show a reduction in energy consumption of 12.2%, with specific energy consumptions of 0.214 and 0.244 kWh m−3 of distributed water obtained for the variable speed and fixed speed of the pumping station, respectively. The results also show that for an irrigation season, to meet the water requirements of the maize crop in the region of the study (627 mm), an average annual savings of 14,107.35 kWh was obtained, which resulted in an economic savings of 2821.47€.

“…Planells Alandi et al [13] presented a decision support system based on the number of variable and fixed speed pumps in a pumping station. For the optimum regulation of a pumping system, the pumping operation curve should be adjusted to the height curve of the system (or resistant curve), thus minimizing excess discharge height for each demand [13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Methodology for the Optimization of Flow Rate Injection to Looped Water Distribution Networks through Multiple Pumping Stations

Celi

Iglesias-Rey

Martínez-Solano

et al. 2016

Abstract:The optimal function of a water distribution network is reached when the consumer demands are satisfied using the lowest quantity of energy, maintaining the minimal pressure required at the same time. One way to achieve this is through optimization of flow rate injection based on the use of the setpoint curve concept. In order to obtain that, a methodology is proposed. It allows for the assessment of the flow rate and pressure head that each pumping station has to provide for the proper functioning of the network while the minimum power consumption is kept. The methodology can be addressed in two ways: the discrete method and the continuous method. In the first method, a finite set of combinations is evaluated between pumping stations. In the continuous method, the search for the optimal solution is performed using optimization algorithms. In this paper, Hooke-Jeeves and Nelder-Mead algorithms are used. Both the hydraulics and the objective function used by the optimization are solved through EPANET and its Toolkit. Two case studies are evaluated, and the results of the application of the different methods are discussed.