Abstract
Complex systems of water distribution networks (WDS) are used to supply water to users. WDSs are systems where a lot of distributed energy is available. Historically, this energy is artificially dissipated by pressure reduction valves (PRVs), thanks to which water utilities manage the pressure level in selected nodes of the network. The present study explores the use of economic hydraulic machines, pumps as turbines (PATs) to produce energy in a small network located in a town close to Palermo (Italy). The main idea is to avoid dissipation in favor of renewable energy production. The proposed study is applied to a WDN typical of the Mediterranean countries, where the users, to collect water during the period of water scarcity conditions, install private tanks. The presence of private tanks deeply modifies the network from its designed condition. In the proposed analysis, the economic benefit of PATs application in water distribution networks has been investigated, accounting for the presence of users’ private tanks. The analysis, carried out by mean of a mathematical model able to dynamically simulate the water distribution network with PATs, shows the advantage of their installation in terms of renewable energy recovery, even though the energy production of PATs is strictly conditioned by their installation position.
Highlights
Water and energy savings are major concerns in the management of water distribution networks (WDNs)
The aim of the present study is to investigate energy recovery in WDNs by pumps as turbines (PATs) to guarantee adequate pressure service and recovery energy from the fluid instead of classical energy dissipation devices (i.e., pressure reduction valves (PRVs))
computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis has been used to analyze energy recovery in WDNs characterized by the presence of private tanks where users who experience water resources rationing store water resources
Summary
Water and energy savings are major concerns in the management of water distribution networks (WDNs). CFD analysis has been used to analyze energy recovery in WDNs characterized by the presence of private tanks where users who experience water resources rationing store water resources (see [25,26]) Such local water storage volumes are very common in those countries (e.g., in the Mediterranean area) where water supply is not reliable and users are brought to collect water to cover their needs when the service in unavailable, due to shortage of supply or intermittent distribution [27]. The model has been applied to the Misilmeri network, a small town located close to Palermo (Italy), characterized by the presence of several private tanks on the roofs, and the results have been analyzed in terms of a management strategy based on the economic analysis and the payback period, taking into account users’ satisfaction in terms of water volume supplied in each node for over 24 h
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