Exploring the Feasibility of Solar Inverters for Wastewater Pumping Using Mathematical Modelling at Wood Drive Sewage Pump Station

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic systems could be an alternative for the pumping of wastewater as opposed to that of electric power or diesel energy systems currently being utilized in the urban environment. Wastewater pumping stations (WWPS) are an integral part of the wastewater treatment (WWT) process or what is referred to as the pumping or collection stage. A basic WWPS is designed according to what flows (m³/time) into the facility and the amount of head (m) that the pump should overcome, however the design, construction, maintenance and input energy costs is what makes these facilities costly and the motivation behind this research would be to look at ways to enable WWPSs to be more efficient through the use of solar photovoltaic (SPV) as an alternative input energy or a renewable energy source (RES). This paper uses the dynamic modelling of solar photovoltaic towards the application and feasibility of wastewater pumping at the Wood Drive pumping station in Parklands, Cape Town. This paper also demonstrates how data pertaining to pumping flow and energy consumption was collected over a study period of several weeks. These variables are collated; benchmarked and ultimately compared against other countries specific energy intensity for wastewater pumping. Energy simulations are also carried out using Hybrid Optimization Model of Electric Renewables (HOMER), where different renewable energy systems and configurations will be modelled and analysed based on the historic energy load profile of the wastewater pumping station.