Rainwater harvesting system using alternative energy sources in climate change scenarios in the State of Parana – Brazil

Abstract

The aim of the research was to evaluate a rainwater harvesting system for a single-family residence considering the current climate scenario and simulate it in different scenarios of possible climate changes projected towards the end of the century according to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report to see if it will be influenced. The system was simulated for eight localities of the State of Parana, south of Brazil and for the climate scenarios simulations was used the PGECLIMA_R software. The system was composed by a reservoir dimensioned by the Azevedo Neto method mentioned in the Brazilian Rainwater Regulation (NBR 15527), and a water tank. It also had a hydraulic pump that was powered by photovoltaic solar energy. A series of 31 years of daily precipitation and solar radiation data was used to perform the calculation of the reservoir and solar photovoltaic system respectively. All localities showed the need of increase in the size of the reservoir until the end of the century to supply the non-potable water demand of the residence. This was evidenced by the rise of annual simulated rainfall regime. About the photovoltaic energy system, all localities showed that there is no need to change the number of panels to supply the energy demand from the hydraulic pump until the year of 2100.