Abstract
Pressure control is one of the main techniques to control leakages in Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) and to prevent pipe damage, improving the delivery standards of a water supply systems. Pressure reducing stations (PRSs) equipped by either pressure reducing valves or motor driven regulating valves are commonly used to dissipate excess hydraulic head in WDNs. An integrated new technical solution with economic and system flexibility benefits is presented which replaces PRSs with pumps used as turbines (PATs). Optimal PAT performance is obtained by a Variable Operating Strategy (VOS), recently developed for the design of small hydropower plants on the basis of valve time operation, and net return determined by both energy production and savings through minimizing leakage. The literature values of both leakages costs and energy tariffs are used to develop a buisness plan model and evaluate the economic benefit of small hydropower plants equipped with PATs. The study shows that the hydropower installation produces interesting economic benefits, even in presence of small available power, that could encourage the leakage reduction even if water savings are not economically relevant, with consequent environmental benefits.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Almandoz J, Cabrera E, Arregui F, Cabrera E, Cobacho R (2005) Leakage Assessment through Water Distribution Network Simulation. J Water Res Pl-ASCE 131(6):458–466
Araujo L, Ramos H, Coelho S (2006) Pressure control for leakage minimisation in water distribution systems management. Water Resour Manage 20(1):133–149
Campisano A, Creaco E, Modica C (2009) Rtc of valves for leakage reduction in water supply networks. J Water Res Pl-ASCE 136(1):138–141
Campisano A, Modica C, Vetrano L (2012) Calibration of proportional controllers for the rtc of pressures to reduce leakage in water distribution networks. J Water Res Pl-ASCE 138(4):377–384. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000197
Carravetta A, Giugni M (2009) Functionality factors in the management and rehabilitation of water networks. In: Management of Water Networks, Proceedings of Conference Efficient management of water networks, Design and Rehabilitation Techniques. Franco Angeli Ed. Milano
Carravetta A, D’Arco M, Pasquinom N (2009) A ground monitoring system based on tdr tests. In: Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, I2MTC’09. IEEE, pp 244–248
Carravetta A, Fecarotta O, Ramos H (2011) Numerical simulation on Pump As Turbine: mesh reliability and performance concerns. In: IEEE (ed) International Conference on Clean Electrical Power, Ischia, Franco Angeli Ed. Milano
Carravetta A, Del Giudice G, Fecarotta O, Ramos H (2012) Energy production in water distribution networks: A pat design strategy. Water Resour Manag 26(13):3947–3959
Carravetta A, Del Giudice G, Fecarotta O, Ramos H (2013a) Pat design strategy for energy recovery in water distribution networks by electrical regulation. Energies 6(1):411–424
Carravetta A, Fecarotta O, Sinagra M, Tucciarelli T (2013b) A cost benefit analisys for hydropower production in water distribution networks by pump as turbine (pat). J Water Res Pl-ASCE Accepted(-):–, doi:10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000384
Carravetta A, Fecarotta O, Del Gidice G, Ramos H (2014a) Energy recovery in water systems by PATs: A comparisons among the different installation schemes. Procedia Eng 70:275–284
Carravetta A, Fecarotta O, Martino R, Antipodi L (2014b) PAT efficiency variation with design parameters. Procedia Eng 70:285–291
Christodoulou SE, Gagatsis A, Xanthos S, Kranioti S, Agathokleous A, Fragiadakis M (2013) Entropy-based sensor placement optimization for waterloss detection in water distribution networks. Water Resour Manag 27(13):4443–4468
Fathi-Moghadam M, Haghighipour S, Vali Samani H (2013) Design-variable optimization of hydropower tunnels and surge tanks using a genetic algorithm. J Water Res Pl-ASCE 139(2):200–208. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000243
Filion Y, MacLean H, Karney B (2004) Life Cycle Energy Analysis of a Water Distribution System. J Infrastruct Syst 10(3):120–130
Fouquet D (2012) Prices for renewable energies in europe: Report 2011-2012. Technical Report, European Renewable Energies Federation
Gomes R, Marques AS, Sousa J (2013) District metered areas design under different decision makers options: Cost analysis. Water Resour Manag 27(13):4527–4543
Jowitt P W, Xu C (1990) Optimal valve control in water-distribution networks. J Water Res Pl-ASCE 116(4):455–472
Li F, Shoemaker C, Wei J, Fu X (2013) Estimating maximal annual energy given heterogeneous hydropower generating units with application to the three gorges system. J Water Res Pl-ASCE 139(3):265–276. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000250
Liberatore S, Sechi G (2009) Location and Calibration of Valves in Water Distribution Networks Using a Scatter-Search Meta-heuristic Approach. Water Resour Manage 23:1479–1495
Lin Q, Huang G, Li G, Li J (2013) Dynamic planning of water resource and electric power systems under uncertainty. J Water Res Pl-ASCE 139(4):407–417. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000285
Mutikanga H, Sharma S, Vairavamoorthy K (2013) Methods and tools for managing losses in water distribution systems. J Water Res Pl-ASCE 139(2):166–174. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000245
OFWAT (2005) International comparison of water and sewerage service. Technical Report, water services regulation authority
Prescott S, Ulanicki B (2008) Improved Control of Pressure Reducing Valves in Water Distribution Networks. J Hydraul Eng-ASCE 134(1):56–65
Reiche D, Bechberger M (2004) Policy differences in the promotion of renewable energies in the eu member states. Energy policy 32(7):843–849
Sammartano V, Aricò C, Carravetta A, Fecarotta O, Tucciarelli T (2013) Banki-michell optimal design by computational fluid dynamics testing and hydrodynamic analysis. Energies 6(5):2362–2385
Todini E, Pilati S (1988) A gradient algorithm for the analysis of pipe networks. In: Computer applications in water supply: —systems analysis and simulation, vol 1. Research Studies Press Ltd., pp 1–20
Tucciarelli T, Criminisi A, Termini D (1999) Leak Analysis in Pipeline Systems by Means of Optimal Valve Regulation. J Hydraul Eng-ASCE 125(3):277–285
Vairavamoorthy K, Lumbers J (1998) Leakage Reduction in Water Distribution Systems: Optimal Valve Control. J Hydraul Eng-ASCE 124(11):1146–1154
Van Zyl JE, Savic DA, Walters GA (2004) Operational optimization of water distribution systems using a hybrid genetic algorithm. J Water Resour Plan Manag 130(2):160–170
Vasan A, Simonovic S (2010) Optimization of water distribution network design using differential evolution. J Water Res Pl-ASCE 136(2):279–287
Walski T, Bezts W, Posluzny E, Weir M, Withman B (2006) Modeling leakage reduction through pressure control. J Am Water Works Ass:148–155
Zakkour P, Gatarell M, Gochin R, Lester J (2002) Developing a sustainable energy strategy for a water utility. Part II: a review of potential technologies and approaches. J Environ Manage 66:115–125
Acknowledgments
The Authors would like to thank Lauro Antipodi and Caprari spa for having provided the data about the PATs and Enrico Righi and Raci srl for having provided the data about the valves.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fecarotta, O., Aricò, C., Carravetta, A. et al. Hydropower Potential in Water Distribution Networks: Pressure Control by PATs. Water Resour Manage 29, 699–714 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-014-0836-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-014-0836-3