SOLUTION DESCRIPTION

 

Water utility pumping facilities are highly interconnected so that any change in the operating capability of one pump may affect the suction or discharge pressure of other pumps connected to the same pipe system. Pumping requirements are also subject to widely variable daily and seasonal fluctuations and like all mechanical objects, pumps wear down over time. Thus, it is important to measure a pump’s efficiency over a wide range of conditions in order to determine whether the pump’s performance has deteriorated.

 

Calibrated hydraulic models can perform this task by simulating network dynamics to facilitate system optimisation. Energy optimisation systems balance conflicting operational requirements to allow utilities to shift pumping from peak energy pricing and peak power demand periods by automatically controlling pumping stations. This process takes into account predicted pressures and flows per pump in real-time and uses these predictions in its optimisation algorithm to select the most appropriate pumps to operate holistically across all water sources and pump stations. Hence, by using hydraulic modelling and energy optimisation systems, utilities may increase their energy efficiency and asset performance while cutting costs significantly.