Sustainable Water Supply Systems Management for Energy Efficiency: A Case Study

Izabela Zimoch, Ewelina Bartkiewicz, Joanna Machnik-Slomka, Iwona Klosok-Bazan, Adam Rak and Stanislav Rusek
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Izabela Zimoch: Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Ewelina Bartkiewicz: Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Joanna Machnik-Slomka: Faculty of Organization and Management, Institute of Management and Logistics, Silesian University of Technology, Roosevelt 26, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
Iwona Klosok-Bazan: Department of Thermal Engineering and Industrial Facilities, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Opole University of Technology, Mikolajczyka 5, 45-271 Opole, Poland
Adam Rak: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Opole University of Technology, Katowicka 48, 45-061 Opole, Poland
Stanislav Rusek: Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, VSB—Technical University of Ostrava, 708 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-20

Abstract: A prerequisite for achieving high energy efficiency of water supply systems (understood as using less energy to perform the same task) is the appropriate selection of all elements and their rational use. Energy consumption in water supply systems (WSS) is closely connected with water demand. Especially in the case of oversized water supply systems for which consumers’ water demand is at least 50% less than previously planned and flow velocity in some parts of the system is below 0.01 m·s −1 , this problem of excessive energy consumption can be observed. In the literature, it is difficult to find descriptions and methods of energy management for such a case. The purpose of this study was both an evaluation of the current demand of an oversized WSS and a preliminary technical analysis of the possibility for energy saving. Solutions are presented that resulted in improvements in energy management, thus increasing energy efficiency. The conducted analyses indicate the wide use of numerical, hydraulic models, among others, for the needs of the sustainable oversize water supply systems management in order to improve energy efficiency. Those simulations only give energy consumption results as a first step in the process of decision-making for the modernization process, in which investment costs should be taken into account as a second step. Thus, this paper emphasizes the crucial role of hydraulic models as a good analytical tool used in decision support systems (DSS), especially for large, oversized water supply systems.

Keywords: sustainable development; oversized water supply system; energy management; energy efficiency; water–energy nexus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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