Practical Aspects of the Energy Efficiency Evaluation of a Water Distribution Network Using Hydrodynamic Modeling—A Case Study

Dariusz Andraka (), Wojciech Kruszyński, Jacek Tyniec, Joanna Gwoździej-Mazur and Bartosz Kaźmierczak
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Dariusz Andraka: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Wojciech Kruszyński: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Jacek Tyniec: MZK-Municipal Communal Co., Ltd., (Miejski Zakład Komunalny), 57-320 Polanica-Zdrój, Poland
Joanna Gwoździej-Mazur: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Bartosz Kaźmierczak: Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-377 Wrocław, Poland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: Water and energy are the main natural resources, and their rational use is the basis for sustainable development. Therefore, the energy efficiency of water supply networks is one of the priorities for the management system of water utilities. Many methods and indicators can be used to assess the energy efficiency of water distribution networks (WDNs), and their choice should be adapted to the characteristics of a WDN. This paper presents an energy audit of WDNs that are supplied from five reservoirs located above the supply area, to which water is supplied from four underground and surface water intakes. In the analysis of the system operation, a hydrodynamic computer model of the water distribution network was used to estimate the operating parameters that are necessary to determine the energy efficiency indicators. A new method for calibrating the emitter coefficient used for water loss modeling is also proposed. The conducted audit showed that more than 70% of the energy supplied to the WDS was “lost”, mainly due to friction (37%) and water losses (27%). Thanks to hydraulic modeling, it was possible to indicate that 34% of the energy lost in the system was related to the use of pressure-reducing valves (PRV), and that only 3% was directly related to friction. In turn, the majority of leaks are attributed to service connections (17.4% vs. 8.8% in the water distribution network).

Keywords: energy efficiency; water distribution systems; hydraulic modelling; water loss (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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