"Optimal pump operation of water distribution systems using genetic algorithms":
The water utility industry has started investigating the integration of on-line telemetryand optimal computer control systems in an effort to reduce operating costs and providemore reliable operations.
Energy costs constitute the largest expenditure for nearly allwater utilities worldwide and can consume up to 65 percent of a water utility’s annualoperating budget.
One of the greatest potential areas for energy cost-savings is thescheduling of daily pump operations. This paper presents a new management model,H2ONET Scheduler, for optimal control and operation of water distribution systems.
Theproposed model makes use of the latest advances in genetic algorithm optimization toautomatically determine the least-cost pump scheduling/operation policy for each pumpstation in the water distribution system while satisfying target hydraulic performancerequirements.
The operation policy for a pump station represents a set of temporal rulesor guidelines (individual pump operating times) that indicate when a particular pump orgroup of pumps should be turned on and off over the control period. System performancerequirements prescribe lower and upper limits on nodal pressures; maximum pipevelocities; maximum pumped volumes; maximum and minimum storage tank levels; andfinal tank volumes at the end of a specified time period to ensure hydraulic periodicity.
The resulting model can be effectively used to evaluate various rate schedules, optimizestorage/pumping trade-offs, improve operational efficiency, and assure more reliableoperations. The method should prove useful to any water utility attempting to optimizepumping operations and reservoir control.
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