Energy recovery from water distribution networks using micro hydropower: A case study in Iran

In the water distribution network (WDN), there could be considerable potential for power production due to water pressure surplus and head difference inside the water pipes. In WDNs, excess pressure energy inside water pipelines is usually dissipated by pressure reduction valves (PRVs), which can be harnessed by the installation of micro-hydropower (MHP) systems without interfering in the water supply process. MHP systems can be substituted with conventional PRVs for both pressure reduction and energy production. This paper develops a modeling framework to demonstrate the feasibility of using unexploited energy in WDN, adjusted by PRVs, and its potential application in empowering water pumps. In this regard, a case study, considering information of a regional WDN in Teheran city, is designed and modeled in EPANET to estimate the output power from PRVs and to propose plausible options for implementing MHP technologies based on hydraulic model calculations. The results showed that for the studied city network the potential power generated by the extraction of excess energy in RPVs is 168.21 kW, which can provide on average 42.3% of the power consumed by the pumps used in the network.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

There is considerable untapped energy potential in water distribution networks that can be harnessed through the installation of micro-hydropower systems. This study develops a modeling framework to demonstrate the feasibility of using this unexploited energy for powering water pumps. The results show that a significant amount of power can be generated by extracting excess energy from pressure reduction valves.