Optimization tool to improve the management of the leakages and recovered energy in irrigation water systems

• Published in: Agricultural water management 2021-12, Vol.258, p.107223, Article 107223
• Main Authors: Ávila, Carlos Andrés Macías, Sánchez-Romero, Francisco-Javier, López-Jiménez, P. Amparo, Pérez-Sánchez, Modesto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy recovery; Leakages; Micro-hydropower; Water irrigation networks, system sustainability
• ISSN: 0378-3774; 1873-2283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107223

The use of pumps working as turbines is a new solution, which has been recently analysed to improve the water management in the different water systems. The improvement of sustainability involved with this use should be considered in these networks, and it focuses on the reduction of the consumption energy as well as the reduction of leakages. Both variables have a great influence on the rest of economical, technical and environmental indicators of network behavior, becoming key in their improvement. In this line, the research develops a methodology, which includes the estimation of the leakages in the different junctions and pipes as a function of the injected and registered volume data in the water. The present methodology proposes different operation scenarios according to leakages and it develops a double optimization procedure to locate and select the best recovery machines considering different objective functions. The methodology is applied to a real case study, which has serial data of water registered volume since 2001. The research shows the leakages influence in the operation points as well as the recovered energy. Different sustainable indicators are analysed for the different scenarios according to optimized procedures: The IRLGP index was defined as the ratio between reduction of the leakage volume for each installed power and it reached the annual value of 11,280.8 m3/kW; The optimized procedure establishes the significance to consider the leakages when the hydraulic machines are selected. Their best efficiency points increase to 195% and 205% compared to the ideal scenario without leakages. •Pump working as turbine as tool to reach the sustainability.•New trends to recovery the excess of pressure.•The influence of the leakages in the selection recovery systems.•Sustainability and irrigation joined by pump working as turbine.•Sustainable solutions in the clean energy future.