Improving operational efficiency by real-time in-network distribution system monitoring and hydraulic optimization

在安大略省和全球范围内，通过提高运行效率来减少水损失和节省能源是饮用水分配系统建模的共同目标。大多数自来水公司在线监测配水系统的能力有限；大多数情况下仅限于按需计量区域，这使得很难定位与泄漏、水龄和水质有关的具体问题区域。在该项目中，将利用最新开发的用于实时网内配电系统压力监测的专利技术和区域计量区域流量监测系统，以及可集成到自来水公司监控和数据采集系统中的无线通信数据采集系统，开发实时配电系统监测和仿真平台，以便将相关数据(如功率、压力、液位、流量等)。可即时转移到自来水厂水工模型。将这些数据与需求预测和水力模型接口相结合，将使公用事业人员能够使用新的操作工具来审查供应和分配操作决策的影响。这些系统缺乏在短期内优化操作决策，从而在很短的时间内解决具有挑战性的优化问题的能力，从而排除了实时控制。本研究将开发一种实时优化方法来解决这一问题。优化程序将与水力模型进行交互，以自动评估当前状况，并提供供应和分配建议，以向运营人员提供最佳运行方案。明确量化实时控制的相对和最大收益的方法以及应用新颖的优化算法将是这项工作的关键成果。以圭尔夫市为例，潜在的好处是巨大的。例如，整个安大略省在供水和分配方面节省10%的电力，减少2%的用水损失，这意味着每年可能节省1.2亿千瓦时的电力。

In Ontario and globally, reduced water losses and energy savings from increased operational efficiency are common goals of drinking water distribution system modeling. Most water utilities have limited capabilities for on-line distribution system monitoring; most often only at the demand metered area level, making it hard to locate specific problem areas related to leakage, water age, and water quality. In this project, a real time distribution system monitoring and simulation platform will be developed using a newly developed, patented technology for real-time in-network distribution system pressure monitoring and a district metering area flow monitoring system together with a wireless communications data collection system that can be integrated into water utility supervisory control and data acquisition systems so that relevant data (e.g., power, pressure, level, flow etc.) can be instantly transferred to water utility hydraulic models. Coupling these data with demand forecasting and hydraulic model interfaces will enable a new operational tool for utility staff to review the impact of supply and distribution operational decisions. The ability to optimize operational decisions over the short term and hence solve challenging optimization problems in a very short amount of time is lacking from these systems and precludes real-time control. This research will develop a real-time optimization approach to address this problem. An optimization program will interact with a hydraulic model to automatically assess current conditions and provide supply and distribution recommendations to deliver optimal operational schemes to operations staff. A methodology for explicitly quantifying the relative and maximum benefits of real-time control and the application novel optimization algorithms will be key outcomes of this work. Using the City of Guelph as case study, the potential benefits are substantial. For example, a 10% power savings in water supply and distribution and a 2% reduction in water loss extrapolated across the province of Ontario represents a potential savings of 120 million kW-Hr of electricity per year.