Hydropower recovery in water supply systems: Models and case study

• Published in: Energy conversion and management Vol. 84; pp. 414 - 426
• Main Authors: Vilanova, Mateus Ricardo Nogueira, Balestieri, José Antônio Perrella
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Direct power generation; Energy; Energy efficiency; Energy management; Energy of waters: ocean thermal energy, wave and tidal energy, etc; Energy recovery; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid flow; Hydraulics; Hydroelectric power plants; Hydropower recovery; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Natural energy; Recovery; Sustainability; Water supplies; Water supply systems; Water utilities; Brazil; Hydropower recovery; Energy efficiency; Water utilities; Sustainability; Water; Hydroelectric power plant; Water supply; Sustainable development; Modeling; Energy savings; Hydraulic power; Energy conservation; Energetic efficiency; Models; Electric power production
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2014.04.057

•We present hydropower recovery models for water supply systems.•Hydropower recovery potential in water supply systems is highly variable.•The case studied could make the supply systems self-sufficient in terms of energy.•Hydropower recovery can reduce GHGs emissions and generate carbon credits. The energy efficiency of water supply systems can be increased through the recovery of hydraulic energy implicit to the volumes of water transported in various stages of the supply process, which can be converted into electricity through hydroelectric recovery systems. Such a process allows the use of a clean energy source that is usually neglected in water supplies, reducing its dependence on energy from the local network and the system’s operation costs. This article evaluates the possibilities and benefits of the use of water supply facilities, structures and equipment for hydraulic energy recovery, addressing several applicable hydroelectric models. A real case study was developed in Brazil to illustrate the technical, economic and environmental aspects of hydropower recovery in water supply systems.