Deterministic Model to Estimate the Energy Requirements of Pressurized Water Transport Systems

Abstract

Energy intensity, Ie (kWh/m3) is the most popular indicator when characterizing the energy requirements of the water cycle, due to its direct and easy interpretation. In pressurized water transport systems, when referred to an appropriate physical framework (such as a single water transport pipeline), it assesses the efficiency of the process. However, in complex urban water transport networks, Ie only provides a basic notion of the energy needs of the system. The aim of this paper is to define a standard physical framework for assessing the energy intensity in water transport and distribution systems. To that purpose, an analytic expression that estimates Ie is proposed, based on system data and its operating conditions. The results allow for a realistic approximation of the energy needs of water transport. This energy assessment is completed with two context indicators: energy origin (C1) and topographic energy (θt), both essential when the energy efficiency of different systems is to be compared.