Increasing the energy efficiency of water inlets by re-using washed water and reducing filter cycle time

Abstract

PURPOSE. The purpose of this article is to study the search for ways to reduce energy consumption and develop methods for increasing the energy efficiency of water utilities. The studies reflected in the article are based on the results of an energy survey of a water utility in the city of Gomel (Republic of Belarus), one of the tasks of which is the search for reserves for saving fuel and energy resources by reducing technological water consumption. The article presents the results of research on the example of two water intakes «Iput» and «Sozh». METHODS. When solving the problem, the methods of mathematical statistics were used, including the method of analysis of variance to assess the significance of the effect of water flushing on reducing the iron content. RESULTS. The article discusses possible ways to reduce energy costs by reducing technological water consumption, which are used to flush filtering structures. The main activities are the following: changing the filter flushing schedule with increasing the filter cycle; the use of water-air flushing; reuse of wash water. The article formulates a hypothesis: filter flushing leads to a decrease in the iron content in the water, i.e. improving the quality of cleaning. CONCLUSION. An increase in the energy efficiency of water intakes, along with measures to modernize and optimize the operation of pumping equipment, is achieved by saving water resources and, accordingly, the cost of electricity for their extraction, which is necessary when flushing the filter materials of the deferrization station. The assumption about a possible increase in the filtration cycle was the lack of significance of the influence of washing on the decrease in the iron content, which indicated the presence of a significant reserve of the washing cycle. The use of combined water and air flushing contributes to a significant reduction in both technological water consumption (40.1%) and electricity consumption (38.8%). The energy saving potential due to the reduction of technological energy consumption for lifting water for the purpose of flushing reached 89857 kWh / year for the studied water intake.