Abstract

PEREZ-SANCHEZ, Modesto; SANCHEZ-ROMERO, Francisco Javier  and  LOPEZ-JIMENEZ, P. Amparo. Energy optimization in water distribution system. Case study ‘Postrasvase Júcar-Vinalopó’, Spain. Tecnol. cienc. agua [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.4, pp.19-36. ISSN 2007-2422.  https://doi.org/10.24850/j-tyca-2017-04-02.

Nowadays, making interbasin transfers of water is the only solution to the water shortage for some agricultural areas. This is the case of the Spanish Mediterranean region, namely the southern province of Alicante. This area has historically presented a water balance deficit between irrigation needs and resources, resulting in overexploitation of aquifers. To alleviate this environmental impact, some water volumes between the basin of the Júcar and Vinalopó rivers were transferred. A hydraulic pressure system was responsible for transferring water between basins and distributing it to the irrigated areas. In this article, a methodology used to optimize water-energy system is described, developing a calibrated model using Epanet as a tool operating system. This model allows managers to analyze the distribution of volumes and flow dependence on the existing agricultural demand in each receiver reservoir. Attached to the hydraulic distribution, a thorough study of the possible hydro-energy relations in the whole system is carried out, obtaining a maximum theoretical value of recoverable energy 18 418 MWh/year. This way, the feasibility of using hydraulic heads is determined so to increase overall efficiency in the whole distribution system.

Keywords : Water-energy nexus; recoverable energy; Júcar-Vinalopó Post-transfer.

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