Análise da eficiência energética e modelo de calibração em sistemas de abastecimento de água

Abstract

This study analyzed the energy efficiency and calibration of the hydraulic model of the Water Supply System (WSS) of a flat glass manufacturing plant. The objective was to optimize the operation of well pumps and calibrate the hydraulic model, enabling a more accurate estimation of hydraulic variables and, consequently, improving the operation of the plant's water distribution network. The research, which follows a quantitative and operational approach, was applied to the WSS of a factory located in Goiânia, Pernambuco. Simulations were conducted using the EPANET software to minimize discrepancies between the simulated flow rates and those obtained through an Evolutionary Algorithm implemented in Python. The analysis included hydro-energy balance calculations and model calibration through iterative evolutionary processes. Additionally, water consumption data were collected and analyzed to propose pump operation strategies, aiming at energy efficiency through the use of frequency inverters. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the methodology adopted for optimizing the WSS. The analysis of flow rate data and hourly consumption profiles allowed for identifying peak and off-peak demand periods, supporting the definition of more efficient operational strategies. The evaluation of historical flow rate data enabled the proposal of a pump operation model that resulted in reduced energy costs. Considering the annual scenario, the economic analysis indicated that investing in inverters for pumps with higher flow rates at the well outlets is financially viable, with an estimated return on investment in less than 18 months. The hydraulic modeling conducted with EPANET, combined with calibration based on evolutionary algorithms, provided accurate estimates of pressures and flow rates, closely reflecting the real operation of the plant. The relative errors remained below 3% for flow rates and pressures and under 5% for head losses in the pipeline sections, demonstrating the reliability of the adopted approach. This study makes a significant contribution to hydraulic modeling and energy efficiency in water supply systems, highlighting the importance of model calibration and consumption profile analysis in the pursuit of a more efficient water distribution system operation.