Drinking water power plants

Funded by: Office of the Tyrolean Provincial Government

ADTL

Project partner: hydro-IT GmbH; DI JAROSCH Hannes
Project manager: Robert SITZENFREI
Project duration: 08/2012 - 10/2013
Project flyer:


Brief description:

In order to increase the share of renewable energy sources, investment subsidies for small hydropower plants (Green Electricity Act 2012) are currently being used to promote the construction of drinking water power plants in particular. Rough potential analyses of domestic water supply systems (water resources, head, etc.) show a high potential for drinking water power plants. The concrete case-specific planning of such a plant is usually based on investigating the construction of drinking water power plants upstream of elevated reservoirs or instead of existing pressure-reducing valves. The investigations of these few locations are based on a complex, partly modelled but manual variant analysis by the planning engineer. The aim of this project is to significantly improve this planning process and to determine the economic and efficient positions of drinking water power plants in a fully automated manner. In compliance with technical (hydraulics and water quality) and economic criteria, possible ideal plant locations for surplus water power plants, grid power plants or reverse-running pumps are determined based on systematic modelling studies (local sensitivity analysis). The quantitative results are then processed in the form of an easily communicable GIS map (Geographical Information System), which creates a basis for discussion for mechanical engineering plant planning. With this project, the planning process of drinking water power plants can be significantly facilitated and thus also supports a rapid, simple and efficient technology penetration.

Articles in journals and conferences:

Presentations:

  • World Environmental and Water Resources Congress (EWRI) 2012, Albuquerque, US
    R. Sitzenfrei: Identifying Hydropower Potential in Water Distribution Systems of Alpine Regions
  • World Environmental and Water Resources Congress (EWRI) 2014, Portland, US
    R. Sitzenfrei: Long time simulations and analysis of future scenario for design and benefit cost analysis of small hydro power in water distribution system
  • World Environmental and Water Resources Congress (EWRI) 2016, West Palm Beach, US
    R. Sitzenfrei: Design of interacting small hydropower systems in water distribution networks under the consideration of demand uncertainties and rehabilitation measures
  • Water Distribution System Analysis (WDSA) 2014, Bari, IT
    R. Sitzenfrei: Design and optimization of small hydropower systems in water distribution networks based on 10years simulation with Epanet2
  • Drinking water power - Workshop for water suppliers, Fügen, AT
    R. Sitzenfrei: Potentials, locations and economic efficiency - results of the feasibility study "Drinking water power plants"

Final theses:

  • R. Fröhlich (Bachelor thesis, 2012, supervisor: R. Sitzenfrei):
    Energy generation potential in the water supply
  • J. von Leon (Master's thesis, 2013, supervisors: R. Sitzenfrei, W. Rauch):
    Modelling and local optimisation of drinking water power plants
  • D. Berger (Master's thesis, 2014 Supervisors: R. Sitzenfrei, W. Rauch):
    Modelling and local optimisation of water supply networks using spatially referenced sensitivity analysis and long-term simulation
  • R. Sitzenfrei (Habilitation thesis):
    An integrated view of the urban water cycle: A shift in the paradigm?



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