Multi-purpose optimal operation of serial pump stations in water conveyance systems (Case study: Shiraz water conveyance system from Doroudzan Dam)

Nowadays, with increasing energy consumption costs, the optimization of energy efficient processes is being more considered than before. The essential part of the operational cost of water conveyance systems is energy consumption and maintenance costs of pumping stations. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an efficient method for optimal operation of these stations in order to reduce energy consumption and pumps maintenance costs. In this study, the optimal operation of pumping stations is considered as a multi-purpose optimization problem with the objective functions: 1- energy costs 2- maintenance costs. In order to resolve this problem, an optimization— simulation model based on Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) is coupled to the EPANET hydraulic simulation model. The proposed model is applied to find the optimal pump scheduling program of Shiraz water conveyance system from Doroudzan Dam. Results revealed that by considering all different limitations of the problem, the energy costs were 30% and 5% less than the current state of operation and previous studies respectively. Also, the proposed model can decrease the cost of pumps maintenance by controlling the number of pump switches.