Methodology to Minimize Energy Costs in an On-Demand Irrigation Network Based on Arranged Opening of Hydrants

摘要

In this paper, the focus was on the study of the management of irrigation networks, and a tool was implemented in the MATLAB® environment and developed using the EPANET® toolkit to minimize the energy costs at the pumping station. The tool was validated in an on-demand irrigation network located in Tarazona de La – Mancha (Albacete, Spain). Several scenarios were developed to determine the starting time for each irrigation event and hydrant. The results from the proposed methodology, based on a dynamic pressure regulation, were compared to the current irrigation management practice that used the pressure head as a constant value. On a daily basis, the energy savings achieved ranged from 4 to 8 %, whereas 13–36 % was saved in energy costs. On a festival day, without a high energy rate period, obtaining energy and cost savings close to 7–8 %, and 8–11 %, respectively was possible. Additionally, the savings obtained using the proposed methodology were increased with the use of two variable speed pumps activated sequentially, with the rest of the pumps as fixed, which improved the energy efficiency at the pumping station.