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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/N26005/01
Title: EFFICIENT ENERGY MANAGEMENT FOR WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS & TREATMENT PROCESSES
Principal Investigator: Ulanicki, Professor B
Other Investigators:
Rance, Mr J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Anglian Water Effective Fluid Engineering LT South Staffordshire Water plc
South West Water Limited WS Atkins
Department: School of Engineering & Technology
Organisation: De Montfort University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 January 2001 Ends: 31 July 2004 Value (£): 177,084
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Energy Efficiency Water Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Water
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The research proposal addresses the WITE theme improved design and real-time control of water supply and wastewater systems . UK water companies are big consumers of energy; a major water company can spend tens of millions of pounds on energy bills for pumping and operation of treatment plants. Application of dynamic optimisation will help to reduce energy costs through improved control and design. Currently, optimisation methods are not widely accepted in industrial practice because they are slow and lack robustness. Non-linear programming is used for operational control (continuous tasks) and genetic algorithms for optimal design (mixed continuous-discrete tasks). These techniques were developed for static systems and therefore do not satisfy water industry requirements for rapid solution of large-scale dynamic water systems. The research will develop new dynamic optimisation algorithms, specially crafted for dynamic systems, which will be applied to solve scheduling problems for water networks and treatment plants. The second line of investigation will develop hybrid algorithms including dynamic optimisation, non-linear programming and genetic algorithms to solve design tasks. The algorithms may be applied to a variety of problems to save energy, eg tariff selection, strategic planning, operational scheduling over different time horizons, contingency planning, optimal element sizing, reinforcement studies etc.EngProg\
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Organisation Website: http://www.dmu.ac.uk