Pressure management and energy production approaches in urban water distribution networks using pumps as turbines

Abstract

Water distribution networks (WDNs) often face challenges such as excessive pressure, leakage, and energy loss. While pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) are commonly used for pressure management, they dissipate energy that can otherwise be recovered. To address this, this study investigates the use of pumps as turbines (PATs) for pressure management while simultaneously generating energy. The hydraulic and energy performance of PRVs and PATs is evaluated using both demand-driven analysis (DDA) and pressure-driven analysis (PDA) through 24-hour extended period simulations (EPS) in the Jowitt network. Three PAT selection approaches are tested, based on maximum, average, and minimum 24-hour discharge values. Results show that selecting PATs based on average discharge consistently yields the highest energy production, increasing from 33.39 kWh to 107.42 kWh in DDA and from 44.88 kWh to 114.9 kWh in PDA, as the number of PATs increases from one to five. However, PRVs achieve greater leakage reduction and maintain lower pressure heads. Overall, the findings highlight the trade-offs between energy production and pressure control, demonstrating that PATs can serve as a sustainable alternative to PRVs when optimally selected. Moreover, PDA provides more realistic outcomes than DDA, particularly under pressure-sensitive conditions. This study provides a decision-making framework for integrated pressure and energy management in urban water networks. © 2025 The Authors