Title: VASPCALM module for frequency regulation as a pump control method in EPANET

Authors: Drazen Vouk; Domagoj Nakic; Ivan Halkijevic

Addresses: Water Research Department, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, Kaciceva 26, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia ' Water Research Department, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, Kaciceva 26, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia ' Water Research Department, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, Kaciceva 26, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract: Frequency regulation as a pump control method is an efficient method for pressure control in pressurised water supply systems, and consequently for water loss control and power consumption control. Operation of pumps with frequency regulation can be successfully simulated by means of mathematical modelling. The paper describes the basic principles of frequency regulation and analyses its control and operation in the free computer software EPANET. The developed auxiliary module VASPCALM automatically generates a number of pump operation controls for constant or proportional pressure value at the required model junction. The application of the module on the actual water supply system Velika Gorica (Croatia) proves that simple and efficient modelling of pump operation with frequency regulation in EPANET is possible, with an acceptable degree of accuracy. Also, the use of the VASPCALM module considerably facilitates the mathematical modelling of variable speed pumps in EPANET.

Keywords: VASPCALM; variable speed pump control algorithm; frequency regulation; EPANET; water supply; water losses; mathematical modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2018.091410

International Journal of Water, 2018 Vol.12 No.2, pp.158 - 169

Received: 03 Mar 2017
Accepted: 15 Jul 2017
Published online: 30 Apr 2018 *

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