Design of a Water Pressure Boosting System for Pressure-Driven Demand in a Distribution Network

In pressure-driven demand of a water distribution network, booster pumps are so much sollicited online that they can cycle on and off several times in an hour. Coupling the pumps with a variable speed drive does not offer much benefit since at reduced speeds and flows, pressure increases, shifting the operation point from the best efficiency zone. Another alternative is to use a hydropneumatic tank which reacts to pressure changes and at the same time prevents pressure fluctuations online. In this paper, we design a new version of the hydropneumatic tank system to supply water at a steady flow using a centrifugal pump coupled with a variable speed drive in order to maintain a constant air pressure inside the tank. Results of simulation show that the system can achieve higher stability and energy efficiency compared to direct pumping without compromising customer demand.