Optimization Research of Parallel Pump System for Improving Energy Efficiency

In applications where demand on a water supply system changes frequently and widely, the operating conditions of pumps always deviate from the design conditions, and this error leads to poor efficiency and reliability. For energy saving and longer service life, a parallel pump system was supplied, with the valves and rotational speed controls approximating the system's operating conditions closer to the designed conditions for different consumer loads. The developed optimization model employs a genetic algorithm (GA) aiming at the pumps' maximum efficiency. A theoretical solution based on the Lagrange multiples method was proved. Experiments on two identical pumps were carried out. The presented model gives optimal input data for the pumps' rotational speed and valve positions. The results show that control valves are especially helpful for improvement of a single pump's efficiency and reliability. However, in the system of parallel pumps, throttling losses in the valves caused a significant decline in system efficiency. Therefore, the developed optimization model provides balance between efficiency and reliability by offering the suitable operating mode. (C) 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.