Aggregated Pumping Station Operation Planning Problem (APSOP) for Large Scale Water Transmission System

Abstract

Large scale potable water transmission system considered in this paper is the Toronto Water System (TWS), one of the largest existing potable water supply networks. The main objective of the ongoing Transmission Operations Optimizer (TOO) project consists of developing an advanced tool for providing pumping schedules for 153 TWS pumps, with all quantitative requirements with respect to system operation being met while the energy costs are minimized (“The aim of pump scheduling is to minimize the marginal cost of supplying water while keeping within physical and operational constraints, such as maintaining sufficient water within the system’s reservoirs, to meet the required time-varying consumer demands.” – [6]). It is assumed that TOO should produce detailed optimal schedules for all pumps. The following modules of TOO are being currently developed: demand forecasting module, energy rates forecasting module, pumping schedule optimizer and, finally, an assessment module consisting mainly of hydraulic, EPANET based, TWS simulator. This paper presents key component of the pumping schedule optimizer, namely, the Aggregated Pumping Station Operation Planning Problem (APSOP) and the approach to its solution.