A KNOWLEDGE-BASED ENERGY MANAGEMENT-SYSTEM FOR THE MUNICIPAL WATER INDUSTRY

Optimization of high-service pump operation with respect to peak kilow att consumption or total killowatt-hour consumption, depending on cond itions, is the goal of KBEMS (knowledge-based energy management system ), the system described in this article. The system has high potential to save municipal water utilities significant amounts of money in ele ctricity expenditures. The knowledge-based system is designed to foste r the incorporation of operators' knowledge and nonhistoric informatio n into planning the operation of a water distribution facility. Flexib ility is a prime consideration in the system's design because of the m ultitude of factors that can influence operating procedure. Constraint s imposed by operators and by general pumping strategies of water plan t managers act as ''filters'' placed in front of algorithmic procedure s such as pump scheduling and demand forecasting. In this situation, p ure optimality is admittedly sacrificed, but necessarily so, in favor of arriving at a good and efficient operating plan.