Optimization software for the central control of storage sewers, storm water overflow basins and storage capacities in wastewater networks

The software is an application which enables operators of sewer networks and sewage treatment plants to make optimum use of the storage/retention volumes, as well as to support and relieve the operating personnel in normal and emergency operation of their plants.

By feeding in basic information such as precipitation measurements/forecasts, water levels and runoff in the sewage water channel system with the software, it should be possible to ensure optimum operation of the sewer network and unified feed of the sewage treatment plants within a selected sewage network.

It should be possible to design the optimization of network operation on the basis of priorizing assets within the network according to water sensitivities and pollution levels.

The software provides schedules for flow volumes for gate valves and pumps for a defined forecast period and thus provides suggestions for optimum utilization of the storage capacities in the network as well as a more steadily wastewater treatment plant inflow.

The software contains an engineering tool with a component library in which the common sewer network components such as retention basins, pumps, gate valves etc. are available for modelling a sewage network. Different network models can be saved and reloaded as needed. The storage format corresponds to the required format of the calculation modules.

In offline use (i.e. without connection to current process data), configurable scenarios can be evaluated by simulation and their operation optimized.

In online use (i.e. parallel to real operation, with inclusion of current measured values and operating states from the process), a forecast should be possible by means of simulation, and the operation should be optimized for the forecast period. The optimization is based on the expected processes under consideration of inflow prognoses. The optimization should be able to run in continuous mode online and automatically in defined time cycles.

This type of optimization should provide a network operation schedule to transmit to the control system.

Failure strategies should be implemented in the software, so that even in the event of data failure (e.g. due to failure of measurement technology or telecontrol technology), schedules can continue to be calculated (possibly for a default operation). It is assumed that corresponding failure strategies are or will be implemented on the plant automation side.

The interface for updating system states in the model (e.g. tank levels, operating states of pumps) and for transferring calculation values to the control system has to be based on OPC UA.

Input data as well as relevant calculation results should be archived for later traceability (e.g. in a database or file system).

The software should be usable on a separate computer with Windows operating system.

The use of the software is protected by user and password input according to IEC 62443.