Using the Scenario Energy Cost tool in SewerGEMS, SewerCAD and CivilStorm

Product(s): SewerGEMS, SewerCAD, CivilStorm
Version(s): 10.00.00.40 and later
Area: Modeling

Overview

This article explains how to use the Scenario Energy Cost tool in SewerGEMS, SewerCAD, CivilStorm CONNECT Edition (10.00.00.40) or later. The images in this article were taken from SewerGEMS, however the same general workflow applies to SewerCAD and CivilStorm as well.

See this article for information on performing an energy cost analysis in WaterGEMS and WaterCAD.

Introductory Demonstration

Workflow Steps

  1. Prepare the model
  2. Open the Scenario Energy Cost tool
  3. Select the scenario to analyze
  4. Define the Energy Pricing (ie. Tariffs)
  5. Enter pump energy data
  6. Compute the Scenario Energy Cost analysis
  7. View the results

Detailed Workflow

1. Prepare the model

a. Develop EPS scenario(s) to be used in energy cost.
b. Compute the scenario(s).

2. Open the Scenario Energy Cost tool

To do this, go to the Analysis tab and select Energy Costs.

This will open the Scenario Energy Cost manager as shown below.

3. Select the scenario to analyze

The scenario to analyze can be selected from the dropdown menu on the top-left side of the Scenario Energy Cost manager.

Note:

  • The current scenario is selected by default.
  • The Scenario must be an EPS run.

4. Define the Energy Pricing (ie. Tariffs)

To convert energy use into energy cost, the applicable energy price tariff must be defined in the Energy Pricing manager.

The Energy Pricing manager can be accessed by clicking the second icon on the top-left of the Scenario Energy Cost manager. It can also be opened by selecting the Pumps tab (or Variable Speed Pump Batteries tab), clicking in an Energy Pricing input field and then selecting the ellipses button "…".

Energy price functions (tariffs) can be created, deleted and renamed using the buttons on the top-left of this dialog. Once an energy pricing plan has been created, the tariff information can be entered on the right pane.

There are two tariff types available.

  • Time of Day: This type of energy pricing considers the cost of energy which varies throughout the day, and is based on the time from the start of the simulation. Once this tariff type has been selected, the fields for the data entry are displayed in the middle of the right pane.
  • Constant: The price of energy does not vary with time.

The bottom part of right pane allows you to enter a description of any peak demand charges if they apply to the study by checking the box labeled "Include Peak Demand Charge?". When this box is checked, the two associated fields become available.

Enter the values for Peak Demand Charge and Billing Period.

  • The Peak Demand Charge is entered in cost units per peak demand kilowatts. The peak demand is usually taken as the peak demand over some time period, or Billing Period.
  • The Billing Period is used to convert the peak demand charge into a daily cost which is added to the energy cost to obtain the daily cost.

Note: You can change the units for the energy pricing by right-clicking on the current units and choose "Units and Formatting". This allows you to change the units and the precision for the data.

Click "Close" to return to the Scenario Energy Costs manager.

5. Enter pump energy data to be used in the analysis

Select the Pump tab (or Variable Speed Pump Batteries tab) and select the pumps to include in the energy calculations and the corresponding energy pricing data. When the Energy Pricing input field is selected, a dropdown menu is available to select an energy pricing definition.

6. Compute the Scenario Energy Cost analysis

To do this, click the first icon on the top-left of the Scenario Energy Cost manager.

Note: The scenario must be computed before computing the energy cost.

7. View the results

Depending on the item you highlight, different results are available. For instance, if you click on the top-most item in the tree, you will see a summary of results that include information on the energy used, the cost, the volume of flow, and the run duration. 

Once the energy cost analysis has been computed, the pumps for which the calculation was run will appear in the window on the left side of the dialog.

To view the results for an individual pump, select one of them from the window on the left. A Results table will appear on the right side of the manager.

Note: results like Wire Power indicate the average during the given timestep, whereas the cumulative energy used refers to the beginning of the given timestep. So for example if you want to see how much wire power the pump was using at hour 3.0 (which is essentially 3.0 through 4.0 since the time step is set to 1.0 hour), you would look at the wire power for the hour 3.0 row whereas if you want to see the amount of energy used up until hour 3, you would look at the cumulative energy column for the hour 3.0 row.

If the cumulative energy were not done in this way, then the cumulative energy shown at the end of the simulation (last timestep) would not be quite right. Meaning, if the cumulative energy referred to the energy used at the end of the given timestep, then the 24.0 row (assuming a simulation duration of 24 hours) would actually show the energy used in 25 total hours. (because again, the 24.0 row indicates what happens between 24.0 hours and 1.0 hours later). On the other hand, with the way it currently works, the cumulative energy cost for the last row (24.0 hr) shows the energy used in 24 hours (because it accounts for the wire power from the previous, 23.0 hr timestep, which is the power used from 23 to 24 hours)

You can also view the available results fields as a graph by selecting the Graph tab. To select which result field to view, click the pulldown and select the field.

The Pump Usage folder includes this same information, but broken down by the pumps and Variable Speed Pump Batteries that are in the model.

The Pump Time Details and Pumps folders show the combined results such as volume, flow, wire power, energy cost and energy usage for all pumps over time. There is also a graph tab that allows you to view these results in a graphical format. 

Peak Energy Demands shows when the peak occurs and the associated costs.

The Results and Graph tabs provide icons to copy and create reports from the data.

See Also

Using the Scenario Energy Cost and Energy Management tools in WaterGEMS and WaterCAD

Scenario energy cost "Time of Use" doesn't match calculation options "Duration"

Product TechNotes and FAQs

OpenFlows Product Tech Notes And FAQs.

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