Study of the energy dissipated in the pressure reducing valve aiming at its utilization in the building

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The present paper is a bibliographic research directed to the utilization of the energy dissipated in pressure reducing valves. In this sense, it is proposed the study of the building distribution system and analysis of the possibility of converting the potential energy dissipated in the PRV into electrical energy to be used in systems and equipment of low load demand. In this way, the present study approaches the constructive particularities of the buildings in parallel with the technical characteristics of the VRPs existing in the market in order to evaluate the technical possibility of using the dissipated energy. The survey was based on the following input data: 1) the total monthly volume of water supply, 2) daily consumption per inhabitant, 3) quantity of flow and pressure to supply the system and 4) manometric height of each point to then define the type of turbine and generator indicated for the project with the energy use system. With the data collected in the literature, a simulation was performed for a 36-story building considering its cold water installation, including the VRP's. Through mathematical equations suggested by the literature, it was possible to reach a daily generation of 3.88 kWh.