Aquarius

Programming Language(s)

MS Visual Basic, Version 6. top

Program Authorship

Ken Howard (2000-02) ; Tim Wyatt (2002-) top

Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT4, 2000 and XP. top

Software Security

Hardware protection device ('dongle') top

Simulation Time Step

Variable (user defined); daily, weekly or calendar monthly. top

Generalisation Level

Full. top

Input Data Editing

Direct using on-screen templates. top

Special Features

(i) Specific (optional) consideration of transmission lines (including losses), multiple electricity and water demand areas, monthly maximum and minimum plant outputs;

(ii) On screen definition of system components and configuration ('drag and drop');

(iii) Coincident optimisation of water flows (reservoir releases), generation plant load dispatch and aqueduct & transmission line flows;

(iv) Reservoir operating policies defined by calendar weekly or monthly varying long-term stored water values;

(v) Electricity demands, water demands and inflows can be input as seasonally varying (profiled) quantities or as time series;

(vi) Up to 24 load dispatch blocks, with the facility to specify individual minimum and maximum generating plant outputs by block;

(vii) Explicit consideration of demand area dependent supply deficit costs and preventive rationing measures;

(viii) Real-time graphical outputs showing user selected (daily) reservoir contents, generating plant outputs, river reach and transmission line flows.

(ix) Automatic storage of results in MS-ACCESS database format for subsequent viewing and retrieval.

(x) Calculation of marginal costs by load block at electricity demand centres and transmission nodes, and at water demand areas.

(xi) Mimic diagram displays of simulation results. Average, daily and individual load block values can be shown.

(xii) Graphical, tabular and spreadsheet compatible file outputs for any combination of simulation time series values.

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Optimisation Methods Employed

Reservoir Release / Load Dispatch Optimisation : (Proprietary) Linear Programming (LP) algorithm.

Operating Policy Optimisation : (Proprietary) Stochastic Value Iteration Dynamic Programming (DP) Algorithm. top

Help System

On-line indexed system. top

Related PWSC Software

None. top

Third Party Software Compatibility

Simulation outputs in MS ACCESS .MDB format. top

Systems Applied To

Demonstration system: 5 reservoirs, 3 hydro plants, 1 pump storage unit, 2 thermal plants, 2 wind plants, 10 transmission lines, 2 transmission nodes, 2 electricity demand areas, 16 rivers, 5 flow points, 3 river abstractions, 1 treatment works, 1 pumping station, 9 aqueducts and 5 water demand areas.

United Utilities Water Integrated Water Resource/Supply System: 19 reservoirs, 44 river reaches, 29 flow points, 13 river abstractions, 11 water sources, 19 treatment works, 14 pumping stations, 36 supply aqueducts, 74 transfer aqueducts, 16 junction points and 23 water demand areas. top

Potential Applications

Short and long-term operations and system development planning.

Economic evaluation of alternative IPP proposals. Optimisation of stored water values for privatised system operation. Load dispatch optimisation, with or without (load flow) transmission constraints. top

Further Developments

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Current Availability

Available for on-site demonstration. top

Indicative Prices

Perpetual User Licences (Per PC or Workstation):
Water Resource/Supply Systems:Simulation £POA - Simulation & Optimisation £POA.
Power & Water Resource/Supply Systems: Simulation £POA - Simulation & Optimisation £POA.

Annual User Licences are also available. top

Related Consultancy Services

Creation of client system model input files, installation, model functioning verification, user training, bespoke enhancements. top