Exergetic sustainability analysis of electricity generation from transmission lines (drinking water)

In this thesis, the exergetic sustainability analysis of drinking water transmission lines belonging to the central municipality in Rize province is performed and electricity generation from this transmission lines is investigated. In this regard, the following parameters are defined and estimated, which are i) exergetic efficiency, ii) waste exergy ratio, iii) recoverable exergy ratio, iv) unrecoverable exergy ratio, v) exergy destruction ratio, vi) environmental impact factor, vii) exergetic sustainability index, viii) eksergetic utilisation ratio, ix) exergetic improvenet potential. These parameters are estimated for the current status of the transmission lines and the new transmission lines in case the existing transmission lines are improved. As a result of the calculations, i) Çayeli line's current electricity generation potential is 104 kW, environmental impact factor is 0.40 and exergetic sustainability index value is 2.49. ii) It was calculated that the hospital line is not suitable for energy production, but if it is improved, the electricity generation potential, environmental impact factor and exergetic sustainability index can be 182 kW, 0.37 and 2.68, respectively. iii) The electricity generation potential of Dosma transmission lines are calculated to be 164 kW, 144 kW and 154 kW. The electricity generation potential, the environmental impact factor and exergetic sustainability index of Dosma transmission lines are respectively estimated to be 493 kW, 0.36 and 2.77 if the required improvements are made. However, it is determined that electricity production cannot be performed in Çorapçılar and Küçükköy transmission lines due to insufficient water flow rates and insufficient net head. Thus, if the required technical improvements are made in the existing transmission lines, it is expected that these lines will be able to feed a power plant with an installed capacity of 779 kW, on average.