Special Session 4: Technological innovation in water networks: digital water, smart control and energy efficiency

Chairwoman: Prof. Eng. Helena M. Ramos - Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon (PT)

New challenges in water systems require technological innovation towards the system efficiency improvements and new innovative designs and applications. In water networks, advanced tools and specific techniques and equipment, are mandatory for smart water grids implementation and operation. The water system efficiency and water-energy nexus, through the implementation of suitable, energy recovery devices, and pumped-storage hydropower solutions, provide the most technical results. Integrated analysis of water and energy allows more reliable, flexible, and sustainable eco-design projects, reaching better resilience systems through new design concepts. The development of model simulations, based on hydraulic simulators and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), conjugating with field and experimental tests, supported by advanced smart equipment, allow the control, identification, and anticipation of the system interaction to keep the water system safe and efficient.

Helena M. Ramos Short Curriculum Vitae

Helena M. Ramos is a Professor at Instituto Superior Tecnico - IST (the Engineering Faculty from University of Lisbon) and a member of CERIS in Civil Engineering Department. She has participated in 31 Scientific projects and has been the supervisor of 11 PhD students, 46 MSc theses. She has more than 6377 citations, index h 41 and i10 128. She has been a member of various Editorial Teams and Reviewer of different scientific journals. She has several publications, more than 160 in International Journals with referees, more than 150 in Conferences, 36 book chapters, 7 books: in particular Small Hydropower Plants, 2000, and Pump as Turbines, 2018, among other technical and scientific documents. She has received more than 6 International Scientific recognitions. She is an expert in transients, hydrodynamics, hydropower, pumped storage and hybrid renewable solutions, water -energy nexus and leakage detection