Conference Agenda

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the operational performance of ATRIA ENERGIA S.A.C.’s Purmacana micro-hydroelectric plant, based on 165 days of daily generation records from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, with January 2025 excluded due to data unavailability. The 1.8MW facility, located in Supe district, Barranca province, Lima department, Peru, demonstrates highly variable operational characteristics with pronounced seasonal fluctuations. Daily energy production ranged from 0.10 MWh to 14.90 MWh, averaging 6.07 MWh with a standard deviation of 3.67 MWh (coefficient of variation: 60.5%). The plant achieved an actual capacity factor of 14.1%, substantially lower than the theoretical 71.3%, indicating significant operational constraints or data collection limitations. Monthly analysis revealed peak performance during October–November (19.7–24.6% capacity factor) and minimum performance during February–April (6.4–7.3% capacity factor), reflecting coastal Peru’s hydrological patterns. Performance distribution analysis showed that 62.4% of operations fell within normal parameters (μ } σ), 17.6% exceeded high performance thresholds, and 20.0% experienced low performance conditions. The projected annual generation of 2.22 GWh falls significantly below the expected 9 GWh, suggesting systematic data collection issues, extended maintenance periods, or fundamental operational challenges requiring investigation. These empirical findings provide critical insights for renewable energy planning, microhydroelectric plant optimization, and performance validation in Peru’s coastal region, particularly for facilities operating under the RER framework, while highlighting the importance of empirical validation of theoretical projections in developing economies.

"This research comprehensively analyzes the complex network of socio-environmental impacts resulting from the operation of the Patuca III Hydroelectric Power Plant, a large-scale project that has drastically transformed the territorial dynamics in the department of Olancho. The problem is rooted in a critical gap between national energy infrastructure development and the protection of local communities' rights, revealing a management approach that has prioritized power production over socio-environmental sustainability. The study followed a mixed-methods approach, allowing for a rigorous triangulation between the technical evaluation of the reservoir's physicochemical and biological parameters and the collection of public perceptions in the areas of greatest influence. The results reveal a systemic degradation of the aquatic ecosystem, manifested through eutrophication processes and the accumulation of pollutants that threaten biodiversity and the security of fishery resources. Simultaneously, the social analysis exposes a significant decline in the inhabitants' quality of life, marked by population displacement, loss of access to traditional livelihoods, and a widespread sense of institutional abandonment. This situation highlights a contradiction with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as progress toward energy targets has not guaranteed social equity or the protection of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The study concludes that insufficient prior consultation mechanisms and weak oversight of social investment plans have led to a governance crisis and community mistrust. Finally, the research proposes a reconfiguration of project management, suggesting the implementation of a participatory governance and continuous monitoring model that integrates local voices into decision-making to ensure environmental justice and the project's long-term viability."

The present study evaluated the recovery of aluminum sulfate (Al₂(SO₄)₃) from sludge generated at the Cañete Water Treatment Plant (PTAP) and the reuse of the treated residue in the production of handmade bricks. The research was conducted using a quasi-experimental and mixed approach, combining quantitative analyses—through atomic absorption spectrophotometry to measure the concentration of recovered aluminum and jar tests to determine turbidity removal efficiency—and qualitative analyses, observing color, floc formation, and sedimentation behavior. For coagulant recovery, the dried sludge was acidified with sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄ at 95%), reducing the pH from slightly alkaline values (7.32–7.48) to an acidic range of 2.13–3.27, which allowed the dissolution of aluminum species and the production of an effective coagulant. Acid digestion results showed an average recovered aluminum concentration of 0.0125 mg/L, with a recovery efficiency of up to 91.4% under conditions of pH ≈ 2.1 and 6.5 mL of H₂SO₄, demonstrating the effectiveness of the process. The remaining sediment was dried, pulverized, and mixed with cement, sand, and water to produce handmade bricks through molding, setting, and curing. The recovered aluminum sulfate achieved a turbidity removal efficiency of 94.08%, higher than that of commercial coagulant (90.03%), confirming its technical viability. The bricks produced with recovered sludge exhibited an apparent density of 1.82 g/cm³, indicating good compaction and consistency. This study demonstrates the potential for sustainable sludge reuse, promoting circular economy practices, waste reduction, and the production of construction materials with acceptable physical properties.

Long-distance natural gas pipelines constitute critical infrastructure for ensuring energy supply continuity and therefore require predictive tools capable of anticipating how gas properties evolve under changing operating conditions, particularly when batches with increased water, H₂S, CO₂, or heavy-hydrocarbon content are introduced. However, traditional approaches do not adequately integrate compositional dynamics with transient hydraulic effects, limiting early identification of risks such as localized condensation and critical pressure variations, which may lead to flow instability, capacity reduction, and operational constraints.

This study develops a hydraulic–predictive model coupled with compositional thermodynamic analysis to evaluate batch evolution in a real natural gas transportation system under different flow-rate scenarios. Monophase transient modeling was implemented in Pipeline Studio, while phase stability and compositional analysis were performed in HYSYS. When phase-envelope crossing indicated potential condensate formation, the flow regime was represented using OLGA, enabling simulation of liquid accumulation and transport under transient conditions.

Results, evaluated through a real case study, show that the batch front preserves a well-defined structure; however, its propagation speed and deformation depend on flow rate, composition, and local thermal conditions. Zones prone to liquid formation were identified in pipeline segments characterized by lower pressure and temperature, and OLGA simulations revealed that condensates may remain trapped for up to 12 hours if appropriate drainage or pigging operations are not executed.

The proposed integrated approach constitutes a robust tool for anticipating critical events, optimizing batch management, and strengthening the reliability of natural gas transportation systems.

Drag Reducing Agents (DRA) are widely used to increase transportation capacity and reduce energy consumption in Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) pipelines. However, in many systems their application relies on conservative dosing schemes with limited integration into real-time operations, which constrains both technical and economic efficiency.

This work develops an integrated approach that combines steady-state hydraulic modeling with SCADA system interaction to optimize DRA dosing under real operating conditions. The methodology is applied to an NGL transportation system comprising multiple pipeline segments, pumping stations, and significant elevation changes, evaluating capacity increase scenarios between 90 and 130 MBPD.

The results show that, by adjusting operational margins and optimizing minimum pressures at critical locations, DRA dosing can be reduced by 22% to 66% compared to design-based schemes, while preserving hydraulic integrity and operational constraints. From an economic perspective, the optimized strategy reduces annual DRA expenditure by up to USD 1.2 million at the maximum evaluated capacity, yielding cumulative savings of approximately USD 12.5 million over a 20-year operating horizon.

Furthermore, the integration of hydraulic modeling with SCADA enables dynamic DRA dosing adjustments, enhancing operational efficiency and real-time decision-making. The proposed approach is replicable in other liquid hydrocarbon pipeline systems and provides technical criteria for advanced additive management in pipeline operations

Liquid hydrocarbon pipeline systems are critical infrastructures exposed to operational events such as controlled valve closures and sudden variations in operating parameters, including pressure and flow rate, which can generate severe hydraulic transients. These phenomena increase the risk of operational failures and, in extreme cases, may lead to pipeline ruptures or leaks, posing significant risks to people, the environment, and facilities. However, traditional steady-state analyses limit the proper identification of these dynamic conditions and their preventive management.

This paper presents a methodology based on hydraulic transient studies aimed at reducing operational risks in liquid pipeline transportation systems. The approach relies on dynamic hydraulic simulation to evaluate the time-dependent response of the system under representative transient events, analyzing pressure evolution, hydraulic inertia effects, and the time lag between event initiation and the occurrence of maximum pressure.

The proposed methodology is applied to a real liquid hydrocarbon pipeline system in Peru operating under active pumping conditions, considering controlled valve closure scenarios. The results demonstrate that the severity of transient overpressures is strongly influenced by the proximity of the event to the pumping station and by the hydraulic stiffness of the analyzed pipeline section. Furthermore, the analysis highlights the importance of considering residual pressure growth after protective actions due to hydraulic inertia.

Finally, the proposed approach reduces uncertainty in hydraulic risk assessment and enhances the anticipation of critical operating conditions, providing a replicable framework to strengthen operational safety and support decision-making in other liquid hydrocarbon pipeline systems