Digital Twin System for Water Treatment Optimization

under development

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) developed a digital twin system that pairs a physical pilot water treatment plant with a real-time digital twin to monitor operations and electricity prices remotely. The system updates the physical plant's settings hourly to improve performance, reduce energy use, and prevent maintenance downtime, providing cost savings for utilities and local governments. The pilot plant is managed by the University of California, Irvine, in partnership with the Orange County Water District, replicating a full-scale drinking water reuse facility with dynamic operation.