Kymenlaakso Water Utti plant produce about 20,000 m3 of artificial groundwater per day. Approximately 30% of this is pumped through reverse osmosis equipment which removes excess fluorine from the water. Viimatech Digital has provided the technology used by Flowdicator system to monitor 8 pumps pressures, flow and power in the reverse osmosis system filter unit. On the basis of this data, the system provides the specific energy consumption of each pump in real time.
”The system was introduced just in the beginning of 2020. We now have real-time information available on the operation and condition of our pumps. In addition, we are accumulating a wealth of useful historical data that will be useful in assessing the future operation of pumps and determining maintenance needs,”says Timo Leppänen, Automation Technician at Kymenlaakso Water.
“Based on the monitoring, we can adjust the speed of the pumps and find the most energy efficient operating range. The balance between drinking water quality and production volume is a sensitive topic. That is why we need information on the operation of as many pumps as possible”, Leppänen continues.
Extending the monitoring
In addition to the monitoring system of the reverse osmosis unit already in use, Kymenlaakso Water is widening the system during 2021 to monitor also artificial groundwater wells. “These water well pumps are scattered over a larger area, but this technology allows us to easily aggregate the data from all pumps into one and the same monitoring system. We have already seen how useful monitoring of the first eight pumps has been, so enlargement is a natural continuation of this. In the case of multiple pumps to monitor, there is a wealth of information to compare the pumps and their operation”, Leppänen points out.
Comparisons and analyses are carried out on a monthly basis for the pumps monitored. However, longer-term monitoring is required in order to obtain the overall picture. Detailed and useful instructions for the water utility require continuous monitoring of the pumps over several years.
Easy to use for independent operation
The data capture devices are installed in Kymenlaakso Water by the company’s own installers. “We analyze the data produced by the system in Kymenlaakso Water ourselves. We will have good historical data on the operation of the pumps from the monitoring reports. This project is a continuous learning process for us every month, as more information is obtained that can be linked to previous knowledge, says Leppänen.
Information assets obtained on the basis of monitoring reports play an important role, for example in the induction of new people. Reports inform new installers of the status of the facility and its equipment quickly.