Navionics Research Inc. is pleased to introduce the PowerFlex 753-Series VFD to our Water and Wastewater Utility Clients. This Architecture-Class, Made in the USA drive from Allen Bradley offers a modular design and can be flexibly configured for most any potable water or wastewater pumping application. We recently had the privilege of commissioning a 150 HP PowerFlex … Read More →
For the past 3 years, Navionics Research has partnered with French Gerleman (St. Louis MO, Quincy IL, Columbia MO, Kansas City MO, Springfield MO, Washington MO) and Rockwell Automation/Allen Bradley to offer premium VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) solutions to our rural water customers. Rockwell Automation/Allen Bradley PowerFlex-Series Premium VFD’s… Through Rockwell’s PowerFlex-series VFD’s, we are … Read More →
Occasionally, a new water district pumping station will be installed in a location that is not served by 3-phase power. The options to run the pumps on 3-phase include (but are not limited to): Pay the electric utility a fee (often prohibitive) to bring 3-phase power to the site. Generate the 3-phase power on-site. To generate 3-phase … Read More →
Are you heading over to Effingham this week to the Illinois Rural Water Association Annual Conference? If so, please stop by and visit! On Tuesday at 11am-Noon, I am leading a training class that you won’t want to miss: “How to Track and Minimize Pump Energy Consumption by Leveraging VFD’s, Flow Meters, & Telemetry” In … Read More →
When NRI’s VFD & Energy Analytics is implemented in a water plant or pumping station, VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) fault alarms are passed as numerical codes to the SCADA system via an industrial communication protocol (e.g. Modbus, DF1, EtherNet/IP, etc.) and then to the operator. A code of ‘0’ (zero) signifies no fault condition, whereas a non-zero code signifies that a fault … Read More →
In rural areas — due to a combination of long power transmission line lengths and the relative isolation of the remote pumping facilities — it is not uncommon for stations to suffer from power quality problems. Therefore, it is always recommended that a station’s power status be monitored, trended, and alarmed for outages. In the most basic sense, … Read More →
I am very appreciative of all the positive feedback that I’ve received over the past few days as a result of this 3-part series of articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. I am glad that I was able to convey how the latest VFD technology — when leveraged to its full capability and coupled tightly with our new VFD & Energy Analytics Telemetry Software — is … Read More →
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, we discussed how to measure and optimize pump station energy consumption using VFDs. In the case study, a water utility was able to realize an energy consumption decrease of 67%. It is important to note that your savings may be more or less, as every application is unique. … Read More →
Yesterday, in Part 1 of this series, we reported that a recent pump station upgrade resulted in a staggering energy cost reduction — reducing the average electricity charges from $345/month to less than $114/month! Since you have kindly returned today for Part 2, your consideration will be repaid with the details of how this feat was accomplished — and how … Read More →
A topic of continual concern for today’s water utility is Pumping Station Energy Efficiency. And to put this subject in laymen’s terms, how better than to relate it to fuel efficiency for the familiar automobile? First, let’s look at the work that each produces — With a car, the unit of work is expressed as a driven “Mile”; whereas in … Read More →