Flying Blind No More: Using Edge Analytics to Improve Pump Performance

Presentation Description: Much is written about plugging of solids handling pumps, particularly in wastewater pumping applications. The use of VFDs can offer improved process control and potentially reduce energy expenditures. Unfortunately, operating wastewater pumps at reduced speeds can lead to increased incidents of partial plugging, leading to sewer overflows. Most remedial systems focus on alarming, rather than route cause identification, and cannot provide insight into overall system performance.

Data analytics of individual pump performance provides a holistic approach to lifecycle asset management and operation of these critical assets. This presentation demonstrates how analytics can be used in real-time to ensure that systems are designed, operated and maintained properly for the given service. The presentation will show data from the City of Chattanooga, who implemented this analytics platform on their largest wastewater pumping station. The analytics platform was able to identify significant deterioration of the impellers of two of the four pumps, and higher headloss in the forcemain system, which combined in reducing the capacity of the pump system. Additionally, the analytics platform identified that plugging occurs in the pumps at reduced speeds. The result of these analytics; the City were able to regain capacity, de-risk sewer overflows and reduce energy expenditure by anywhere between 15-50%.

This presentation will also document the City of Lakewood’s experience with the Specific Energy Dynamic Pump Optimizer (DPO) at seven of their well and booster pumping stations. The DPO allows Lakewood to see in real time how their pumps are working together to pump water from their aquifer into their distribution system. The DPO also graphically illustrates the condition of each pump and gives the City the ability to pick better pumps to replace aged equipment.

Unfortunately, most pump data collected at facilities is not being properly analyzed to give the operators, managers and engineers who work with them the insights they need to run these systems optimally. This presentation will demonstrate how a powerful analytics platform can provide those insights, reduce energy expenditures, extend the useful life of equipment, and protect the environment by reducing unplanned outages.