Topics 8 September 2021
Everything Flows

Systems to supply clean drinking water to entire regions are infrastructural masterpieces, in which an extraordinary number of facilities need to work together. If the supply chain is interrupted at any point, this inconveniences the water customers at the very least; at worst, it can actually be hazardous. An intelligent power supply helps to maintain an uninterrupted water supply.

At a Glance

The communication capability of the Pro 2 Power Supply allows monitoring of connected loads.
These data can be used to detect anomalies and trigger a service call before a system failure occurs.
In this way, the Pro 2 Power Supply provides an important component in predictive maintenance for the Norwegian water supply.

Pump works, booster stations, valve stations, water tanks, reservoirs etc. – before this life-giving liquid reaches the consumer, it has often traveled a long way from its source. Nowadays in Europe, all of the distribution systems listed above are often at least partially automated and supplied with electricity. The water network infrastructure is often distributed across a wide geographic area, and the connection of remote stations is not always optimal in terms of the traffic. Maintenance of such facilities often takes place according to fixed schedules and can take a lot of time. Service technicians may spend many hours traveling to perform required inspections or, in the case of emergencies, to reach the location of a problem. For example, local power outages test consumers’ patience: The affected equipment first needs to be located, and then maintenance personnel have to travel there – often just to manually reset a fuse.

Beautiful Country – Long Distances

Norway has is one of the largest countries in Europe in terms of land area – but is also very sparsely populated. Water distribution networks vary greatly in length and coverage; large distances between distribution facilities are the rule in municipal water supply systems there. The operators want to gradually increase the level of automation in their systems. The potential for remote monitoring of distant pumping stations or tanks and reservoirs is the primary area where the operators hope to achieve greater operating efficiency and a massive reduction in maintenance costs. One important step in this direction consists in rethinking the power supply from the ground up.

No Power, No Water!

Two primary causes were identified for the majority of service calls: planned deployments based on required maintenance measures like regular seal tests or shaft lubrication, and unplanned emergency deployments due to system shutdowns. Whether the cause is a defective motor or a pending manual system restart, a system shutdown always means an interruption in the water supply. In the specific case of power outages at remote stations, traveling to the site is a tiresome chore: Normally, all the components are in good working order, and all the technician has to do is manually restart the system and its individual electrical components. Nonetheless, every minute spent in transit is one where consumers lack water.

With the Pro 2, WAGO offers the ideal power supply to meet the demands of the Norwegian water supply system, thanks its innovative features.

Anders Pettersen, Project Manager for Interface Electronics at WAGO

The Ability to Communicate Changes Everything

With the Pro 2, WAGO offers the ideal power supply to meet the demands of the Norwegian water supply system, thanks its innovative features. In particular, this power supply is able to transmit position, service and operating data via the attachable communication module. In addition, extensive configuration options allow an enormous number of possible applications. For remote stations in distant locations, executable remote start – for both connected components and the power supply unit itself – offer enormous savings potential while improving the security of the water supply. Since service technicians no longer have to manually switch on the equipment on site and can do so remotely from an operating station, this cuts travel time and significantly reduces downtime, which in turn leads to a more secure water supply.

Prevention Instead of Reaction

The Pro 2 Power Supply provides up-to-date current and voltage values for the power supply and connected loads at all times. With the help of customizable alarm configuration, the power supply transmits messages if, for example, the power consumption rises about a specified limiting value. In the case of a pumping station, for which the power consumption values are very predictable during normal operation, this type of consumption increase is a clear indicator of a fault. If, for example, the power consumption of a motor rises continuously, this could indicate high friction at the shaft due to a lack of lubricant. Without a monitoring function, the shaft could seize; however, thanks to a notification from the Pro 2, a service technician can promptly assess the situation on site, and thus prevent damage to the motor, as well as the subsequent downtime and costs this would cause.

With its high operating temperature range from −40 to +70°C, the Pro 2 not only is a reliable power supply unit, but also makes a substantial contribution to operating efficiency.

Anders Pettersen, Project Manager for Interface Electronics at WAGO

Versatile

With its compact design and excellent efficiency, the Pro 2 Power Supply also offers superb performance in other applications. For example, one supplier of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) systems also equips its installations with the Pro 2. In this application as well, the power supply unit reports power consumption increases. If a limiting value is exceeded, it triggers an automated replacement procedure for the air-conditioner filter.

With its high operating temperature range from −40 to +70 °C, the Pro 2 not only is a reliable power supply unit for the roofs of Norwegian shopping centers, hospitals and remote water distribution facilities, but also makes a substantial contribution to operating efficiency.

Let Power Communicate

The WAGO Pro 2 Power Supply: Control cabinets are undergoing a transformation, with both quantity and quality demands constantly increasing. Greater networking, rising energy costs and growing customization require smaller, more economical, faster and more flexible solutions in control cabinets.

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Topics 8 September 2021 Everything Flows