Volume 8 – Mechanical and Electrical Services - Malaysia Geoportal

Chapter 10 SCADA AND AUTOMATION SYSTEM
Another critical issue comes up during pump trip. For example when control sequence come to
particular pump, and that pump tripped in the same time, the system will not jump to next pump but
waiting the water level rise up to next pump trigged level. Then only the next pump will run. This is
very dangerous during raining season where the late start of pump may cause the flood in upstream.
Aware of this, Pump automation system shall be built in an intelligent pumping rotation system to
control the pump. Ultrasonic water level will be installed to detect the level of the water in place of
probe or level switch. This is due to the reliability of ultrasonic sensor is far more than probe and
level switch. Beside, measuring range of ultrasonic sensor can be changed through software setting
easily. An AI control algorithm also built in to take cares the pump run sequence. The system will
remember the operation of each pump and start up the longest stop time pump each time and
following by the queue. The system will also automatically jump over to next sequence pump if
whenever the system finds the duty pump is tripped or in maintenance.
10.6.2 Pump Duty Time Accumulation and Maintenance
Heavy duty of the pump requires periodically maintenance to extend the life time of the pump.
Conventional system doesn’t have any figure to monitor the duty time of each pump. Maintenance
for particular pump cannot be carried out on time. This may reduce the life time duty of particular
pump. For this, Pump Expert System shall be built in special software that can accumulate the run
time for each pump. System will also alert the users whenever the particular pump accumulated run
time achieve the maintenance goal.
10.6.3 Efficient Drainage and Irrigation Control
When we study the pumping system carefully, we may find that most of the time pump drainage
capacity is enough to drain out the water during heavy rain. Control level plays a very important role
in this case.
Users need to set a good range of control level to make sure the pumping system control according
to real situation needs. Conventional system is very difficult for users to justify what is the best
control range of level for particular pumping system due to no data logging for every control section.
Thus, pumping expert shall provide a lot of valuable data like trending logging, control data logging
events/alarm logging and others information. From this information, users can sort out the best
control range level for particular pumping system and this may certainly help to improve the
efficiency of the drainage control.
Same case in irrigation pump expert control, with availability of water supply level and water flow
rate, system manager may sort out the best water supply control to optimize the water supply for
particular irrigation scheme.
10.6.4 Pump Duty Performance and Total Volume Discharge
Pump Expert system shall provides varies of performance report of pump duty like volume daily,
weekly, monthly water level report, volume discharge report, duty time report and others. The
system also calculates out the total volume discharge for each pump. Throughout these report the
users can estimate total waste water from particular area, pump capacity, total rain fall and others
important data. These data are very important for city development and future town planning.
10.6.5 Electricity Energy Saving
One important concern in pumping system is electricity energy usage issue. Heavy duty of the pump
requires high usage of electricity power. Every month, users need to pay thousands of ringgit for
electricity. This is a burden to users especially the non-profit government body.
10-18 March 2009