Water & Wastewater Asia May/Jun 2021

WATER & WASTEWATER ASIA | MAY/JUNE 2021
typically 40% reduction in leakage
to thrive in a world that is rapidly
from the pipe network (without
changing.
replacing pipes) and so offering a
major contribution to fight water
In fact, their VLT® AQUA Drive
scarcity.”
and VACON® 100 Flow drives are
designed to provide the highest level
Aside from the benefits of using AC
of performance for the water and
drives in the water and wastewater
wastewater application.
industry, other advantages include
reduction of water hammer in the pipe
The power range is available from
with a few countries having a much
Aqua Drive
system, reduction of wear and tear of
0.55kW up to 1.4MW while the supply
higher number, depending on the
motors and pumps, zero energy peak
voltages are available from 200V to
local solution. Typically, water and
demand when starting a motor and
690V. The drives are factory tested at
wastewater facilities represent
protection of motor electrical system.
maximum 100% load to ensure worry-
30%-50% of the local municipalities’
free operation right from the start.
electricity bill, so are normally the
Danfoss’ intelligent heat management
Available at a wide range of features
absolute largest electricity consumer
also ensures the cooling air and
dedicated specifically for water and
for the municipality and therefore it
electronic circulation air to be
wastewater application, Danfoss
is very important to utilise the great
separated, thereby, keeping the
Drives also offer the lowest overall cost
opportunities to reduce this electricity
electronics clean and cool, and
and ownership as well as high energy
use,” remarked Phetsuksiri.
providing a solution with 90%
savings to their customers and end
reduction in investment for air
users.
This is especially true for South East
condition system as well as in energy
Asia, where the region is on pressure
consumptions for the air condition
The high quality of Danfoss’ drives is
to find more efficient solutions with low
system the next 20 years. In addition,
seen with a municipal water customer
production cost in the water industry.
back-channel cooling feature can
in the Philippines who experienced a
remove up to 90% of the heat losses
pipe burst due to high water pressure
A typical water distribution pumping
via heat pipe technology, transferring
during nighttime. Their initial solution
station has a motor electrical load
the heat back to the back-channel
was to throttle the valve to reduce flow
of almost 90% of its capacity. One
cooling air. The excess heat from
and pressure in the pipeline.
solution to reduce the intensity is to
back-channel is then dispersed
match the production output according
directly to the outside of the building.
“By doing so however, it puts a lot of
to its demand or process control. By
stress in their pump and motor. We
doing so, it helps to consume energy
“Recently, we have introduced edge
then proposed our constant pressure
efficiently.
computing-based Condition-based
system wherein we installed an AC
Monitoring (CBM) which will help
Drive on their motor and receive a fixed
“Government bodies and associations
increasing uptime for e.g. pumps.
pressure feedback from a transmitter
are now also on board this initiative
There are a lot more advantages to
installed in the pipeline,” shared
to ensure clean and safe water are
share and I highly recommend those
Phetsuksiri.
available in their country,” Phetsuksiri
interested to talk to us to get more
shared.
insights on our Drives technology,”
said Phetsuksiri.
EMPOWERING THE WATER
BUSINESSES
The result was an energy savings
of 38% and the pressure at the
customer’s pumping station was
maintained at a constant level at any
given time of the day, eliminating pipe
SO HOW DO THE DRIVES
OPTIMISE THE WATER AND
WASTEWATER NETWORKS WHILE
FUNCTIONING RELIABLY?
In 1968, Danfoss was the first
burst.
“Different water and wastewater
company to mass produce AC drives.
application have different process
Since then, the company has been a
“Water and wastewater is an energy
optimisation requirement. For example,
forerunner in drives technology and
intensive industry, which uses
a distribution pump requires an AC
digital solutions that enable customers
about 4% of all electricity globally,
Drive with constant pressure system.
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