What Problems does MultiSmart Solve?
I left the pump running.
Typical panels have a selector switch for auto/off/manual (hand). When an operator visits the site, he often opens the well to check the level and turns the pump on to make sure it pumps down. Often, someone leaves the pump in manual and causes a pump to airlock or overheat. When that happens, someone has to go back to site and put the pump back into Auto.
With MultiSmart in the panel, you use the softkey on the unit to put the pump into manual. When the level drops to the cutout point, MultiSmart changes the mode back to Auto and turns the pump Off. We call the manual mode semi-automatic manual.
We went out to site the 2,300 times - for no reason.
One large water utility had 3,600 callouts in one year. Of these, 2,300 resulted in no work being done. Either the problem was non-existent, or they pressed the Reset button and left. The cost was between $500,000 to $1M.
With MultiSmart connected to your SCADA system, you can see the specific fault condition, the 3-phase supply, the calculated (or measured) flow - and you can reset the fault remotely (if appropriate). Once the fault is reset, you can test the pump, check that it pumps correctly and that the 3-phase currents are balanced.
I think my 3-phase supply is a problem.
Many Pump Stations have 3-phase supply problems, leading to frequent pump trips and, in the long-term, pump lifetime issues. Without station supply monitoring, the problem can't be proven or resolved.
With MultiSmart, the 3-phase supply is data logged and reported back to SCADA. You can find out whether voltage supply is the real problem. If it is, you can prove it to the electric company.
Will my pumps last 25 years?
If the 3-phase supply is a little low, say 8%, you can be running with the currents up more than 8% and the temperature of the windings might be 20o C too high. This will reduce the life of your pumps significantly because insulation resistance is strongly impacted by temperature.
MultiSmart can be set to trip when the volts go outside a normal threshold - which might be 10%. You can also data log the voltage on a deadband at 5% (or lower) and determine how much time the supply is below (or above) normal.
Are my pumps running efficiently? Am I wasting energy?
Pump efficiency in wastewater applications diminishes significantly from when pumps are installed. Studies have shown a typical loss in efficiency of 15%. Most utilities are unable to measure their pump efficiency, resulting in wasted energy and increased CO2 emissions.
MultiSmart measures pump efficiency in gals/kWhr (or litres/KWhr), lets you trend over time and compare.
I need to change the set points.
With a typical PLC/RTU system, you'll need someone to make a program change.
With MultiSmart, changing set points is one of the easiest things to do. The unit supports set point profiles that they can be easily changed to accommodate different circumstances (i.e. during a spill at another station). Set points can also be changed from SCADA.
I need a system that is flexible for any application.
You want a product and system that can meet any requirement, not an old or closed system.
MultiSmart has 100s of built-in functions for just about any pumping application. Unlike any other product with built-in functionality, it also has a PLC extension, fully compliant to IEC61131-3.
What does this mean? That MultiSmart gives you the best of both worlds - the flexibility of a PLC without the headache of having to develop everything from scratch.
I need to know the inflow into my station.
Understanding your system's diurnal flow pattern is a common problem, and installation of flow meters is very expensive.
MultiSmart calculates inflow by using the volumes in each Pump Station. The "inflow tag" is available for SCADA and, by default, gets logged by the data logger after each fill cycle.
What are the flow rates of my pumps?
Most wastewater Pump Stations don't have flow meters. MultiSmart uses volumetric changes and some smart algorithms to calculate individual pump flow rates. You get total volumes pumped from each station, as well as individual pump volumes and flow rates.
How can I detect partially blocked pumps?
MultiSmart has some algorithms to help you.
Max Run Time allows you to cycle to the next pump when a runtime value is exceeded. If you want, it will create an alarm on the user interface (and to SCADA) so operations finds out. Setting Max Run Time takes less than a minute through the easy-to-use LCD user interface.
Blocked Pump Detection detects if the lead pump stays on while the lag pump keeps running. After the number of cycles that you select (e.g. 3), it will flag a Blocked Pump alarm to allow someone to investigate.
What's the condition of my motor windings?
Finding out the state of your motor windings can be expensive because it requires sending an electrician out to the site to "megger" the motors.
MultiSmart will test your motor windings automatically, every day or every week, log the value and send it to SCADA. It will even create an alarm when the value drops below a threshold that you set (e.g. 1MOhm).
I need secure communications between SCADA and the Pump Stations.
MultiSmart was one of the first devices on the market to adopt the new DNP3 security standard, introducing it in 2008. DNP3 is an open protocol designed for telemetry and supported by a strong user group. You can now communicate securely between SCADA and your Pump Stations.
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