Pumps & Systems, October 2008
Yuba County Water Agency in Marysville, Calif., recently chose a wireless system as a solution for a water pump problem. Here are some of benefits they discovered.
Profitability and Productivity
A communications technician for the water agency needed to activate a water pump when the level of a specific water tank lowered to a certain point. Unfortunately, the pump and tank were located a mile away from each other. The technician needed an automated device to activate the pump to save time and increase productivity, rather than sending personnel to the pump and manually activating it.
As Yuba County discovered, wireless control and telemetry could enhance the company's profitability. Without a switching or monitoring system in place, the communications technician had to travel to flip a switch or monitor and record data. The company lost money, time and effort. By installing a monitoring system, Yuba County could eliminate this necessity.
Environment
Yuba County Water Agency had some geographical issues to combat as well. Not only were the tank and water pump a mile way, but there was a ridgeline and reservoir between them.
As Yuba County discovered, using wireless control and telemetry instead of wired systems to transmit simple switching or data proved valuable to the surrounding environment. Since wireless systems can run on solar or battery power, they reduce the typical usage of alternating current (AC) power and saving energy.
Wired control systems require trenches through land to lay copper or aluminum wire from a point that is transmitting data to the receiving point. Digging trenches upsets the surrounding land and disturbs organisms and the ecosystem. In electing to go with a wireless system, Yuba County was able to avoid affecting the surrounding area.
Furthermore, if they had chosen a wired system, the material needed to create the wired system would have been harmful to the environment. Mining copper and aluminum for wires would cause deforestation. Harmful chemicals used to extract copper and aluminum can also filter through the land to groundwater, affecting people and creatures nearby.
Installation
With these productivity and geographical factors in place, Yuba County chose a wireless automation system. They discovered that even the installation was simplified. They connected a few small lines, applied power and the system was ready for use. Workers already employed by a company could install the wireless control system, eliminating the need to hire an installation crew.
Unlike a wired system, Yuba County did not need a permit to install the wireless control system, which increased their profitability. Moreover, waiting for a permit would have delayed installation. Wired technology can take weeks to install, whereas a wireless control system is ready for use nearly immediately after its quick installation.
The materials used in the wireless system-as opposed to copper in a wired system-also proved valuable to Yuba County. Even though copper is an exemplary conductor, it often costs manufacturers more money. Not only has the price of copper risen drastically during the past few years, but copper wire is also often stolen or needs replacing due to damage or wearing out. Harsh chemicals used in plants, animals that exist around a wired area and vibrations from plants and factories can all damage wire. Replacing wire is expensive, time consuming and can harm the environment.
System in Action
Once Yuba County installed their wireless system, they started to reap the benefits. They found that data could be read almost continuously with a wireless system (without human error), and measurements could be taken more quickly than sending the communications technician out to read and record data.
Simple switching and data that is wirelessly monitored at a plant is more accurate than a manual reading, and costly or irreplaceable breakdowns of machinery will more than likely be diverted. These advantages lead to longer-lasting equipment. Since pump and lift station equipment is not cheap, knowing that the correct measurements or state of the machinery is being wirelessly noted allows time for other tasks.
Another advantage to choosing wireless that Yuba County has discovered is its versatility. Different radio frequencies (RFs) possess different properties, and varying frequencies mean more choices for wireless applications. In terms of RF, as the frequency increases, the need for line-of-sight increases; however, the resistance to electrical noise also increases. The higher the frequency, the more complicated the data that can be transmitted.
As Yuba County learned, if one needs to send simple data over long distances, a frequency of 27-MHz would be optimal. The longer wavelength prevents the need of line of sight. If a person wishes to transmit complicated data over a shorter distance, a product operating on 900-MHz and higher would be favored and resistant to electrical noise.
Conclusion
The broad span of wireless automation solved the problems that the communications technician from Yuba County Water Agency faced. The technician was able to purchase a wireless system that operated on a lower frequency, omitting the need for line-of-sight between the transmitter and receiver. No permit was needed for installation, and the environment was not disrupted by trenching. The wireless system was ready for operation the day it was installed, and the technician was thrilled with the results.
As Yuba Country Water Agency discovered, wireless systems are a viable alternative to wired systems in industrial automation and data monitoring.