By Mark Hemeyer
The Holland Board of Public Works is a community-owned utility charged with providing electric, water, and wastewater service to one of the fastest growing industrial and residential areas in Western Michigan, and has been in continuous operations since its founding well over a hundred years ago. However, that is not to say that the utility set beside the idyllic shores of Lake Michigan is not without its challenges. The Water Reclamation Facility at Holland Board of Public Works (BPW) had two waste activated sludge pumps that were problematic for many years.
THE PROBLEM
The Holland facility was struggling with two aging rotary lobe style positive displacement pumps. Their pump technology consisted of an electric motor, gear reducing device, coupling assembly, pumping assembly, and wall mounted variable frequency drives. Lack of performance from the pumps and increased maintenance for all these items prompted the BPW team to look at more advanced technologies.
Their hope was to reduce components, make maintenance easier and less often, raise efficiency, and maintain the flexibility to pump at various rates. They also wanted seamless integration with their plant’s SCADA system.
THE SOLUTION
After researching various pumping technologies, the team chose the Flygt Concertor smart pumping system. This smart pumping solution alleviates all the pain points for BPW’s personnel. No longer is maintenance required for the motor/pump bearings, couplings, guards, seals, gear reducers, and VFDs. The stainless steel pump base design and telescoping inlet allow for easy pump suction inspection, and the service cart easily rolls back the pump for complete impeller and volute inspection.
The smart pump technology built into the head of the pump offers variable speed operation, auto pump reverse upon clog detection, a premium efficient flood proof electric motor, constantly correct pump rotation, and MODBUS connectivity to SCADA. The longevity of rotating parts is due to the high-chrome cast iron impeller and insert ring that provide 10 times greater wear resistance than standard cast iron.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
The two pumps were started up in May 2019, and have performed to the complete satisfaction of the BPW team. They look forward to many trouble-free and efficient years of waste activated sludge pumping.
ABOUT HBPW
The Holland Board of Public Works provides essential, economical, and innovative utility services for the Holland community, including electricity, water, wastewater, and broadband. HBPW operates socially and environmentally responsible utility enterprises that are able to expand and sustain a highly functional, reliable, and efficient local infrastructure. For more information, visit www.hollandbpw.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Xylem’s Flygt Concertor is a fully integrated system that offers a unique synergy between software functions and state-of-the-art hardware. Concertor’s system design works in harmony to reduce your total cost of ownership while delivering the highest quality and reliability. This new wastewater pumping system senses the operating conditions of its environment and adapts its performance in real time to provide feedback to station operators. With high operational flexibility, Concertor takes wastewater pumping to a whole new level. For more information, visit www.flygt.com.
MODERN PUMPING TODAY, December 2019
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