Problem: Thames Water expanded the Mogden Sewage Treatment Works, requiring seven new thickened sludge pumps. The specification included BTVE 130-12 hopper pumps. Due to the size and quantity of pumps, the utility wanted monitoring to optimize system performance and predict maintenance requirements.
Solution: In addition to the pumps, a SEEPEX Pump Monitor and SEEPEX Connected Services were provided. Sensors were fitted on the sludge pumps and in strategic locations in the process. All sensor data is sent to the monitor and transferred to the cloud. With this setup, the pump is converted to an intelligent field device with continuous monitoring, immediately reporting deviations from setpoints by way of alarm notifications. Operators can directly access all the information in the field or remotely. Mobile notification by email or SMS can be used for preventive maintenance and process optimization. An advanced analytics system uses historical data to enable predictive maintenance and to identify abnormal or suboptimal conditions.
Result: Through the cloud service, the utility found that the drum thickeners were operating at less than half the maximum solids loading. Application expertise supplied by SEEPEX engineers identified the thickener feed pumps as the bottleneck Motor frequency was adjusted to increase throughput. The plant increased sludge treatment capacity by 30% without additional capital investment. 937-864-7150; www.seepex.com
