A key target for many water and wastewater treatment plants is reducing electricity consumption. St Petersburg, the most northerly city in the world, is implementing a programme to increase the energy efficiency of its drinking water supply and has invested R760 million over a period of three years.
Electric drives were previously the first choice for Russia’s water treatment plants for opening and closing the inlets and outlets of sand-bed filters or in pumping stations. In St Petersburg, the use of electric drives alone would have meant an installed load of 75 kW. The plant could not have provided this without extending the electrical infrastructure. A pneumatic system with DAPS actuators, including two air compressors, required an installed load of only 10 kW. By simply replacing the electric drives with 120 pneumatic actuators, the plant was able to save at least R950 000.
The plant was also equipped with a central control system at the process management level which allows comprehensive monitoring of the process. The control system gathers current data and compares this continuously with defined setpoints. Festo automation technology is fully integrated into this monitoring process and uses sensor signals to supply up-to-date information on the operating status of individual plant sections.
The pneumatic automation technology installed in the plant, allowed the water utility company to achieve a quantum leap in energy efficiency. This same technology has been installed at several plants locally, including Meulwater and Preekstoel in the Western Cape, offering the same benefits as those enjoyed by customers around the world.
Siemens launches SIMATIC AX WinCC Unified Elements
Pneumatic systems & components Other technologies
New engineering tool speeds automation application development, reducing the time required to bring industrial projects to market and empowering automation engineers to build, manage version control, and deploy visualisation engineering projects
Read more...High-performance linear guides igus
Pneumatic systems & components
igus continues its quest to replace traditional lubricated linear guides with its drylin polymer technology, which improves machine reliability. The absence of lubrication means it contributes to safer, cleaner operation with no risk of contamination.
Read more...Air compressor secures premium meat company’s legacy
Pneumatic systems & components
A tailored ELGi compressed air solution from Integrated Air Solutions is helping Tulisa Meat Market protect six decades of quality and consistency in its premium meat production.
Read more...Alternative fuels for cutting, brazing, soldering and heating
Pneumatic systems & components
Bolt and Engineering Distributors, as an authorised distributor for the Harris Products Group, is helping South African industries transition from acetylene to safer, more cost-effective alternative fuels for cutting, brazing, soldering and heating applications.
Read more...Integrated Air Solutions opens Pinetown branch
Pneumatic systems & components
Integrated Air Solutions has opened a branch in Pinetown, bringing world-class diesel and electric air compressor services closer to customers in KwaZulu-Natal.
Read more...Solving common automation challenges with Festo’s servo drive and servo motor solutions Festo
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Automation projects face challenges that include limited installation space, the need for precise and repeatable linear motion, rising cycle-speed demands, and seamless integration with existing control architectures. Festo’s servo portfolio directly addresses these issues with compact, modular drive and motor solutions designed for specific applications.
Read more...How to clean compressed air effectively
Pneumatic systems & components
ISO-Reliability Partners has taken another step in bringing to market highly effective solutions to combat contamination in all its forms. The locally designed and patented Air Wizard inline water trap is proudly manufactured in South Africa. It has been SABS tested for the separation of water, oily fluids, rust and solid particulates from pneumatic compressed air or gas lines.
Read more...Compressed air piping design Artic Driers International
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
When designing a compressed air pipeline, remember that size matters. The internal size of the pipe, along with the pressure and air volume, determine the velocity of the compressed air in the pipeline.
Read more...Top questions about pressure gauges SA Gauge
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
Some questions never go out of date, and in our industry, a few have been asked for decades. At SA Gauge, we hear them every week. Here are the ten questions we hear most often, and the practical answers that can save time, money and frustration.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version