Vacon Variable Speed Drives - Restoring Flood Damage

Flooding across the country over the winter months caused major problems across a large and diverse variety of locations. Many flooded areas required extensive pumping to remove the floodwater, which quickly becomes stagnant and causes a health risk along with exacerbating damage the longer it is left. In order for the heavy-duty pumps to perform to optimal capability and without breakdowns, variable speed drives are required; Ralspeed recently supplied several of these to specialist pump supplier Exsel Pumps in Southampton.

Exsel were asked to provide a temporary solution while an existing pumping station was being refurbished to cope with the excessive demand. This pumping station dealt with sewage and excess rainwater from the surrounding area; therefore both product reliability and flexibility were key factors in selecting the equipment.

After a makeshift pump control station was created using two large shipping containers, four variable speed drives supplied by Ralspeed were installed within. These were fixed using the innovative Uni-Strut mounting system, allowing numerous drives (in any combination) to be used up to a maximum capacity of 1000 amperes.

The four drives chosen were built to the same high specification as our hire fleet control panels, with Vacon drives selected for their proven effectiveness and consistent reliability. All drive panels were all custom built by Ralspeed, and once installed the units were connected to a single custom PLC system, complete with distribution panel to provide both functionality and power.

At the heart of the control system was a Siemens S7-1200 PLC and colour touchscreen HMI; which allowed setting up and configuring the different pumping options literally at the touch of a button, and easily tailored to the customers various needs. Clear graphical display provides an overview of the system, also making commissioning simpler and more cost effective.

The project to remove the sewage and floodwater was a complete success and the pump-and-drive combination of systems worked without any problems. We would like to thank Exsel Pumps for their custom and for sharing their update on the project with us.

We pride ourselves on being able to assist quickly in the event of machinery failure. Our hire fleet, which is comprehensive and highly-maintained, is rapidly available anywhere in the country at a consistently competitive price. The fleet is thoroughly maintained and guaranteed to offer the best solution at the most competitive price, providing instant and lasting results for as long as is necessary.