Saving Energy with Automated Multi Variable Speed Drives Pumping System

Utilization of variable speed drive has been recently recommended as an excellent candidate for energy saving. This paper discusses the potential of such technology in recent automated multi-pumps water system. The paper proposes a full smart automated setup of three-pumps operated boosting station based on programmable logic controller (PLC) with suitable human machine interface (HMI) and corresponding industrial communication protocols. Proposed system performance has been simulated, using Simulink/Matlab software package, for two different operation schemes. Experimental setup has been implemented, based on Siemens Simatic S7 components and software. The obtained simulation and experimental results showed the effectiveness of the proposal for smart automated operation with energy saving opportunities; particularly for variable flow operation conditions.