Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/826791
10 | JUNE 2017 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk combine to capture meaningful and effective information, which we can then analyse to spot trends or issues. Clients have been impressed with our use of handheld technology and bespoke apps, our automation of water treatment plants, such as at the Leixlip WTW and our in-house laboratories in Ireland. While we may be some way off yet, artificial intelligence is set to become an essential part of the water cycle and optimisation, so is an area that all companies should be focusing on. It seems there are interesting times ahead on that front. Innovation is paramount to the ongoing development of our industry, and Murphy is continually looking at new methods, techniques and technology – the future is about doing things differently, moving with the times and building on a strong history to create a lasting legacy. We believe that our Ten-Year-Plan is ambitious and ground-breaking. Our acquisition in Ireland, together with securing new clients such as Gatwick Airport, Affinity Water and Sutton and East Surrey Water, indicate our commitment to growing sustainably and furthering our self-delivery model as one fully integrated team. Under the banner of one Murphy, we are drawing on the best of the best from around our business, so that we can offer clients a truly joined-up offering across the whole water lifecycle. While the water industry is focused on the needs of its customers and the regulators, service organisations and the supply chain in general must continue to build a capability to take on board their role in delivering and maintaining complex and ageing assets. This support and stewardship is about maintaining a sharp focus on the needs of our clients, and being both collaborative and agile in our thinking to devise innovative and affordable solutions, which ultimately leave a positive future legacy. SPONSORED BY STUarT FoSTEr, UK WaTEr MaNagEr (DrivES) aBB The big picture on energy costs Details matter when it comes to pump system energy assessments, which is why not all assessments are the same U ndertaking an energy assessment of a pump installation would appear to be straightforward. Identify the direct-on-line pump, its rating, operating hours, turndown values and the present control method. Then by switching to a variable speed drive (VSD) you can readily determine the energy, money and carbon saved, along with a payback. Yet all too oŽen end-users following this approach soon discover that the purchase price, energy saving and payback are not quite what the theory had predicted. The reasons are that most energy assessments forget to consider the big picture. For example: 1.Space: It is important to assess the physical space around the application. How easy is it to get the drive into the building? For large pumping applications, do external roads need to be closed while the equipment is liŽed into place? 2.Motor age: The age of the motor can have an impact on the way it works with the VSD. It is also worth considering how electric motor technology has improved with developments like synchronous reluctance offering even higher efficiency levels, which could make a big impact on energy saving. 3.Length of the motor cable and cable types: When using a long cable between a motor and a VSD, it is important to size it correctly, to allow for the volt drop and to consider the impact on EMC performance. 4.Supplies and harmonic effects: Has a harmonics analysis been undertaken of the site? What is likely to be the impact of the VSD on the harmonic levels? What harmonic mitigation is needed? 5.Static vs dynamic head: The mechanics of the pipework can also have an impact on energy saving. The assessing engineer must be aware of "head" issues, as pumping fluid up inclines (static head) requires additional energy, as it flattens the system curve thus reducing slightly the energy saving potential. To ensure that everything is considered and that the end-user doesn't get any financial shocks, ABB has devised an energy efficiency course. The CPD- certified training is carried out over two days and takes the delegates through every aspect of a typical pump, fan or compressor installation including how to gather, monitor and record the correct data. This includes advice on hiring a VSD to trial the results through to how to use an energy data logger. Delegates get access to a special soŽware tool, called the Energy Assessment Report generator, which automates the process, leading to more realistic results and fewer shocks. With the cost of electricity as high as it is today, payback can be less than 12 months. PETER JaRviS ProFESSor oF WaTEr SciENcE aND TEchNology, craNFiElD WaTEr SciENcE iNSTiTUTE Treatment: when are bacteria dead? A new technique for measuring bacterial concentrations can provide valuable information about whether or not our water is safe to drink A ccurately testing the quality of our water is vital in ensuring the safety of the water in our taps. It is essential that we are able to measure and monitor water quality accurately to ensure that the threat from bacteria harmful to human health is effectively removed. Current approaches to microbiological water quality assessment are based around plate-counting, where the bacteria contained in water is applied to agar plates, allowed to grow and then the number of colonies that form is counted. This is a binary method, showing the presence or absence of bacteria. When no bacterial colonies are present, the drinking water is considered safe to drink. However, only 1-2% of bacteria are ever cultured per sample, as they will only grow in favourable conditions. As a result, some "living" bacteria, which are not detected by this method, may still be present in the water. Therefore, new techniques to monitor and regulate water safety are being investigated. One technique, which avoids this limitation, is the Flow Cytometry Method (FCM). This approach measures the concentration of bacteria when The Talk: opinion