Officials with Flowtronex PSI ®, an ITT Industries company, have announced the successful completion of a municipal pump system for the United States Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, AR.
Working with Instrument and Supply and Garver Engineering, Flowtronex created a pump station using advanced technology to access and monitor the station's performance.
"Just as the US Air Force uses the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world to control the skies, Flowtronex PSI creates sophisticated yet robust pre-packaged pumping stations that flawlessly accomplish their mission," said Steve Frasure, Director of Water Works for Flowtronex PSI. "It's almost impossible to secure the advanced engineering, sophisticated technology and expertise necessary to create a pumping station in a cost-effective manner on a local basis. The efficiencies, cost-savings and ROI of packaged systems are far too great for firms to use antiquated stick-built methods when installing a pump station."
The system is designed to maintain appropriate water levels in the system's storage tank and adjust for various pressures at the station intake. Those demands required that the pump controls constantly sense changing conditions at both ends of the system and adjust accordingly.
The Little Rock project uses a horizontal split case station with a Variable Frequency Drive using dual input signals that enable the station to function properly. Relying on the input signal of a system pressure transducer, the VFD slows or accelerates to maintain a stable pressure. At the same time, the station's PLC receives a signal from the tank indicating whether the current level has decreased or increased. Based on the variant conditions at any given time, the pump station will react to ensure the fill tank is well supplied and the station does not run off the curve if a high incoming pressure situation occurs.
"This project was particularly challenging because the Little Rock Air Force Base imports water from three municipal sources," added Mark LaVarnway, Flowtronex Application engineer. "The station had to deliver the water to a supply tank downstream from the pump station. It was particularly difficult to create a pumping system that would adequately control incoming water from these various sources as well as track the level of the fill tank."
To regulate the flow, all communications are handled by a PLC based on a common protocol that interfaces with the Air Force base's SCADA system. This allows Air Force personnel to monitor output and voltage as well as temperature using information retrieved directly from the pump station. A circular chart recorder with totalizer was installed to provide a running history of the station's performance for evaluation at any given time.
"Because each water source has a different design point, relating to pressure and volume, we needed a control system that could manage three distinct pressure levels as well as monitor fill tank levels," LaVarnway said. "Only Flowtronex has the programming experience and products to tailor a system for this particular situation."
The pre-assembled and tested pump system was delivered on an open I-beam skid. Once situated at the Air Force base, concrete was poured through the beams to create a concrete floor. A housing unit was built around the station.
"This venture demonstrates that Flowtronex PSI can provide solutions for challenging projects as an effective partner for contractors and the US government," added LaVarnway. "We've found the market is hungry for a company that can provide sophisticated technology, advanced materials, well-trained support personnel and durable packaged pumping systems to ensure quality performance and results as part of a team effort."
