From Volume 2 Issue 2 of Connected.
Reliable electrical systems are key for the maintenance of clean drinking water and effective wastewater treatment. Power and electrical equipment failure can have devastating, long-term impacts on surrounding communities and ecological environments.
As recent as August 2022, a failed 800 amp main breaker and lack of power source rendering for a backup generator resulted in 200,000 gallons of partially treated sewage water pouring into the Flathead River for a 24-hour period at a Columbia Falls treatment plant in Montana, according to NBC.
In 2017, NBC reported that millions of gallons of raw sewage and untreated runoff flowed into Puget Sound as the result of power failure to two sets of pumps at a Seattle sewage treatment plant.
The collection and treatment of domestic sewage and wastewater is vital to public health and clean water, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It is among the most important factors responsible for the general level of good health enjoyed in the United States.
POWER QUALITY IN WATER AND WASTEWATER
In the United States, more than 14,500 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants (WTP/WWTP) rely upon properly designed electrical distribution systems to supply clean, stable power to equipment that runs the gamut from DC motors to control instrumentation, according to the Power Quality in Water/Wastewater Treatment Plants white paper by Emerson.
Power quality refers to characteristics including the determination of the quality of current and voltage. Voltage is determined by frequency, symmetry and magnitude. According to Emerson’s white paper, the desired power quality characteristics are clean sinusoidal waveforms free of harmonics, sags, swells, unbalances or fluctuations. In WTP/WWTPs, the most common power quality problems are harmonics, voltage sags or swells and noise.
Eighty percent of electrical disturbances that cause poor power quality originate internally and range from powering large equipment on and off to wiring errors. The remaining 20 percent is the result of severe weather, utility fault clearing, power line accidents and other external network issues.
POWER QUALITY SOLUTIONS
Mitigation is the best solution to avoid damage to equipment caused by spikes or power interruption disturbances. Power quality mitigation products include surge protective devices (SPDs), filter-based SPDs, isolation transformers, power conditioners, active tracking filters and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
SOLAHD™ BY EMERSON PRODUCT SOLUTIONS
Harmonics Mitigation
SolaHD™ Drive Isolation Transformers
SolaHD™ K-Factor Ventilated Distribution Transformers
SolaHD™ CVS Hardwired Series Power Conditioners
SolaHD™ MCR Hardwired Series Power Line Conditioning with Voltage Regulation
RELIABLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN WTP/WWTP
Maintaining power quality is a major part of the battle in keeping water and wastewater treatment plants running effectively. Creating reliable electrical systems is another important factor. Water and wastewater treatment plants are often classified as hostile environments, meaning the atmosphere is hard on electrical equipment causing deterioration that forces early repair and regular maintenance.
One of the biggest environmental challenges to electrical equipment at a treatment plant is corrosion due to the elements. Electrical components and lighting fixtures mounted outdoors are put into jeopardy by rain, snow, UV rays, salt spray and wide temperature fluctuations, in addition to aerosols from settling tanks and outdoor chlorination, according to the Considerations for More Reliable Electrical Systems in Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants by Emerson.
Facility downtime, failed equipment replacements, lost productivity, increased maintenance and poor power due to corrosion cost approximately $1.3 billion annually. Emerson notes in the report that corrosion cannot be eliminated but its destruction can be by using corrosive-resistant products, choosing protective finishes, and controlling the environment by sheltering electrical installations from weather and corrosive chemicals. Speaking of chemicals, decomposition of waste generates methane and hydrogen, both of which are flammable gases. There are also chemicals used for purification. These chemical environments create hazardous locations and electrical products installed where these chemicals are present need to be rated for use in hazardous locations, per the National Electrical Code (NEC).
APPLETON BY EMERSON PRODUCT SOLUTIONS
Emerson Corrosion Prevention
Emerson uses an epoxy powder coat finish on most Appleton brand aluminum products. Unlike liquid paint, powder coating uses an electrostatic process to apply a finish to metallic parts in a dry state. Once applied, it is heat-cured, creating a finish that is thicker, more even on all outer surfaces and edges, and more durable and corrosion-resistant than most paints. Epoxy powder coat is one of the preferred protection choices for oil and gas, wastewater and other harsh, corrosive industrial applications.
Appleton Hazardous Location Products
Appleton brand explosion proof lighting fixtures, control stations, fittings, plugs, receptacles and motor starters have been engineered to contain the potential ignition source within the enclosure, preventing the escape of heat or flames into the surrounding atmosphere, thus providing Class I, hazardous location protection. When installed in a treatment center, NEC rated, explosion proof Appleton brand electrical products minimize the potential risk of explosion or fire.
Don’t let your water and wastewater treatment facility get added to the list of preventable disasters. Make sure your facility has power quality mitigation products in place to prevent harmonics, voltage sags or swells and noise. Use quality, corrosion-resistant and hazardous location rated products at your facility to save downtime, failed equipment replacements, lost productivity, increased maintenance and poor power.