DEEP-WELL PUMP HEALTH MONITORING AND OPTIMIZATION VIA PERFORMANCE METRICS

The initial purchase cost of an average deep well submersible pump used within the water industry represents only about one fiftieth of the energy cost and one quarter of the maintenance cost incurred during its normal life. This fact weights the criteria used in the selection of appropriate pumps toward operational efficiency and reliability and away from a low initial purchase price. This paper describes the development of a PC-based on-line monitoring and optimisation package specifically developed for use with variable speed deep well submersible pumps. A cost metric is established and a pump efficiency estimate developed and then used to determine the best conditions for pump operation. The structure and function of the pump monitor software which automatically determines the best conditions for service form the core of the presentation. Typical results from on-line trials at a NE Water pumping station are used to highlight some of the special features of the system. These experiments confirm that it is possible, via the use of the auto-optimisation strategy, to achieve the most cost-effective operation of the pumping station and then maintain these conditions in the face of changes in pumping station conditions.