MechChem Africa May-June 2020

⎪ Pump systems, pipes, valves and seals ⎪

Over the past five years, Rockwell Automation has been working with Intermerc Ghana to supply medium voltage motor control and automation technologies to some of its recent pump upgrade and rehabilitation projects for Ghana Water Company. Rockwell Automation supplies modern control solutions for Intermerc Ghana

ligent autotransformer starter capabilities, it alsodeliverssignificantenergysavingswithan efficient motor control framework, and helps optimise pump performance for an extended product life.” The 1503E SMC Flex provides micropro- cessor-controlled starting for standard three- phase squirrel-cage induction motors. The feature-rich technology delivers electronic motor overload protection and built-in DPI communications and includes four program- mable auxiliary contacts and self-powered current loop gate driver boards. Themotor control panelswere assembled by Rockwell Automation Sub-Saharan Africa with a local panel manufacturer. IOT-ready control framework Employing the advanced analytics and diag- nostics capabilities that come standard with new-generationRockwell Automation equip- ment, Intermerc and Rockwell Automation are currently piloting a remote monitoring and live data system that will provide Ghana Water Company with a full real-time rep- resentation of the Daboase, Nchabang and Kpong pump works. This will enable operators to respond faster to plant and equipment events, with an in-depth analytical understanding of plant performance. q

B y upgrading and adopting modern pump and control systems, In- termerc has been able to improve the performance, efficiency and reliability of water treatment works across the country. In so doing, it has helped Ghana Water Company increase access towater for many citizens of the country. At the Daboase, Inchaban and Kpong water treatment works, new high lift pumps have been installed and are being con- trolled with IOT-ready Rockwell Automation Bulletin 1503E SMC Flex medium voltage soft starters. At the Daboase High Lift Works and Apparatus, Intermerc identified the possibil - ity to expand pump capacity by 15% without any civil or other mechanical requirements. This would allow Ghana Water Company to increase the penetration of its bulk water

supply to the greater Takoradi region. The so- lution required two newhigher rated high lift pumps, pairedwith theRockwell Automation soft starter. The extra volume of water this added to the bulk water supply of the region neces- sitated a pump upgrade at Inchaban pumping facility. Intermerc specified, supplied and installed three newhigh lift pumps to achieve the additional volume requirements. At Kpong, Intermerc was tasked with rehabilitating the feeder pumps that elevate the treatedwater fromtheVoltaRiver to feed the high lift pump that transports the treated water to Tema and other parts of Accra. “TheRockwell AutomationBulletin1503E SMC Flex was the optimum soft starter technology for these pump applications,” explains Michael Klugey, technical manager, Intermerc Ghana. “Together with its intel-

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