Telemetry

or
Management of
Regional Water Supply Schemes with

Information Technology

Assistant Executive Engineer, TWAD Board

Maintenance Sub division (Pillur), Coimbatore.

Status of WATER Supply Sector

Depleting local sources.

Difficult to get individual sources for each
habitation.
Standard of living and public preferences
have increased
People desire to have better quality and
quantity of water

Existing maintenance situation:

The systems are operated

The systems are not operating at their

design level/capacity

No one knows at what level the systems are

operating

manually

No data on flow, pressure, level and other

ground conditions.

In each of the schemes no single individual is

aware of all the operating parameters of the whole
system

Existing Scenario .. (Contd.)

Upstream beneficiaries grab a major share
of water depriving the legitimate share of
farther and downstream beneficiaries.

Existing Scenario .. (Contd.)

Stringent water allocation at design stage
have made the systems rigid and not
amenable to adjust themselves to suit
subsequent demographic changes.

Existing Scenario (Contd.)

No on-line data to verify complaints of nonsupply or excess drawl.
Maintenance engineer is unable to respond
to the day to day problems efficiently.
Any breakdown in the system comes to
notice of the maintenance engineer only
when reported by the staff or on receipt of
complaints of non-supply.

Maintenance Scenario (Contd.)

Intermittent operation of the system increases
the risk of pollution due to intrusion of
external water in to the system during nonsupply hours.
There is scope for improving the performance
of all the water supply installations and their
optimum utilisation.

SCADA System for Water Distribution

What is the solution:

What Is Telemetry
Remote Measurement

The science and technology of automatic

measurement and transmission of data by
wire, radio, or other means from remote
sources

Telemetry Vs SCADA
Supervisory control and data
acquisition.
SCADA is confined to one station.
Telemetry can cover more than
one station.

 The data from each station may

be parameters such as pressure,
level, flow, Voltage, Frequency,
Ampere
These data are transmitted to
another location through a
medium such as cable, telephone
or radio.
In Telemetry Control may be
Automatic or manual

Components of SCADA
System
SCADA system consist of the following:

1. Field instrumentation
2. Remote stations
3. Communications network
4. Central monitoring station

Field Instrumentation
Field instrumentation refers to the
sensors and actuators that are
directly interfaced to the plant or
equipment.
They generate the analogue and
digital signals that will be monitored
by the remote station.

What is a Hydrostatic level sensor?

A hydrostatic level sensor is used to measure

the pressure created by a liquid. The greater
the height of the liquid, the greater the
pressure.
The pressure creates movement of a flexible
piece of metal or ceramic, known as a
diaphragm, a bit like a drum, and the position
of the diaphragm is measured and a signal is
produced that relates to the level of liquid in
the tank.
As a hydrostatic sensor needs to be in
contact with the product and hence has to be
corrosion resistant

What is an Ultrasonic level sensor?

Ultrasonic sensors use sound waves to measure distance.

A sensor would normally be mounted at the top of a tank and direct
a sound wave down towards the surface of the product.
When the sound wave hits the product it is reflected and returned
to the sensor.
The sensors calculate this time interval and give a signal
proportional to the distance.
Ultrasonic sensors are not suitable for use in all applications. If
there is foam on the surface then the sound wave will be scattered
and the sensor will not receive a signal that it is able to process

Ultrasonic Flow Meter

Insertion Type Electromagnetic

Flowmeter

Orifice plate with Diff. Pressure Transmitter

for Flow measurement

Back

Remote Terminal Unit

The remote station is installed at
the remote plant or equipment
being monitored and controlled by
the central host computer.
This can be a remote terminal unit
(RTU) or a programmable logic
controller (PLC).
Back

Remote
Terminal Unit
with PSTN
modem

Communication Network

The communications network is

the medium for transferring
information from one location to
another.

This can be via telephone line,

radio or cable.

What is GSM?

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile

Communications, which is basically the
mobile phone network as we know it.
It supports not just voice communications but
also text messaging and data transfer.
GSM now provides a viable cost alternative to
traditional 'land-lines'

What is PSTN?

Public switched telephone network. Basically the normal phone

network, or land line.

Back

V-sat terminal

Antenna
Tower

Central Monitoring Station

The central monitoring station (CMS)
refers to the location of the master or host
computer.
It uses a man machine interface (MMI)
program to monitor various types data
needed for the operation.

What is SCADA?

SCADA stands for Supervisory Control And Data

Acquisition. So what does this mean?
Essentially SCADA is a software package designed
to display information, log data and show alarms.
This can be graphical and tabular formats, words or
pictures.
SCADA is used in many industrial processes. The
size of a SCADA system can vary greatly.
SCADA can be used to monitor and control plant or
equipment. The control may be automatic, or
initiated by operator commands.

COIMBATORE

THE MANCHESTER OF SOUTH INDIA

ALREADY BLESSED WITH

SIRUVANI WATER
ADDS ONE MORE FEATHER TO ITS
CAP

COIMBATORE WATER SUPPLY SCHEME

WITH PILLUR AS SOURCE A SUCCESSFUL

REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY SCHEME

 CAPACITY OF BOOSTER PUMPS - Varies from

1 HP to 100 HP

GENERAL LEVEL OF PROJECT AREA - Varies from

150m to 700m
No. OF WATER TANKS & CAPACITY - Over 620
(10000lit to lakh lit) 30

Present usage of Telemetry

system

Pressure along pipeline at strategic locations is

continuously monitored and any change in pressure
pattern is analysed for probable cause.
Valve at Karattumedu (requiring frequent operation)
is remotely done from the Master Control Centre/
Transparency of level, flow, pump on/off status and
pressure data ensures informed decisions by the
maintenance persons.
Power disruptions at various pump houses are
monitored from the Master Control Centre.
Pump On/Off status is available in the SCADA screen

Case Study - 1
Identification of leak
On 15.11.07, Reduction in
water flow at MSR and BSR
was felt. On analysis of
SCADA screen a drop in
pressure at 8.00 am at
Veerapandi pirivu (LS17221)
was noted. The field staff
sent
on
reconnaissance
reported a leak at LS 23620
of the CWTM. Pumping was
stopped at 3.05 p.m. After
attending the leak pumping
commenced again 3.40 am
on 16-11-07.

Case Study 2 - Identification of leak

On19.11.07,Water level in BSR
was depleting fast. On a review
of
SCADA
screen
a
simultaneous pressure drop at
BSR outlet and Singanallur at
11.30 AM was noticed. The
field
staff
sent
on
reconnaissance reported a leak
between BSR and Singanallur.
Further investigations revealed
an earthmover has damaged
an air pipe at LS 40000 of
CWTM at 11.30 am The leak
has since been attended.

Case Study 3 - Monitoring of intermittent

flow
Supply to the Military
Defence Establishment
at Madukkarai is given
for 2 hours daily in the
morning. From the
trend
curve
at
Madukkarai, a pressure
drop from 4.48 am to
6.48 am (Actual supply
hours) could be seen.

Case Study - 4 - Monitoring of

Power interruptions at pump houses
In the adjoining screens
sudden drop in pressure
in the pump delivery
side at 6.35 am and
surge again at 7.09 am
indicates stopping of
pumping. Actual hours
of pumping at each
pumping station could
be easily monitored.

Thank you