Network Control Solution

Network Control Solution
USA
Case Study
RD108 uses Network Control to help the environment
and lower operating costs
“ With Rubicon’s Network Control solution we pump only the water we need.
We’re able to keep more water in the river and save pumping costs.“
Lewis Bair, General Manager, Reclamation District No.108
Grimes, California
Situation
Reclamation District No.108 (RD108) pumps its irrigation water directly from the Sacramento River.
The river is the largest in California and serves as a critical migration route for Chinook salmon,
along with other endangered fish species. To prevent these fish from entering their irrigation
channel system, government resource agencies directed RD108 to screen three of their largest
pumping plants along the river.
RD108 determined that replacing the three plants with a single screened plant, with interconnecting channels, was the most cost-effective solution. However, it would require constant operator
action to control the pumps, maintain channel water levels and react to variable irrigator demand.
Otherwise, there would be large water level fluctuations in the channels, making it difficult to
provide consistent flows at offtakes. Keeping the pumps running permanently was one solution,
but would have resulted in unacceptably high energy costs and large outfalls.
Solution
Customer profile
RD108 lies along the western edge
of the Sacramento River in Northern
California. RD108 is one of the largest
agricultural water providers on the
river, delivering water to nearly
19,000 hectares of farmland primarily
growing rice.
Integrated solution
components
FLUMEGATE FLUMEGATE SLIPMETER SLIPMETER RADIO
NETWORK
FLUMEGATE
In 2008, RD108 completed construction of the Emery Poundstone Pumping Plant. The new plant
features state-of-the-art fish screens and utilises two variable-speed and three fixed-speed 150
ML/d pumps to divert water from the river into a limited capacity afterbay. The afterbay feeds two
primary channels, which in turn feed six secondary channels.
NETWORK NETWORK SCADA
VISUALIZATION
VISUALIZATIONCONNECT
System overview
South Channel
Software
SLIPGATE SLIPGATECUSTOMER
RADIO
NETWORK
SLIPMETER
RADIO COMMUNICA
S
NETWORK
NEUROFLO NEUROFLO
NETWORK
SCADA RIGHTS & NEUROFLO
SCADA
R
RIGHTS & DELIVER
VISUALISATION
CONNECTCOMPLIANCECOMPLIANCE
CONNECT
SCHEDULI
CO
Hardware
North Channel
Afterbay
x7
x2
Pumps x 5
TCC GATEWAY
IßEE GATEWAY
MICRONLEVEL
O
RO
TCC GATEWAY
IßEE GATEWAY
MICRONLEVEL
TCC GATEWAY
IßEE GATEWAY
MICRONLEVEL ORDERS & ORDERS &TARIFFS, RA
ROTATIONS ROTATIONS& INVOICI
FLUMEGATE
SLIPMETER
RADIO
SLIPGAT
FLUMEGATE
SLIPMETER
RADIO
SLIPGATE
CUSTOMERS
&
NETWORK
NETWORK
COMMUNICATION
Emery
Poundstone
Pumping
Plant
Sacramento River
• FlumeGate x 12
NETWORK
• Master radio
tower at ICON
VISUALIZATION
pump station
NETWORK
VISUALIZATION
Rubicon implemented a Network Control solution to automatically manage the pumps, afterbay
and primary channels. Flow into the secondary channels is controlled by FlumeGates and operators
use SCADAConnect® to remotely set flow rates at these offtakes to meet downstream
irrigator demand.
TCC GATEWAY
On the North Channel, a relift pump station controlled by a third-party SCADA system has been
integrated with the Network Control solution which automatically compensates for changes in
flow made by the third-party system.
NETWORK
SCADA
VISUALIZATION
CONNECT
SCADA
NEUROFLO
ICON
NEUROFLO
RIGHTS &
Integrated equipment
CONNECT
COMPLIANCE
Local display pedestals, solar panels,
ultrasonic water level sensors, radios,
antennas, IT/servers, solar-charged
battery systems, integration to local
operator
interface
for pump MICRONLEVEL
control
TCC GATEWAY
IßEE GATEWAY
IßEE GATEWAY
MICRONLEVEL
ORDERS &
ROTATIONS
and monitoring.
Control engineering
Development of simple mathematical
models to capture channel dynamics;
controller design and tuning to enable
optimal automated channel operation.
Service
Installation, commissioning, and
operational and maintenance training.
An aerial view showing the new pumping plant drawing water from the Sacramento River into the afterbay, which feeds
the North and South channels.
RIGHTS
DELIVERY
COMPLIAN
SCHEDULING
TARIFFS,ORDERS
RATES
ROTATION
& INVOICING
Network Control Solution
Case Study
Results summary
Meeting variable downstream demand
The key task of Network Control is to ensure that the requested flow rates at the offtakes are
met, while still maintaining the desired water levels in the primary channels.
NeuroFlo® software coordinates and controls actions of the FlumeGates™ regulating the primary
channels and also controls the pumps so that they supply the exact amount of water needed by
the downstream network.
•
•
•
•
•
Reduced fish take
Efficient pump operation
Stable water levels
Reliable flow rates at offtakes
Improved customer service
When channel water levels begin to drop as a result of extractions at the offtakes and service
points connected to the primary channels, NeuroFlo software automatically generates commands
for FlumeGates to increase the flow rate into each of the pools upstream and for the pumps to
vary their flow rate so that the desired water levels are maintained along the channels.
Results
RD108 has met the requirements of the government resource agencies by dramatically reducing
the fish take while ensuring that energy and other operational costs are minimised.
Network Control ensures the right amount of water is pumped from the river, water level
fluctuations are minimised and the required flow rates at the offtakes are met.
Water levels are now maintained within ±3 inches of their designated level 97% of the time.
With stable water levels and reliable flow rates, channel operators can provide a better service
to customers downstream.
FlumeGates along the channels continually
measure flow rates and water levels
Channel water levels maintained
The SCADAConnect graph illustrates a
FlumeGate along the South Channel
automatically adjusting its flow rate (blue
line) to maintain the channel water level
(green line)
SCADAConnect remote monitoring and control
NeuroFlo software controls the flow rate of
the pumps and the actions of FlumeGates to
maintain stable downstream water levels
“When we made the decision to go
with Rubicon hardware and software
products, we were sure they could
handle our unique situation. We
haven’t been disappointed.”
Lewis Bair, RD108 General Manager
“Having the Rubicon FlumeGates
working together with the variable
speed river pumps has simplified
operations.
SCADAConnect allows operators to
remotely monitor the pump station and
control FlumeGates at the six offtakes
The Rubicon system maintains stable
canal levels which is essential for
providing our water users a constant
flow rate during the irrigation.”
Chad Navarrot, RD108 Operations
Manager
About Rubicon Water
Rubicon Water delivers advanced technology that optimises gravity-fed irrigation, providing
unprecedented levels of operational efficiency and control, increasing water availability and
improving farmers’ lives. Founded in 1995, Rubicon has more than 10,000 gates installed
in TCC systems in 10 countries.
Tel: +61 3 9832 3000
Fax:+61 3 9832 3030
Email: enquiry@rubiconwater.com
© Rubicon Research Pty Ltd 2012
RUBICON logo and FlumeGate, NeuroFlo, SCADAConnect, Total Channel Control and TCC are
trademarks and service marks, or registered trademarks and service marks of Rubicon Research Pty Ltd
or its affiliates in Australia, the United States of America and other jurisdictions. Systems, components,
methodologies and software supplied by Rubicon Research Pty Ltd may be the subject of patent and
design rights in Australia and elsewhere.
www.rubiconwater.com
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Rubicon Water
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Victoria 3123
Australia