Technology
ControlByWeb
Industry
Water Treatment
Client
Rural Northeast Municipality
Country
Northeast USA
Goals
Develop control system for 1-million BTU water supply tank heater in a rural Northeast municipality
Integrate weather data, including temperature and wind speed, into the control logic
Ensure intelligent energy conservation in response to dropping temperatures
Challenges
Need for a controller capable of handling weather data and responding to temperature fluctuations
Requirement for a solution that avoids sudden freezing while minimizing energy consumption
Integration of multiple sensors, including 1-Wire temperature sensors and an an emometer (wind speed sensor)
Solutions
Implementation of the X-410 controller with 4 digital inputs, 4 relays, and support for up to 16 1-Wire temperature sensors
Integration of 1-Wire temperature sensors and anemometer for comprehensive weather data collection
Custom control scripts designed to intelligently manage heater operation based on both temperature and wind speed, optimizing energy consumption, and preventing sudden freezing
Results
Utilization of two temperature sensors to monitor water riser temperature and outside air temperature, along with tracking wind speed through a contact closure in an anemometer
Development of custom control scripts to manage the heater at timed intervals, preventing freezing, and adjusting to continuous operation as temperatures decrease gradually
A municipal customer in the Northeast USAddressed the need to prevent freezing in their water supply tank riser, heated by a 1-million BTU heater. They implemented the X-410 controller, featuring 4 digital inputs, 4 relays, and compatibility with up to 16 1-Wire temperature sensors. The stand-alone X-410 efficiently handled the sensors and custom control logic. Two temperature sensors monitored water riser and outside air temperatures, while an anemometer tracked wind speed.Custom control scripts were created to intelligently regulate the heater, preventing freezing at timed intervals and running continuously as temperatures drop, ensuring energy conservation and proactive response to extreme weather. |
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| Common Problems | Solutions |
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Environmental Factors - Extreme weather conditions increase the freeze threat and can cause temperatures to drop suddenly Connectivity Failure - Monitoring and control logic in remote locations can fail if network connectivity issues arise High Energy Consumption - Water temperature maintenance uses a lot of energy and can become very expensive
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Weather Monitoring - Analog and digital inputs capture weather station data for complete environmental awareness Stand-Alone Reliability - Our stand-alone I/O devices keep your processes working even when network connectivity fails Efficiency Enablers - Our device's built-in interface contains custom logic which allows for fine-tuned control to maximize efficiency
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