Technology
ControlByWeb
Industry
Water Treatment
Client
Randell Water Treatment Control Plant
Country
Denison, Texas
Goals
Replace the aging SCADA system at Randell Water Treatment Plant in Denison, TX
Find a cost-effective solution that aligns with the town’s budget of $100k
Implement a user-friendly SCADA system that can be operated and programmed in-house
Challenges
Existing SCADA system was outdated and overly complex, requiring expensive specialists for programming
Limited budget of $100k for the new system in a growing town with various municipal needs
Need for a system that city employees could operate and program without external assistance
Solutions
Utilize X-600M controllers as both process controllers and SCADA for the municipal water supply treatment facility
Enable easy monitoring and control of I/O points, including pressure, pH, turbidity, flow, and more
Maintain flexibility by allowing ControlByWeb I/O modules to send data to any SCADA over Ethernet via Modbus TCP/IP
Results
Implemented seven X-600M controllers and expansion modules to monitor and control the water treatment system
Total cost for the new control system came in around $10k, approximately 90% under budget
Achieved reliable & easy-to-program controllers with the ability to monitor various parameters
When the town of Denison, TX decided to replace their aging SCADA system at the Randell Water Treatment Plant, they gave themselves a budget of $100K. For a growing town of just over 20,000 residents, that money was highly sought after for many municipal needs, from roads to employees.But a new SCADA system was also badly needed. Not only was their system out of date, but it was also overly complex for their city employees to manage.
When programming needed to be altered in any way, they were forced to pay a specialist, who understood ladder logic programming, to come in from out of town. This was both time consuming and expensive. Angus Evans, Water Plant Superintendent in Denison, knew they needed a system they could operate and program themselves.
The Right FitAfter doing some research, Evans found ControlByWeb's X-600M Expandable I/O system that not only was easy to program in-house, but one that also worked with their existing equipment. The cost of the system would also come in significantly under budget. The platform was a perfect fit. The X-600M's no-code programming, open communications, and small price tag was exactly what they needed. Evans currently uses seven X-600M controllers and various expansion modules to monitor and control Denison's sedimentation-filtration treatment system, rated to treat up to 12.8 million gallons per day.The total price tag for their new control system came in around $10K; about 90% under budget.
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The new control system was installed in the fall of 2017. Several years later, Evans is still happy. The controllers have proven reliable and easy to program. With the X-600M, his crew can monitor and control a variety of I/O points such as: Pressure The controllers have been reliable, the support from ControlByWeb has been awesome, and there is nothing proprietary about their software or communications that limits what we can do. We’re able to monitor any 4-20mA or digital signal so we can do all the pump, motor, and valve control storage process. |
| Common Problems | Solutions |
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Expensive controls - Industrial control systems are prohibitively expensive for smalll and rural communities, resulting in funding difficulties & delays Too Expensive or Unreliable - Most community water systems lack the technical staff to program control logic using code languages, making it more expensive and time consuming to maintain control systems Limited Use-Cases - A proprietary system don’t always work with existing computer, networking, or process equipment. Otherwise unnecessary upgrades add to the cost of ownership of these systems |
Inexpensive solutions - Our industrial grade I/O devices are reliable, but very affordable. Their expandable, modular nature means you only buy what you need Simples to use - Our no-code task builder makes set-up and programming easy for nearly anyone. Our programmable I/O controllers don’t require a programmer Open, non proprietary - Embedded web server for setup, monitoring and control along with open communication protocols like modbus TCP/IP mean you won’t have to upgrade your equipment |