Over the past years, the electrotechnical systems in water treatment plants have changed. Caused by analysis techniques becoming more and more time and cost-consuming and the growing amount of measured data, intelligent electrical technology - e.g. bus systems such as INTERBUS - have entered this area of process technology. With the ever-growing degree of automation, the susceptibility to transient surge voltages, which are for example caused by switching operations or atmospheric discharges, is also increasing. In order to counteract this threat, it is imperative to have a comprehensive surge voltage protection concept. With the TRABTECH product range, PHOENIX CONTACT offers a large variety of surge voltage protection devices which enable this kind of concept. Our technical support will help you develop a protection concept, includes the selection of the corresponding arresters, and offers competent support on site. Based on the example of the water treatment plant in Bad Salzuflen, a possible project plan is described below.

Contact through the TRABTECH seminar

Every year, various TRABTECH seminars about surge voltage protection are offered. In order to spare our customers great expense, the seminars are also held in regional hotels. It was during one of these seminars, that the attendant of the water treatment plant, Bad Salzuflen, and TRABTECH product marketing made contact.

Support on site

A concept was to be drawn up for the water treatment plant, assigning the recommended surge voltage protection devices to the system-specific names of the installation sites. In order to gain an overview of the electric installations, the water treatment plant was inspected during a visit to the site, and the foundation for the surge voltage protection concept was laid. In cooperation with the staff of the water treatment plant, a mask listing all the MCR technology equipment was created, which asked for all the parameters required for the concept. In the following, the experts of the plant entered data about different measurements in this list.

Elaboration of the surge voltage protection concept

Based on the status quo determined during the visit on site and the list containing all the measuring points, PHOENIX CONTACT developed a comprehensive surge voltage protection concept. From the powerful lightning current arresters, FLASHTRAB and the surge voltage arresters, VALVETRAB to the equipment protection devices, SOCKETTRAB, COMBITRAB, MAINS-PLUGTRAB or MAINTRAB - a universal and logical concept - specially designed for the local conditions of low voltage supply. An effective protection concept must take into account the low voltage supply as well as measurement and control technology and data technology. In the Bad Salzuflen water treatment plant, the PLUGTRAB, COMTRAB, MODUTRAB and TERMITRAB arresters are to be used to provide the safety necessary for the process. PHOENIX CONTACT made an offer to suit the concept.

Deciding in favor of PHOENIX CONTACT

Based on the detailed conceptual documentation, offers were obtained from well-known competitors from the field of surge voltage protection. But in the end, they opted for PHOENIX CONTACT.

Technical support that continues after the order has been placed

The works electricians of the Bad Salzuflen water treatment plant were instructed to install the surge voltage protection devices themselves. They had no experience at all with the installation of these components. Since the effectiveness of the arresters depends, however, very much on their proper installation, the concept was presented directly on site. The most important points concerning the connection of the different components were discussed.

Conclusion

To sum up, one can say that both sides were completely satisfied with how the project went, from the planning to the realization stage. Due to the close cooperation between the customer and PHOENIX CONTACT, problems could be avoided from the beginning.