Generally, large cities and towns require bulk volumes of water. Likewise, the quantity of wastewater is also huge. So, most civic authorities now depend on smart water grids. It is an advanced water distribution system that operates with the aid of the latest technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI). A smart water grid incorporates sensors, automated pumps, and data analytics for efficient water distribution throughout a city. A submersible pump is an important part of these water grids. With the help of IoT, submersible pumps are now capable of monitoring water pressure, flow rate of water, and water levels.
Functions of submersible pumps in smart water grids
Submersible pumps have several structural and functional advantages that match well with smart water grids. As the motor of this pump remains under water, it cools automatically and makes minimal noise. The submersible pumps do not need manual priming and start pumping fluids automatically. So, a network of these pumps in a smart water grid is useful in many applications, like borehole, irrigation, and sewage management.
The following functions of the submersible pumps earned them a vital role in smart water grids in urban areas:
Real-time monitoring of water transfer: With the help of IoT, submersible pumps can now track all operational data, including the flow rate, water pressure, temperature, water levels, and voltage. All the information is immediately transferred online to a central platform for analysis and storage so that it can be seen later.
Automation for remote control: Submersible pumps can now be started, operated, and switched off remotely with the help of a smartphone app or a website dashboard. Users can schedule the hours of operation of these pumps according to the demand for water transfer. So, people need not be physically present to operate the pumps now.
Prediction of timely maintenance: The real-time monitoring of submersible pumps reminds users about the need for maintenance of the pump motor and other parts. This technology also alerts about hazardous situations, like the pump running dry after the entire fluid transfer is over. Hence, people can take better care of these pumps, resulting in more longevity.
Optimization based on data: The operation of the submersible pumps can now be optimized according to vital data, like water consumption, weather forecasts, and the moisture level of the soil. Thus, it becomes easier to operate the pumps by following all this information. It helps in water conservation and energy efficiency as well.
Prime components and technologies used in submersible pumps
Several IoT-based hardware, software, and parts for communication are installed in the latest submersible pumps.
Sensors: Ultrasonic sensors are fitted in submersible pumps to measure water levels, temperature, pressure, water flow rates, and pH of water. However, these sensors must be able to function in wet, dirty, and corrosive environments. Sometimes, vibration sensors are used to avoid the wires passing under the fluids.
Microcontrollers: Certain technology-based devices are attached to the submersible pumps, which act as the brain or central power for processing sensor data. The communication with the server platform is also handled by these devices.
Connective software: Wi-Fi, GSM, or other wireless modules are used for connecting the microcontroller of submersible pumps to the cloud platform. Thus, data transfer is easy and quick for checking later.
Edge controller: The software that acts as edge intelligence is useful in basic filtering of information, sending local alarms, and commanding shutdown for safety reasons. This artificial intelligence analyzes the data locally, without depending on the central platform. Thus, the cost of using a cloud platform can be reduced.
Cloud platform: Blynk and ThinkSpeak are the commonly used cloud-based infrastructures that serve as the central platforms. Users can store and process data obtained from submersible pumps from these cloud platforms while creating friendly user interfaces.
Cyber security features: When submersible pumps are controlled by networks, the risk of cyber attacks increases rapidly. So, secure boot, encrypted telemetry, and network segmentation are useful in preventing interference or damage to the software of the pumps.
Actuators: Submersible pumps are physically switched on and off with the help of a relay module, as per the instructions obtained from the microcontrollers and IoT platforms.
Integration with existing asset management systems: Data obtained from submersible pumps can be transferred to analytical platforms, billing systems, and create an asset management workflow. Open data systems can be optimized wherever possible to make the function of the pumps smoother.
Challenges faced in operating submersible pumps in smart water grids
Users need to know certain problems that should be overcome to operate submersible pumps in smart water grids.
Harsh environments: When submersible pumps are immersed in saline water or used in pumping out wastewater, sensors should be made of corrosion-resistant materials. Frequent measurements of various factors of water and a maintenance program tailored for the local environment are required to overcome such conditions.
Overloading of data: If data for different conditions of the water is continuously collected and uploaded to the cloud, it may be overloaded soon. So, an analytical process should be instant, with a user-friendly dashboard, and well-defined Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are essential to avoid this problem.
Costs of all software and hardware: People may find sensors and software used for communication, and cloud platforms quite expensive. However, this investment will save future expenses of emergency repairs or fines for failure to provide desired services. Moreover, the use of these technologies helps in saving energy, which is another cost-saving factor for users.
Conclusion
The technologies of submersible pumps prevent overflow of tanks by shutting off automatically. Irrigation of fields by using pumps can be delayed during the monsoon when abundant rainfall is available. Hence, the combination of advanced IoT-based technologies and artificial intelligence makes the role of submersible pumps in smart water grids more important.
All the problems of traditional pumps can be solved with the use of sensors, connectivity, edge controllers, and cloud analytics. Therefore, submersible pumps are now used not only to remove fluids but also to increase the efficiency of the entire water grid system.