Overview
An antiquated control system created instability for Peppers Ferry when it came to controlling their remote pump stations. Old leased line modems and phone lines proved to be unreliable and expensive to maintain and operate. In this improvement project, Piefmont Automation provided four RTU (remote telemetry unit) pump station pump control systems consisting of a Modicon Telemecanique Premium PLCs, communicationg fiber-optic Ethernet and redundant lease-line/radio modems back to a new Wonderware SCADA polling master unit located at the main plant. This redundancy provided a backp means of communicationg to each pump station in order to maintain critical control of their wetwells. Twenty-four (24) ABB variable frequency drive systems were also provided ranging from 75HP to 350HP.

Piedmont Automation also provided all electrical design, PLC and operator interface application development, control panels, and startup for this project. The project schedule dictated tight scheduling with other OEM suppliers and project coordination was critical to the overall startup and success.

Press Release - November ’04
PLC provides new technology upgrade to water treatment plant - See the press release.

Features/Benefits
• Reliability—solid PLC control hardware backed up by a redundant communications philosophy.
• Visual Displays—process status and alarm screens depict a very close representation of the actual process. Real-time screen updates keep the plant operators intouch with their process at all times and the PLC status screens provide the maintenance personnel useful troubleshooting tools.
• RTU

Development Tools
• PL7 by Modicon Telemecanique
• Wonderware FactorySuite 8.0
• Seagate Crystal Reports

Client Comments: "Piedmont Automation proved to be a very dependable and responsive integrator on this project. They met our technical requirements and delivered their system on time during all four phases of the project."

Superintendent, PFRWTA