|
|
Detecting Water Level with a RTU
Utility departments across the United States are taking advantage of technological advances to improve the overall functionality of their business and the interaction the business has with the consumer. In the water supply and management industries, an RTU or remote terminal unit, is used to collect data, transmit data, and report water levels to a main computer unit.
How Does an RTU Work?
The common RTU is a remote measurement device that is installed at a remote location outside of the main field office. The unit is set up to report information about the existing surroundings. Depending on the business using the RTU, the information collected will be used as a basis for emergency alerts, wastewater controls, oil and gas safety, public warning systems and fire safety.
In the water business, the RTU is set up to report on water levels and water conditions. Most often affiliated with a local water company, the RTU will offer every piece of information needed to keep the water grid up and running at all times. The information processed by the RTU includes: monitoring pump sequences, monitoring reservoir levels and / or water tower levels, reporting water pressure and flow throughout the grid of distribution, monitoring water quality, controlling valves and water pressure in the lines, reporting excess pumping to given grid areas, conserving water by reducing water pressure where water is not needed and reporting leaks and potential leaks in a water grid system.
When the RTU is put in place, the water company will have a wireless connection to every waterway within the distribution grid. This helps the company keep the water costs down and help the environment by keeping a careful eye on the condition of the water distribution system.
The consumer makes use of the water supply system without knowing that the RTU or SCADA system even exists. The RTUs report data to the SCADA system over the communications network and the status reports on the water network are produced via the SCADA server.
How Does the RTU Detect Water Levels?
When the remote unit is put in place, it is connected to a level sensor which provides a signal proportional to the level. Typical sensors are pressure transducers, ultraonic or radar. When water levels fall below a certain level, the local water department can place restrictions on water usage until the water levels rise above the dangerous level again.
Alternatively, if alternative supply exists, the local water authority can pump from another supply RTUs are used in both water tower and reservoir settings. These remote units all report the water quality, levels and pressures back the mainframe where the information is sorted and filed based upon the location of the RTU. In this way, the water company will be able to track if there is a problem at one specific area or if the same problem exists across the entire distribution grid. The RTU provides a useful and practical way to keep track of water levels for a growing nation. The larger the community, the more RTUs that will be needed to track all sources of water flow.
|
 |
Please Rate: |
|
Rating: |
 Processing ... |
(Average: Not rated) |
| Views: | 11 | |
|
| More Articles from Technology | | |
| Top Articles in Technology | | |
|
