Comparative analysis of energy consumption in a water pumping station with different voltage/frequency control algorithms

Abstract

Introduction. the purpose of this work is to present alternatives to reduce the electrical power consumption in a pumping station by means of different control algorithms to increase the efficiency of irrigation water supply systems at the lowest possible cost. During the different tests conducted with V/f algorithms, the open-loop quadratic control presented a better performance in terms of power consumption for different flow rates. The study employed research methods including data collection, inductive-deductive analysis, and measurements to evaluate the impacts on power consumption between the different algorithms used, where the results highlight that the quadratic V/f control presents a higher reliability in relation to the response to disturbances. This result not only improves system performance but can also have substantial benefits in terms of operating costs and long-term sustainability. Objective. evaluate the performance of different V/f control algorithms to determine their efficiency in relation to power demand in open-loop irrigation pumping installations to reduce system complexity and cost. Methodology. it is an applied and field research with quantitative and exploratory character, where the data collection obtained with experimental procedures in a pumping installation that allows to evaluate different types of V/f control with the use of techniques such as observation and comparative causal study, to establish trends in energy consumption with the application of the inductive method for different working flows of a centrifugal pump. Results. the tests performed in the pumping station with different V/f algorithms of a variable speed drive, reveal that the quadratic control stands out for its efficiency in power consumption and its ability to respond more effectively to disturbances, also the flow reduction has a lower impact on the deterioration of the power factor compared to the other controls evaluated. The steady state error in the response of the controllers was similar and acceptable in all cases, but the response of the quadratic algorithm is faster and when scaled to an irrigation pumping installation with variable flow, this leads to a significant reduction in power consumption. Conclusion. the V/f quadratic control mode of the SIEMENS 420 drive due to its lower power consumption and its ability to improve pumping system performance and response time can be used in irrigation supply stations with variable flow rate, where its implementation can maximize efficiency and reduce operating and implementation costs, making it a favorable option for pumping system in irrigation installations in multiple greenhouse fields with different flow rate requirements.