Maximising TOTEX effectiveness through measurement

With most of the work on bringing the UK’s water networks into line with the Water Framework Directive now completed, the onus is on water companies to ensure their installed assets are running at optimum performance and delivering value for money for customers.

The total expenditure, or TOTEX, approach aims to maximise infrastructure efficiency by encouraging water operators to optimise their existing assets before investing in new ones. Whereas previous AMP periods have been about achieving specific short-term set goals, or ‘outputs’, TOTEX is focused entirely on long-term ‘outcomes’, proposed jointly between water companies in consultation with their customers.

As a means of gathering network data, measurement instrumentation can play a vital role in helping water companies to meet their TOTEX goals

A key difference between TOTEX compared to the previous CAPEX / OPEX approaches is its focus both on the total life cost of an asset and the performance of that asset in the context of the entire water distribution and treatment cycle. This more holistic approach is intended to avoid unnecessary plant or equipment being built or installed to rectify problems that could very often be solved by taking simpler and less costly measures elsewhere in the network.

As a means of gathering network data, measurement instrumentation can play a vital role in helping companies to meet their TOTEX goals. The latest generation of measurement instruments and analysers offers an array of functions and features offering accurate, repeatable data in real-time across a wide range of parameters, from flow, pressure and temperature through to chemical dosing in potable and waste water treatment processes. For companies to meet their TOTEX targets, means that these technologies should be adopted as best available techniques wherever possible.

The following are some key considerations that should be factored into an effective measurement strategy to help maximise the value of data being collected from the network.

Instruments have often been selected on the basis of lowest cost rather than fullest functionality

Can your measurement equipment give you the data you need?

The well-worn phrase ‘you cannot manage what you cannot measure’ is testament to the value of effective measurement in any well-managed system.

Unfortunately, the cost-led approach encouraged by CAPEX means that instruments have often been selected on the basis of lowest cost rather than fullest functionality. Such decisions invariably transpire to prove more costly, with lower reliability, questionable accuracy and lack of support all pushing up the total cost expenditure. 

The effectiveness of any management decision is directly linked to both the accuracy and currency of the information it is based on

For full benefit to be derived under TOTEX, payback on an instrument needs to be considered in the long term. This should cover not only the cost of purchasing and operating the instrument but also the added value that can be derived from its ability to provide useful data.    

How do you get information to the control system?

The effectiveness of any management decision is directly linked to both the accuracy and currency of the information it is based on. Being able to assess asset and network conditions by extracting real-time operational data from installed instruments is therefore vital to a successful TOTEX strategy.

There are various ways in which this can be done. Options available include SCADA, remotely accessible PLCs, dataloggers and GSM/GPRS, as well as Wireless HART.

Where devices are installed in a remote or hard to reach location, radio-based remote retrieval techniques are increasingly presenting a solution. ABB’s AquaMaster 3 electromagnetic flowmeters, for instance, include GSM-SMS and GPRS technology, enabling up-to-date information to be remotely collected from irrespective of the installation location. Using the same technology as a mobile telephone, the AquaMaster3 can be contacted using a PC or laptop or through a mobile telephone via SMS messaging.

Being able to gain access to a host of flow or any other network data in this way eliminates the time, cost and potential errors traditionally associated with the manual collection of flowmeter information, improving both operational efficiency and maintenance team productivity.

What else could be incorporated into the instrument to help you manage performance more effectively?

Ongoing developments in instrument diagnostic technology are also opening up new possibilities for network management, by enabling the status of the device to be itself to be monitored. The growing use of features such as NAMUR NE107-compliant clear text alarm and warning messages and on-board self-verification enables quick communication and pinpointing of fault conditions which can then be rectified before they can have an impact on operations elsewhere in the network. 

The full value of collected data will only be able to be realised if it is shared as widely as possible throughout the organisation

The inclusion of WITS (Water Industry Telemetry Standard) DNP3-based open protocol, again in the AquaMaster 3, is another example of how technology can help to deliver rich data that can be used to improve network efficiency. The technology allows users to download a high-speed, high-resolution log to investigate any water network anomalies in conjunction with detection methods such as step testing, burst / pressure transients or nightline monitoring. As an open protocol standard, DNP3 allows this information to be shared between different types of data acquisition and control equipment, irrespective of manufacturer.

DNP3 also enables remote access to a wide range of data including diagnostics and configuration changes, which can be used to devise targeted maintenance programmes and ensure that engineers are only deployed when necessary.

Is your organisation geared up to interpret the data and act on it?

The full value of collected data will only be able to be realised if it is shared as widely as possible throughout the organisation. Ultimately, the aim should be to use the data to create examples of best practice that can then be disseminated throughout the organisation to help produce operational efficiency improvements in line with its TOTEX targets.

To this end, thought needs to be given to the mechanisms that can be put in place to allow collaboration, the people who need to be included, the information they can access and how they can access it. In The availability of added features built into measurement instruments such as integrated web servers and the ability to set email notifications can help to share collected data, enabling informed decisions to be made at the right time by the right people.

Summary

There is strong evidence to show that the TOTEX approach can work. The UK’s rail and oil and gas companies, for example, are already reaping the rewards of improved asset management, where a better understanding of their operations has led to greater operational efficiency and improved productivity through smarter deployment of resources.

For water companies, the challenge is to gain a full understanding of the costs and risks associated with each and every asset. With the TOTEX approach almost certainly set to endure into future AMP cycles, steps must be taken now to ensure the necessary mechanisms are in place to turn big data from the networks into rich information that can be used to create and guide targeted asset management strategies.

More information about how to maximise asset efficiency through effective data collection and sharing is contained in ABB’s new white paper ‘The role of performance data in optimising assets under TOTEX’. To request a copy, email enquiries.mp.uk@gb.abb.com or call 0870 600 6122 ref. ‘TOTEX’.