Industrial
Automation
SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. Before these systems were created
and introduced in manufacturing, industrial, and utility operations, workers would be
required to manually operate and monitor this equipment. With the development of
programmable logic controllers and microprocessors, these systems could be automated, which
meant that manually operating the system was no longer necessary.
Automated monitoring became considerably more advanced and effective throughout the latter
years of the 20th century. By the early 2000s, open-source SCADA systems were widely
adopted. These systems are now able to be connected to tablets and mobile devices in
completely remote locations for easy access and control. When property implemented, these
systems are comprised of hardware and software components. Industrial facilities that use
these systems can:
- Gather and monitor real-time data
- Control various industrial processes locally or remotely
- Record different events via a log file
- Interact with additional devices throughout the facility, which include valves, sensors,
motors, pumps, and HMI software
While SCADA systems have been used in many different industrial facilities, they are
exceedingly popular in water treatment plants because of the various types of data that can
be gathered and analyzed. Once a SCADA system is properly installed, plant operators are
able to gain instant access to the information they need to make critical decisions. Because
the systems throughout the water treatment plant are monitored through digital means, the
data is considerably more precise and up-todate.
Real-time Data Analysis & Security
Modern SCADA systems are based on a combination of software and hardware, which work together
to
provide plant operators with real-time data analysis as well as extensive security. As
touched upon
previously, the flow meters that are installed in your water treatment plant will collect
and send data
through the SCADA system in real-time, giving you the ability to perform instantaneous data
analysis.
Security
As for security, infrastructure for water utilities can be vulnerable, which is why
increasing security for
this infrastructure is highly recommended. SCADA allows you to connect camera systems
throughout
the facility. These cameras can be accessed remotely and should give you confidence that
these areas
are fully secure. By supervising certain areas with a connected camera system, repairs can
be made
more efficiently when a problem occurs.
Automation with SCADA
Many modern SCADA systems provide users with extensive automation features, which allows
plant
operators to avoid completing some of the more basic and repetitive tasks that must be
performed at a
water treatment plant. Even though experienced plant operators are necessary for any water
treatment
plant, SCADA can be used to identify some of the smaller inconsistencies and issues that
might be
missed by plant operators.
Keep in mind that automated systems are more energy efficient than manual systems. If you
have an
automated SCADA system installed in your facility, it should be easier to avoid overflows
and similar
problems that typically result in violations of EPA regulations. An automated SCADA system
will tell you
when repairs are needed.
SCADA systems can be used for many distinct applications in water and wastewater treatment
plants,
the primary of which include:
- Filtration plants
- Pumping stations
- Distribution networks
- Plant security
- Data maintenance
