Solayappan Chockalingam, Business Development Manager (Water and Wastewater), VEGA India
Drinking water and wastewater are two important pillars of sustainable infrastructure. VEGA India has had the privilege of supplying field instrumentation for drinking water supply systems and sewer treatment plants across the world. These instruments are known for providing accurate and reliable measurement data on level, pressure and point level, and are trusted by organisations globally.
VEGA has a significant presence in national hydrology projects (NHPs) like flood monitoring, river and dam level monitoring, where sensors reliably and accurately measure daily reservoir levels. For example, the NHP by the government of Kerala uses VEGAPULS C21 for river basin level measurement, while another application in Gujarat under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) makes use of VEGA’s pro sensor VEGAPULS 6X.
Increasing digital deployment
Ultrasonic and radar technologies are the most commonly deployed solutions in the water sector. However, ultrasonic technology poses many challenges regarding the reliability and accuracy of the data measured. This can be mainly attributed to the nature of ultrasonic technology itself, which relies on sound waves.
At VEGA, radar is considered the superior alternative to ultrasonic technology. It provides radar technology based on microwaves, which is not affected by the external conditions mentioned above, and delivers reliable and accurate measurements throughout.
Predictive maintenance functionality in VEGA’s pro-sensors has been a game-changer. This also enhances safety and reduces maintenance costs significantly. VEGA is increasingly integrating sensors with real-time data monitoring platforms using various communication protocols like IO-Link, HART and Modbus.
Overcoming technological barriers
The water sector still employs low-priced field instrumentation solutions. For example, ultrasonic technology is still being used abundantly due to the price factor despite its limitations. There has been a reluctance to adopt or standardise the use of advanced technologies such as radar. This can also be attributed to the investments needed to replace existing setups, including process connections and mountings and programmable logic controller (PLC) systems.
The price concern has been somewhat addressed with the introduction of compact radar sensors for simple applications. With this, customers now get all the benefits of radar at the price of ultrasonic technology. Additionally, these sensors can be seamlessly integrated into already existing supervisory control and data acquisition or PLC systems, significantly reducing the time and cost required to replace old sensors. VEGA sensors also come with a wide range of mounting accessories, allowing for easy installation of sensors and granting effective protection from external environmental factors.
Mapping the adoption of sensor-based water monitoring
As the world moves towards internet of things (IoT), facilities are becoming increasingly complex and processes must be safer, more efficient and more transparent. There is an increasing need for automation to optimise processes. The water sector is no exception to that. Initiatives like the SCM create the need for reliable data from field instruments for effective city planning. For instance, in an already implemented solution, the compact radar sensor VEGAPULS C 11 monitors sewer levels, which is connected to the master control centre using the general packet radio service (GPRS) network. In this setup, the level sensor transmits analog signal to the remote terminal unit, which then communicates with the control centre via the GPRS. This gives real-time data to the control units, which can take meaningful action to avoid over-flooding in the sewer network.
Some other major trends include a shift towards smart cities, a growing preference for contactless sensors and a more regulated water sector with the help of advanced monitoring systems. With compact radar sensors, VEGA is well positioned to provide economical, maintenance-free and reliable technology for the evolving water sector.
Future expansion plans
VEGA India is looking to expand its regional reach, especially in Tier II and III cities where infrastructure projects are taking shape. Additionally, it is working on collaborations with local government bodies, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and system integrators that will mutually benefit all stakeholders and take advantage of reliable and accurate products.
Besides water, VEGA caters to other sectors such as building materials, mining and metal production, and energy. VEGA has a comprehensive product portfolio for the building materials and aggregates industry, which includes cement, sand, granite, gravel and concrete. Field instruments used in these industries must operate reliably in abrasive and harsh environments. It provides level, pressure and point-level solutions for these industries, which are robust in nature, precise and durable. VEGA caters to the mining and metal production sector by providing robust field instruments that withstand harsh process conditions like dust and high temperature. Lastly, for the energy sector as well, VEGA has been actively developing solutions that are robust, reliable, efficient and maintenance-free.
