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Trimpley Pumping Station
Trimpley pumping station
Analysis leading to improved efficiency
The Trimpley pumping project is part of an upgrade scheme to reinforce the water supply security for south Birmingham. The need to pump 120MLD from Trimpley to Frankley requires three large pumps rated at 1.1MW. The operational cost of pumping exceeds £1,200,000 per annum.
The client’s original selection of variable speed pumps was challenged. An analysis was undertaken using a whole life cost approach based on a half hour energy consumption for 2005 – 2006 and the revised large site electrical tariff. To provide reliable conclusions, an analysis of high value systems required detailed input data and detailed computations as low percentage savings were significant in monetary terms. A high degree of resolution is necessary to provide confidence in the results. Having secured agreement in liaison with the Frankley works operational team the pump selection was changed to a fixed speed option saving approximately £800,000 in operational costs over the life of the pumps.
Projected savings of £1,000,000 over a 20 year plant life
Grontmij’s analysis of the power consumption profile indicated that embedded generation could also offer financial advantages if utilised for peak lopping and triad avoidance. After consultation, the client’s energy team commissioned us to provide a feasibility study to examine this proposal. The study involved the creation of an engineering model permitting the analysis of different operational strategies and plant configurations to minimise costs against variable operational demands.
The resulting report concluded that the installation of generation could give operational savings in the order of £1,000,000 over a 20 year plant life. Our report recommendations were reinforced by a separate operational assessment that advised the installation of generation for operational security.