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Electrical Distribution Architecture In Water Treatment Plants

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Electrical Distribution Architecture In Water Treatment Plants (on photo: Makis 2 Water Treatment Plant in Belgrade; credit: icce.rs)

Water treatment plants

For both drinking water and wastewater treatment, 4 different sizes of plants have been distinguished. The size of
plants can be expressed in quantity of treated water per day, or in corresponding number of inhabitants.
Four different types of (waste) water treatment plants have been distinguished, depending on destination and
size:
T1 Autonomous water treatment plant // See single-line diagram
T2 Small water or wastewater treatment plant // See single line diagram
T3 Medium sized water or wastewater treatment plant
See single line diagrams //
Double-radial architecture and
Open medium voltage loop

T4 Large water or wastewater treatment plant

See single line diagrams //
Radial-double feed
Open medium voltage loop
Characteristics

T1

T2

T3

T4

m 3/day
(drinking water or waste water)

1K-5K

5K-50K

50K-200K

200K-1000K

Inhabitants

1K-10K

10K-100K

100K-500K

500K-1000K

Power demand

25-125 kVA

125-1250 kVA

1.25-5 MVA

5-25 MVA

Electrical Distribution
Guidance is given for the selection of Electrical Distribution architecture in water treatment plants. This includes the
selection between different possible configurations of MV and LV circuits and the implementation of back-up power
sources.

The most relevant characteristics of the electrical installation are taken into account, such as
typology, power demand, sensitivity to power interruptions,

Connection to the utility network

MV circuit configuration
Configurations of LV circuits
Backup generators
Presence of uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

Connection to the Utility network

4 most commonly used configurations for connection are as follows, in the order of increasing power demand and
service reliability //
1. LV or MV single-line service
2. MV ring-main service
3. MV duplicate supply service
4. MV duplicate supply service with double busbar

Wastewater plant Connection to the Utility network (click to enlarge schemes)

Metering, protection and disconnection devices, located in the delivery substations are not represented on the
following diagrams. They are often specific to each Utility company and do not have an influence on the choice of
installation architecture. For each connection, one single transformer is shown for simplification purposes, but in
practice, several transformers can be connected.
For the different possible configurations, the most probable and usual set of characteristics is given in the following
table:
Configurations
Characteristic
to consider

MV

MV

MV

MV

Single line

Ring main

Duplicate
supply

Duplicate supply with

double busbar

Autonomous water
treatment plant T1

Water treatment
plant T2
Remote
pumping station
P3

Water
treatment
plant T4

Desalination T4

Remote pumping
station P1, P2

Water
treatment
plant T3
Desalination
T2

Desalination
T3

Service
reliability

Minimum

Minimum

Standard

Standard

Enhanced

Power
demand

< 250 kVA

< 1250 kVA

1.25-5 MVA

5-25 MVA

> 25 MVA

Site topology

LV

The connection configurations may differ from the above table due to particular constraints relative to water industry
plants spread-out configuration and suburban location.
Go back to Water Treatment Plants Topics

MV circuit configuration
The three main possible connection configurations are as follows:
1. Single feeder, one or several transformers,
2. Open ring, one MV substation,
3. Open ring, 2 MV substations.
The basic configuration is a radial single-feeder architecture, with one single transformer. In the case of using several
transformers, an open ring is commonly realized for improved power availability.

The three main possible connection configurations (click to enlarge schemes)

High power motors may be directly supplied at MV for reduction of cable size. The preferred basic configuration
comprises one single substation. However, a larger number of substations is possible in some circumstances:
A large site,
A site with several different process lines,

A total power higher than 5 MVA,

A need for redundancy, to cope with a natural disaster for example.
The preferred configuration of MV/LV transformers comprises a single transformer supplying the total power of the
installed loads.
Certain factors contribute to increase the number of transformers (> 1), preferably of equal power:
A high total installed power (> 1250 kVA): practical limit of unit power (standardization, ease of replacement,
space requirement, etc),
A large site. The setting up of several transformers as close as possible to the distributed loads allows the
length of LV connections to be reduced,
A need for partial redundancy (down-graded operation possible in the case of a transformer failure) or total
redundancy (normal operation ensured in the case of a transformer failure),
Separating of sensitive and disturbing loads (e.g.: IT equipment, motors),
Different independent process lines,
Supply of MV motors,
Installation scalability (different identical process lines).
For the different possible configurations, the most probable and usual set of characteristics is given in the following
table:
Configurations
Characteristic
to consider

Single feeder
1 substation
1 transformer

Single feeder
1 substation
N transformers

Open ring
1 or 2 substations
N transformers
(different powers)

Plant topology

Small T2

Medium T3

Large T4

Power demand

< 1250 kVA

1.25 5 MVA

> 5 MVA

Load distribution

Uniform

Intermediate

Localized high power loads

Maintainability

Minimum

Standard

Enhanced

Disturbance
sensitivity

Long interruptions
acceptable

Short interruption
acceptable

Short interruption
acceptable

Go back to Water Treatment Plants Topics

Configuration of LV circuits
Here are the main possible configurations, to be selected according to the requested level of power
availability //

Radial single feeder configuration

This is the reference configuration and the most simple. A load is connected to only one single source. This
configuration provides a minimum level of availability, since there is no redundancy in case of power source failure.

Two-pole configuration
The power supply is provided by 2 transformers, connected to the same MV
line. When the transformers are close, they are generally connected in parallel to
the same Main Low Voltage Switchboard (MLVS).

Variant: Two-pole with two MLVS and NO link

In order to increase the availability in case of failure of the busbars or authorize
maintenance on one of the transformers, it is possible to split the MLVS into 2
parts, with a normally open link (NO). This configuration generally requires an
Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS).

Sheddable switchboard (simple disconnectable attachment)

Sheddable circuits can be connected to a dedicated switchboard. The connection
to the MLVS is interrupted when needed (overload, generator operation, etc)

Radial single feeder configuration

Interconnected switchboards
If transformers are physically not too far from one another, they
may be connected by a busbar trunking. A critical load can be
supplied by one or other of the transformers.
The availability of power is therefore improved, since the load
can always be supplied in the case of failure of one of the sources.
The redundancy can be //
Total: each transformer being capable of supplying the whole
installation,
Partial: each transformer only being able to supply part of the
installation. In this case, part of the load must be disconnected
(load- shedding) in the case of one of the transformers failing.
Two-pole configuration

Double-ended power supply

This configuration is implemented in cases where maximum availability is required. The principle involves having 2
independent power sources, e.g.:
2 transformers supplied by different MV lines
1 transformer and 1 generator
1 transformer and 1 UPS
An automatic transfer switch (ATS) is used to avoid the sources being parallel connected. This configuration allows
preventive and curative maintenance to be carried out on all of the electrical distribution system upstream without

interrupting the power supply.

Configuration combinations
An installation can be made up of several sub-assemblies with different configurations, according to requirements for
the availability of the different types of load. E.g.: generator unit and UPS , choice by sectors (some sectors supplied
by cables and others by busbar trunking).
Go back to Water Treatment Plants Topics

Back-up generators
The electrical power supplied by a back-up generator is produced
by an alternator, driven by a thermal engine. No power can be
produced until the generator has reached its rated speed. This
type of device is therefore not suitable for an uninterrupted power
supply.

The generator can function permanently or

intermittently. Its back-up time depends on the quantity of
available fuel. According to the generators capacity to
supply power to all or only part of the installation, there is
either total or partial redundancy.

Two-pole with two MLVS and NO link

The implementation of a back-up generator should take consideration of the sensitivity of circuits to power interruptions
and the availability of the public distribution network.

Sheddable switchboard (simple disconnectable

attachment)

Interconnected switchboards

Double-ended configuration with automatic transfer switch

Back-up generator scheme

Back-up diesel generator (photo credit: E. Csanyi)

Go back to Water Treatment Plants Topics

Presence of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

The electrical power from a UPS is supplied from batteries. This system eliminates any power failure. The back-up
time of the system is limited: from several minutes to several hours. The simultaneous presence of a back-up
generator and a UPS unit is used for permanently supply loads for which no failure is acceptable.

The back-up time of the batteries must be compatible with the maximum time for the generator to
start up and be brought on-line.

A UPS unit is also used for supplying power to loads that are sensitive to disturbances (generating a clean voltage
that is independent of the network).

Award-Winning APC Symmetra Line of Uninterruptible Power Supply Unit (UPS) photo credit: apcdistributors.com

Main characteristics to be considered for implementing a UPS //

Sensitivity of loads to power interruptions
Sensitivity of loads to disturbances.
The presence of a UPS unit is essential if and only if no power failure is acceptable. Generally, process lines in Water
applications are not supplied by UPS because of the large power involved and the possibility to accept short
interruptions. UPS are necessary only for process control supply.
Example of configuration for uninterruptible supply of critical circuit:

Example of configuration for uninterruptible supply of critical circuit

Go back to Water Treatment Plants Topics

Guide to Wastewater treatment plants

Recommended electrical network design for efficient plant and energy operations
// by SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
Download handbook [8MB]

References //
Wastewater treatment plants Recommended electrical network design for efficient plant and energy
operations by Schneider Electric
Water and Wastewater Power Solution Handbook by Schneider Electric