Project Details

DELIVERABLES
  • PLC Replacement
  • HMI Upgrade
  • Profibus Network Upgrade
  • Telemetry Re-commissioning
  • Ventilation System Design and Installation
CLIENT
NI Water
YEAR

2024

SUB-CONTRACTOR

Lowry Building & Civil Engineering

Strangford Motor Control Centre
Strangford Motor Control Centre

OVERVIEW

This project involved the refurbishment and upgrade of existing plant items at Strangford Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) under the NI Water Capital Base Maintenance Contract. The works were carried out to NI Water standard specifications, and addressed ageing equipment and environmental issues within the control room. The existing PLC and HMI system, originally manufactured by Omron, had become unreliable and difficult to maintain due to lack of spare parts.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

  • Replace the obsolete Omron PLC and HMI with modern, reliable equipment.

  • Maintain continuity of existing control logic while improving operational efficiency.

  • Upgrade the site to meet NI Water Standards.

  • Address air quality issues in the control building by designing and installing a new ventilation system.

  • Ensure long-term reliability of the Motor Control Centre (MCC) and associated components by mitigating corrosion risks.

  • Improve future maintenance access and diagnostics through enhanced network infrastructure and equipment.

SCOPE OF WORKS

PLC and HMI Replacement:

  • Supplied and installed a modern Siemens PLC system to replace the ageing Omron hardware.
  • Replaced the old HMI with an upgraded 15” Siemens HMI for improved usability.
  • Retained the original control logic with optimisation where applicable, following a full FDS review.

Profibus Network Rewiring

  • Fully rewired the Profibus network within the MCC as part of the upgrade.
  • Conducted pre-works and post-works Profitrace tests, with reporting provided to NI Water.

Telemetry Re-commissioning:

  • Full re-commissioning of the site’s telemetry system to ensure seamless communication with NI Water systems.

Ventilation System Upgrade:

  • Designed and installed a new fresh air ventilation system for the control room.
  • Existing system had drawn contaminated air from near the sludge tank, causing corrosion to MCC components.
  • All ducting entering the control room was checked and sealed to prevent further contamination.

Compliance:

  • All works were delivered in accordance with NI Water’s Standards and Specifications.