Month: September 2021

What are the Different Types of Fire Fighting Pumps?

by vemcoblogs -

A fire can be a terrible hazard in any industry. At a power station, taking measures to prevent one as well as being prepared to deal with one in the event that it occurs, is absolutely crucial. Installing fire fighting pumps is an effective way to combat such a hazard. A fire pump is part of a sprinkler system’s water supply. It is powered by steam, electricity or diesel. Let’s examine some of the different types of fire fighting pumps that you can choose from, for your power station.

Sprinkler Pump

The sprinkler pump is commonly used to irrigate plants and greenery in gardens, and also to prevent fires. In a fire sprinkler system, the fire pump is an essential component. It provides access to high-pressure water in the fire sprinkler system, which serves to increase the rate of the flow of water. The sprinkler pump is a popular method of fire prevention in factories and power stations.

Booster Pump

The booster pump machine is part of another system to fight and suppress fires. A booster pump will increase the pressure of a fluid, which may be liquids or even gases, depending on its construction. A gas booster is much like a gas compressor but is usually built with a simpler mechanism, often with only a single stage of compression. This is used to increase the pressure of a gas which is already above the ambient pressure.

Jockey Pump

A jockey pump, also called a pressure-maintenance pump, is a small device that works with a fire pump in a fire fighting sprinkler system. It is designed in such a way that it keeps the pressure in the system raised at a certain level when the system is not in use, so that the fire pump does not have to run all the time and the system does not get set off without actual cause for alarm. The jockey pump helps make sure that your fire fighting resources are used efficiently, without wastage.

Drencher Pump

The drencher pump is another part of a fire fighting system which consists of water heads. Unlike sprinklers, which are built internally, drenchers are usually placed on the outside of a building to protect against a fire which may have broken out in a nearby building. Drencher pumps are found above windows, roofs and other exterior openings.

Water Curtain Pump

The water curtain pump is part of a water curtain system — another active fire fighting system. As the name suggests, a water curtain system forms a curtain of water in the event of a fire, to prevent the flames, heat or smoke from spreading further. A water curtain pump is connected to the nozzle of this system through a deluge valve. When fire or smoke is detected, a signal will be sent to the deluge valve to open up and switch on the pump. This will cause water to come gushing in and reach the nozzles and help put out the fire.

VEMC, an authorised Kirloskar pump dealers, supplies fire fighting pumps for different kinds of industrial purposes. We offer a diverse range of pumping solutions, including water pumps and containerised fire fighting pumps. For more information on our products, feel free to contact us on +91 98199 07445, and we would be happy to assist you. VEMC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services.

Solar Success Story: The Installation of 200 kWp Plant at Godrej City

by vemcoblogs -

Navi Mumbai is a rapidly developing area, where new properties are being built. Godrej City is one such project by Godrej Properties. Located in Panvel, Navi Mumbai, it offers skillfully designed 1 BHK, 2 BHK, and 3 BHK apartments that are currently under construction. Godrej City consists of 568 units across 18 floors, spanning more than 3 towers over a total project area of 150 acres. Being a well-established solar energy company in Navi Mumbai, VEMC was consulted and hired to install a 200 kWp grid tied solar power plant at this location.

Challenge

Godrej City, being a booming residential estate, was seeing extremely high levels of electricity consumption. In fact, the annual average electricity production was 260000 kWh. VEMC’s solution sought to bring this down significantly and provide a greener, more sustainable and efficient source of energy.

We were met with the challenge of installing solar modules on “sandwich” roof profiles that don’t allow penetration of the sheet when anchoring the solar mounting arrangements. 

Further, this took place during monsoon and the COVID-19 pandemic. We were working at the site with our teams through this and all precautions had to be taken to ensure our safety. 

Our Solution

We took on the challenge and set about working out a solution. The project was a 200 kWp grid tied solar system. A grid-tied solar system is connected to the electrical power grid. The system relies on this grid to produce solar energy which can be used and funnels the excess energy to be used at a later time, or for net metering or clean energy credits.

The solar plant we successfully installed consists of 514 units of 390Wp high-efficiency Mono PERC modules. 

We solved the problem posed by the sandwich roof profiles by using high-strength industrial metal to metal adhesives to connect the mounting arrangement and roof.

The team was equipped with PPE kits and a thorough set of safety harnesses. This may have slowed them down but it protected everyone from both COVID-19 and other accidents.

Impact

The amount of carbon dioxide saved each year by avoiding fossil fuels to generate the same amount of energy is 184 metric tons! To get a clearer picture of the impact, this is equivalent to:

  • Greenhouse gas emissions from 40.1 passenger vehicles driven for one year and 463,075 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle
  • Carbon dioxide emissions from 20,733 gallons of gasoline consumed, 18,100 gallons of diesel consumed, 203,657 pounds of coal burned, and 2.4 tanker trucks’ worth of gasoline
  • Carbon sequestered by 3,047 tree seedlings grown for 10 years, 226 acres of forests in the USA for one year, and 1.3 acres of forests preserved from conversion to cropland in one year

The project expected payback is approximately 3 years, taking the maintenance expenses into consideration. VEMC is a well-established solar power plant company in India. With over 72 years of industry experience, VEMCO Solar was able to execute the Godrej City project successfully. VEMCO Solar is a market leader in solar solutions — be it solar plant erection, procurement, commissioning, net metering, or electrical connections. If you have any requirements in this space, please feel free to contact us at +91 98199 07445. We would be happy to help you out.

The Role of Air Compressor in Oxygen Cylinder Plant

by vemcoblogs -

Air compressors are used in numerous industrial applications, including healthcare products, food and beverages, petrochemicals, and nuclear power. Oxygen plants are industrial systems that are designed to generate oxygen, and compressed air plays a pivotal role in these. Typically, air compressors use air as a source of fuel, using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or membrane separation techniques. Let’s take a closer look at the main types of air compressors that are manufactured and offered by ELGi.

No power supply, Oxygen plant nonfunctional in Palampur

Oil Lubricated Screw Compressors

The range of oil-lubricated air compressors from ELGi equips you with long-lasting and cost-effective compressed air solutions. An air compressor that is oil-lubricated draws air into a storage tank with a screw that requires oil in order to keep the production process running smoothly. They are relatively quieter than other ELGi air compressors and have long durability.

ELGi’s collection of oil-lubricated rotary screw air compressors have optimal profitability and make for efficient installation with its reliable design, advanced technological features, and sheer manufacturing excellence.

Why should you choose ELGi’s Electric EG Series of screw air compressors? 

The Electric EG Series of screw ELGi air compressors are known for their oil carryover of less than 1 PPM. In fact, this range has the lowest oil carryover in the industry and comes with 6 years of uptime warranty on Air End, and 3 years of uptime warranty on the Motor and Air oil separator.

Up to 85% of a compressor’s cost is from energy consumption, cost of spares, cost of service, warranty, and downtime. ELGi aims to minimize this 85% impact by offering high-efficiency motors with high flow capacity air ends that offer more airflow for the rated power.

Additionally, ELGi offers in-built Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and standalone VFDs that help regulate airflow as per demand, which reduces power consumption.

Air Accessories

It is important to note that compressed air is not pure. The compressed air contains naturally occurring impurities that could have a negative effect on the end application. Common contaminants of compressed air include dirt, water, bacteria, and other particles, and sometimes, even the degraded and residual lubricating oil. When these mix together, they may form an acidic sludge which is likely to increase the wear and tear of the end applications. For increased reliability and energy savings, you must make sure that the compressed air is absolutely clean and dry.

ELGi provides an array of accessories that ensures that application-specific air quality norms are met as per ISO 8573 standards. Contact your local ELGi dealer and ELGi compressor distributor for the air compressor and air accessories that are best suited for you.

VEMCO Solar, a solar energy company in Mumbai, is a market leader in solar solutions. Guided by more than 72 years of industry expertise, we aim to offer you specialized end-to-end support in this space, seamlessly. VEMC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services. Please feel free to contact us on +91 98199 07445 and we will be happy to assist you.

Solar Success Story: How VEMC Solved A Case of Space Constraint for Solar Installation in a High-Rise Building

by vemcoblogs -

Making the switch from electrical to solar energy, which is the more sustainable and efficient alternative especially, in the long run, is often easier said than done. This is where VEMC, a leading solar power plant company in India with over 72 years of expertise in the field, can assist you and provide you with smart solutions. In this blog, we take a look at how VEMC solved a case of space constraint for solar installation on the roof of a medium high-rise building at Prince Care Zinnia, a residential property by Prince Care Realty. The building developers were looking for a way to reduce energy consumption while adopting a more reliable source of energy and the commissioned solar plant does exactly that, with an estimated annual average electricity production of 42900 kWh.

Challenge

The main challenge in installing solar panels at this site was a shortage of area on the roof of the residential building. Because of this, solar placement was difficult and required considerable modifications in the standard design and fabric of the solar structure. However, we were able to come up with a solution after a proper assessment of the situation.

Our Solution

The idea was to overcome space constraint challenges and ensure that the area was used as efficiently as possible while adhering to the client’s other requirements, and set up a 33 kWp solar plant on the roof of the residential building at Prince Care Zinnia. 

Execution

We had to take accurate rooftop measurements and make significant fabrications to the basic solar structure. These were necessary to ensure that the client’s need for clear passage, space for other installations and other requirements could also be accommodated.

We studied the computer-aided design (CAD) of the roof layout to fit the required solar plant capacity in the available area. Shadow analysis was done on the finalised CAD drawings to mitigate the effect of shadows falling on the solar modules.

We installed the solar modules using hot-dipped galvanized solar structures placed on civil foundations. Hot-dip galvanization prevents the rusting of the steel posts and extends the life of the system. The civil foundations are anchored with the structures to provide good foundation support.

Impact

There were multiple benefits of installing the 33 kWp solar plant at the site. These included energy savings of a whopping 30.36 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year to generate the same amount of energy — just by avoiding fossil fuels! Further, we were careful to adhere to a plan that made the most economical use of the space on the rooftop of the high-rise building, thereby fulfilling the client’s needs for a smart source of solar energy.

VEMC is a well-established solar energy company in Mumbai, and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services. With decades of industry experience, VEMCO Solar was able to successfully execute the Prince Care Zinnia project and deliver superior-quality results. VEMCO Solar is a market leader in solar solutions — be it solar plant erection, procurement, commissioning, net metering, or electrical connections. If you have any requirements in this space, please feel free to contact us at +91 98199 07445. We would be happy to help you out.

Can You Remove and Reinstall Solar Panels?

by vemcoblogs -

When might you want to remove and reinstall your solar panels? The most common instances would be when you are fixing the roof or the solar power system, or conducting maintenance on the roof or other equipment located in the area.

Common Solar Panel Installation Problems - And How to Avoid Them

 

Fixing the Roof

Even some of the smallest roof repairs may require you to remove and reinstall part or all of your solar panels. This can make repairing the roof simpler, without risking damage to your panels. If you need to replace sections of the roof and require these to be removed prior, hiring a solar professional to do it would be a practical move.

Fixing a Solar Panel System

When repairing parts of your solar power system, removing the panels can provide additional space for a more thorough analysis of the whole system. Also, it is often safer to carry out repair work on the roof after removing the solar panels, in order to avoid compromising their safety.

Other Reasons

Other times that you might need to remove and reinstall solar panels could be when you need to repair anything in and around the rooftop. For example, fixing satellite dishes and electrical wires which are usually located on the roof may necessitate this, as may events like relocating your solar power system.

Should I Attempt to Remove and Reinstall the Solar Panels By Myself?

Do keep in mind that it can be quite risky to do so without the appropriate tools and expertise. Certain special equipment is required for the task and taking apart the panels without proper knowledge can nullify any warranties and contracts on the product. Also, removing and reinstalling solar panels entail a complex permission process that is best dealt with by a solar expert.

Time and Cost to Remove and Reinstall Solar Panels

The total time and cost of removing and reinstalling solar panels depend mainly on the solar expert you choose for the job, though they should be able to quote a base price to begin with. This can be over and above the actual costs of repairing the roof or solar power system; so be sure to factor that in. 

The repair work can take another day or more, depending on the extent of work that needs to be done. So, the entire project can take about three days to complete. Of course, major repairs may need more time.

Certain other factors may include the condition of the roof, the panels and the hardware, as well as the weather and site location itself. 

Removing and reinstalling solar panels is a complex task that requires substantial knowhow. VEMCO Solar, a solar energy company in Mumbai, offers end-to-end solutions and has enlisted channel partners with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, for solar PV rooftop, small power plant system integrators, and installation. Guided by the knowledge gained by VEMC over 72 years, our aim is to provide ample support to you at every step of the way. VEMC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services. Please feel free to contact us on +91 98199 07445.

How Can You Benefit From KirloSmart Technology For Your Pumps?

by vemcoblogs -

KirloSmart is a unique Internet-of-Things (IoT) based software technology that enables users to monitor their pumps remotely from smart devices such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones. No matter where your pumps are located, you can monitor their health and operational behaviour from the comfort of your own location, on a screen. 

The key indicators of a pump’s operating performance are electrical parameters, flow, pressure, temperature and vibration. If the parameter defined range of either is too high, it will indicate that you need to adjust them. With KirloSmart, you have at your fingertips an automated system that is simple, easy to access, and allows you to monitor the pump conditions constantly. 

Here are the pump parameters that the KirloSmart software is capable of monitoring remotely:

  • Pressure
  • Flow
  • Power
  • Voltage
  • Current
  • Frequency
  • Pump and Motor Bearing Temperature
  • Pump and Motor Bearing Vibrations
  • Motor winding temperature
  • Pump run hours 
  • Power factor

With KirloSmart, you can take the route of implementing smart pumps in your facility. An automated system to monitor the pump conditions should ideally increase energy efficiency, minimise downtime and enhance overall operation. Enabling these modern pumps through the KirloSmart technology can offer users a plethora of benefits. Let’s take a look at what these are.

Flexibility: Of course, the ability to monitor the pumps from anywhere opens up a world of possibilities, and allows you to be flexible with regards to your own location.

Reduced operational cost: The cost of both repair and labour can be cut down significantly.

Reduced unplanned breakdown: Since the pump health conditions are monitored constantly, it becomes easier to cut down the number of times that an unplanned breakdown occurs. 

Improved plant and process efficiency: The state of a plant is easier to manage and maintain, and workflows are made even more efficient with the use of IoT pumps. 

Optimized safety and reliability: Remotely monitoring pumps makes the whole process more reliable and safer.

Longer lifespan of equipment: With KirloSmart technology, all the equipment that you use in your plant will gain a longer shelf life through less wear and tear. 

Improved equipment efficiency: All the equipment used in the process will become even more efficient through automation.

Reduced downtime: With labour being conserved and the entire monitoring system automated, equipment downtime can be reduced.

Reduced cost of assets: The cost of items like modems, servers and computers will further be saved.

So, for effective remote management of your pumps, KirloSmart is the smart solution. What’s more, KirloSmart can be deployed for any type and make of pump! The solution was developed indigenously and can cater to customer requirements across segments.

For more information on industrial pumps, motors and other equipment, feel free to contact us on +91 98199 07445. We would be glad to assist you in finding the best match for you, based on your requirements. VEMC is a solar energy company in Navi Mumbai which provides end-to-end project management services to its clients. VEMC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services. For inquiries, contact us at marketing@vemc.co.in.

What Is Solar O&M And Why Do You Need It?

by vemcoblogs -

In any industry, operations and maintenance (O&M) are a crucial part of keeping the system running properly and efficiently. The solar industry is no exception and solar operations and maintenance (O&M) services or programs are required in order to maintain a standard level of performance for a solar energy system.

Advantages of module level power electronics in O&M for commercial systems | Solar Power Portal

Regular servicing helps you to optimize the productivity you get from your solar power plants while reducing costs for maintenance and repair. Compared to most other power generating systems, solar power stations are simple to maintain. However, you need to make sure that you invest in high-quality O&M which is carried out professionally. This is one of the most important ways to make sure that your solar power plant stays in good condition, does not experience unnecessary breakdowns, and runs at peak performance levels.

There are three main aspects to solar O&M — preventative maintenance, corrective maintenance, and condition-based maintenance.

Preventative maintenance (PM)

Preventative maintenance, as the name suggests, includes regular inspection and servicing of your equipment in order to avoid the system from malfunctioning, which can cause unnecessary losses in production. This kind of maintenance takes place before your solar power system has witnessed any sort of breakdown, and the upfront costs associated with it are usually low to moderate.

Corrective maintenance (CM)

Corrective maintenance pertains to corrective action required to be taken after your equipment has already experienced a breakdown. Although this strategy may not appear to cost much on the surface, there is a higher risk of component failure and potentially higher costs on the backend. That can otherwise be avoided more easily with proactive, preventative and condition-based maintenance.

Condition-based maintenance (CBM)

Condition-based maintenance is when your solar power systems are monitored using real-time data. This strategy places a high priority on optimizing operations and maintaining peak performance levels, and can even be done by third-party providers and integrators. However, it comes at a higher cost than the other two strategies of maintenance, but these may actually pay off because your system runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

So, it is safe to say that no matter which strategy you employ, solar O&M is a crucial aspect of your solar power system to ensure that it continues to operate at optimal levels at all times. Timely maintenance significantly reduces the possibility of breakdown and production loss. O&M providers like VEMC can offer planned maintenance schedules to optimize equipment performance and minimise downtimes. Additionally, creating an elaborate breakdown impact analysis of solar plant sites is necessary in order to prepare a priority matrix for spare management and better maintenance.

For more information on our products, feel free to contact us on +91 98199 07445. We would be happy to assist you in finding the best match, based on your requirements. As a leading solar power plant company in India, VEMC provides seamless end-to-end services to its clients. VEMC is ISO 9001:2015 certified and a pioneer in the field of electromechanical engineering products, allied equipment, and services.