Tipperary Town Water Pumping Station at Fanagowen

Location:

Fanagowan borehole pumping station is located near Tipperary Town.

Facility Function:

The station supplies water from 2 wells to a reservoir that is also fed from an other mountain source. It pumps agains a substantial head of 127 meters and pumps approximately 2500 M3 per day into the reservoir.

Annual Energy Consumption:

The Site uses three different energy sources.

1. Electricity: 800 Mwh per annum at a cost of approx €86,000
   

Schematic of energy data flow

Main Energy Consuming Equipment

There are two identical pumps installed in the site, set up in a duty and standby mode. One of the pumps has a variable speed drive, the other just has a soft start. They are currently operated in an on or off mode.

Chart of Fanagowan usage over September

Cost and Energy Saving Actions

1. The biggest saving evident in Fanagowan is to utilise the reservoir and move as much of the pumping from day to night and take advantage of reducing maximum demand in the peak periods.

 Representation of new flow pattern

Estimated savings over one calendar year using 2007 prices

2. New Pump: There is a new pump being installed to take increase the capacity of the pumping station. They key action here is to ensure it is of the highest efficiency, so that it can run instead of either of the current lower efficiency pumps and ensure that the majority of the water pumped will be done using the highest efficiency pumps possible. This should save an estimated 10 - 15% of the energy used.
3. Further controls: As part of the pump upgrade there will be better controls installed to take full advantage of night rate electricity, this will step back the day pump usage depending on water usage. This will save an estimates further 3 - 5%

Updated 25 August 2008   by TEA