Flood protection with FlowChief software solutions

Logo Wasserverband-SulmLogo Modjesch ElektroProject: Flood protection in Sulmtal
Customer: Wasserverband Sulm,
Johannes Kübler, +49 7130-9693, www.wasserverband-sulm.de
System Integrator: Modjesch Elektrotechnik,
Dipl. Ing. Jörg Schaber, +49 7135-2688
Product: Process control system, Remote control system
Sector: Flood protection

The Wasserverband Sulm, located in the North Württemberg Weinsberg (Germany), is a prime example of purposeful flood protection.

Luftaufnahmen Neckarsulm mit gekennzeichentem Hochwasserüberschwemmungsgebiet

Founded in 1973 following a flood of the century and massive damage, the Weinsberg valley became “flood-free” step by step. 40 years later, with an investment sum of 36 million euros, 15 basins – some of them ecologically sustainable – were completed. As a result, capacities for around 4.2 million m³ of water are available in the event of an emergency.

To monitor the 116 km² catchment area, telecontrol and process control technology products with high manufacturer dependency were used until 2011. “This led to great difficulties with system adaptations,” says Jörg Schaber, responsible for automation technology at Modjesch Elektrotechnik. Since 2011, the association has been relying fully on software solutions from FlowChief. For telecontrol technology, FlowChief relies on standard PLC components and supports virtually all relevant control suppliers. In Sulm, for example, VIPA components were used. The controllers connect to the control centre via DSL lines VPN-encrypted. The telecontrol technology enables event-controlled transmission of incidents in addition to archive value buffering in case of connection interruptions.

As the region had already experienced several failures of high-speed broadband supply in the event of flooding, path redundancy was implemented by time slot radio. This transmits data to the central office parallel to the more efficient “leased line technology” via DSL.

The FlowChief process control system handles the data acquisition, archiving and consolidation in the head office. All employees access the visualization either via PC or recently also via mobile device and are therefore always up to date. A login-free level overview, linked via the association’s webpage, also enables the population to call up the current level status. The integrated standby duty schedule ensures that the responsible persons are alerted in the event of a malfunction. The association uses voice alarms via text to speech.

The association is obliged to document all flood events. In cooperation with Modjesch Elektrotechnik, FlowChief developed an automated reporting system, which chronologically archives important event numbers as well as time points.

FlowChief Facts:
  • Process control technology 1000 process variables (On Premise)
  • 16 telecontrol stations via DSL (VIPA 300S)
  • Path redundancy through parallel connection of all buildings via time slot radio technology
  • Standby service with escalation management and alarming via text to speech
  • Login-free level overview linked via webpage for everyone
  • Automated batch reporting on flood events
  • Archive data storage of raw values with continuous online access for 5 years