Monitoring of non-return valve operation with a variable-speed drive

Variable-speed drives are a key solution to energy efficiently operating fluid handling systems. Besides speed variation, modern drives are capable to monitor the condition of a fluid handling system. Especially pumps and fans are installed to systems, where the fluid flow is allowed only to a single direction. If the nonreturn valve fails for some reason in a pumping station, economic and environmental consequences may be severe due to flooding. This paper introduces how a variable-speed drive is able to monitor the operation of this critical system component, and how the proposed monitoring methods are working in the laboratory test environment with a failed non-return valve. This paper also provides an insight on customising the variable-speed drive through its internal programmable logic controller.