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Reliable Pump Solution for Water Control and Fish Protection

Sustainable pump solution protects fish stocks in Belgian nature reserve with gentle pumping technology – monitored and controlled with Turck IO-Link solutions including ARGEE field logic controller

To protect the fish population in the “De Blankaart” nature reserve, Van Hooste BVBA, a specialist in mechanization and water management solutions, developed a pump with a precise control and a slow rotation mechanism that allows fish to pass through safely. The operating parameters are recorded and processed via an IO-Link solution from Turck Multiprox. The TBEN-L5-8IOL I/O block modules and the ARGEE programming platform monitor all sensor data in real time and ensure flexible adaption.

  • Developed for the safe passage of fish: the Van Hooste test pumping station enables performance checks

  • Brecht Van Damme, project engineer (Van Hooste,left) & Jeroen Macharis, system engineer (Turck Multiprox)

  • Data processing: IP67 I/O module with ARGEE logic and real-time monitoring via a customized dashboard

  • The pump characteristic curve is based on precise sensor data from Turck and maps all relevant parameters

As a partner for high-quality solutions in mechanization, water management and metalworking, the family-owned company Van Hooste BVBA, based in Stekene, Belgium, has been firmly established for over 40 years. The specialist for hydraulic engineering systems offers a wide range of services from detailed project planning and production to maintenance and the development of customized special designs. Regulating the water level in nature conservation areas is a complex task that is often associated with considerable risks for the fish population. Van Hooste was therefore commissioned by the Flemish environmental authority Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM) to develop a gentle pumping solution for the nature reserve “De Blankaart” in Diksmuide. The aim was to create a fish-friendly pump that would ensure the preservation of the fish population and at the same time effectively regulate the water level.

The challenge was to ensure precise recording of all relevant measured variables such as pressure, torque, speed and flow rate in order to create a comprehensive pump characteristic curve. This characteristic provides the basis for establishing the optimum control of the pump. Brecht Van Damme, project engineer at Van Hooste, relied here on an IO-Link solution from Turck. The measured values are recorded in real time by pressure transmitters and encoders and processed in the IO-Link I/O module. Real-time monitoring and automated data evaluation make it possible to continuously check the pump's operating performance and ensure that it remains stable even under changing environmental conditions.

Acquisition of operating parameters with Turck sensors

Van Hooste uses various sensors from Turck: an IO-Link pressure transmitter from the PT series, with measured values used to adjust the pump's delivery rate. Temperature sensors from the TS700 series monitor the operating temperature of the pump to prevent overheating. Additionally, an encoder functions as a speed sensor to ensure that the pump always operates within the specified speed range to ensure the gentle passing of the fish. 

Besides the Turck sensors, sensors from other manufacturers were also integrated into the system. Converters are used so that their analog output signals (current and voltage signals) can also be integrated in the IO-Link communication system. These converters change the analog signals into standardized IO-Link data so that they can be processed by the Turck I/O modules. 

Data processing with the ARGEE FLC

The TBEN-L5-8IOL programmable I/O module processes the data with its integrated ARGEE control function. The measured parameters can be evaluated in real time using the ARGEE field logic controller. The characteristic curve is automatically documented in an Excel file. This is essential for carrying out the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), as Van Hooste must provide VMM with proof that the pump meets all the required technical specifications. 

Optimized safety and efficiency

The long-term documentation of operating parameters such as pressure, temperature and speed enables an evaluation of operating efficiency over the entire life cycle of the system and forms a sound basis for future optimizations. The pump solution has proven its efficiency and operational reliability in the bench tests so far completed: Initial measurement results show a significant reduction in fish mortality compared to conventional systems, which exceeds expectations in terms of protecting the local fish population. The successful test phase lays the foundation for the forthcoming installation of the pump in the “De Blankaart” nature reserve, where it will soon help to protect and preserve the local fish population. This makes the system not only a technological showcase project, but also a sustainable model for comparable applications in water control and environmental technology.

“Van Hooste's strength lies primarily in the mechanical production of structures and systems for water management,” explains project engineer Brecht Van Damme. “The tremendous added value of Turck Multiprox was the intensive cooperation and the complete takeover of the electrical part. They took care of both the selection of suitable components and their programming. Together, we achieved our goals without a hitch.” The combination of mechanical precision and electronic control has resulted in a system that meets all technical and ecological requirements.

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