Measuring vehicle delivered for water loss analysis
In April 2013 a new measuring vehicle for water loss analysis was handed over to the Bottrop-based executive board of Rheinisch-Westfälische Wasserwerks-GmbH (RWW GmbH), in Gütersloh.
A VW Crafter with high roof and long wheelbase was used. Behind the driver and passenger area is an office area, with an adjoining equipment compartment in the back.
The walls and roof of the office area are fitted with extreme insulation which keeps the heat of the auxiliary heater, which is also built into the vehicle, in in winter and protects against the heat in summer. This ensures a comfortable working environment, particularly during the night.
An ingenious power supply provides the various consumer loads with the required power at all times. A lithium-ion system with a battery capacity of 100 Ah provides a secondary power supply. A battery management system ensures that the battery can also be charged with a charging current of up to 70 A by the vehicle’s own alternator. This means that there is always sufficient capacity available. This is not possible with conventional systems. It goes without saying that this system can also be conveniently charged at night via the external socket.
An inverter/charging combination specially tailored to this system supplies 230 Volts with up to 1300 Watts. A screen displays all the main information for the user at all times e.g. power consumption or charging current. All the measuring devices are charged on board so that they are ready for use at all times.
A laminated panel adapted to the installation separates the charging area from the office area. This charging area is equipped with the latest generation of instruments for flow measurement, which considerably reduces the size of the installation parts and thus the overall weight. Easily accessible hose racks ensure that components can be fitted easily.
Four roof spotlights, two of which are in the back and one on each side of the vehicle, ensure adequate lighting for working during the night.
The whole package has another particular advantage: thanks to the special installation design, the vehicle can be registered as a self-propelled work machine and is thus tax-exempt.
Stefan Fröhlich, head of pipe network inspection at Rheinisch-Westfälische Wasserwerks-GmbH based in Mülheim a.d. Ruhr, is delighted with his new measuring vehicle:
“We have received a vehicle that is just right in every respect. The design is exactly what we wanted, the interior fittings are absolutely first class. The logistics of the equipment compartment are practical in every way. The measuring technology for flow measurement is easy to operate, it is immediately obvious that a lot of practical knowledge has gone into the planning and implementation of our measuring vehicle.“