An important water company in Bogotá, Colombia, needed to modernize its aging water pump
systems in the Bogotá Aqueduct. The existing contactor-based start systems caused repeated
failures, water hammer issues, and excessive maintenance. CG Emotron delivered a complete
modernization using Emotron FDU drives, significantly improving system efficiency, reliability,
and control.
The previous pump control relied on old contactor start
systems with thermal motor protection and lowefficiency
100 HP motors. These systems caused
frequent weekly failures, water hammer effects that
risked pipe and pump damage, and high maintenance
costs.
Reduce and
prevent pump and
pipe damage
CG Emotron replaced the outdated control with a dual-drive alternance system using Emotron FDU drives (460 VAC, 100 HP) installed in a custom IP54 enclosure.
The system allows one drive to operate the main pump while the second acts as a fully automated backup. The new system also includes:
Despite space constraints, CG Emotron designed a compact enclosure and complete turnkey solution — including drives, protections, and control logic — after a thorough on-site visit and system analysis.
The project was executed with a focus on application understanding and customer collaboration. CG Emotron’s engineering team developed a tailored solution to fit the existing space and meet the operational requirements.
During system start-up, on-site training was provided for the operator and maintenance teams to ensure proper handling and monitoring of the drives. CG Emotron continues to maintain close communication with the end user to confirm long-term reliability and support.
Since installation, the new Emotron system has operated for over two months without a single failure, a major improvement compared to the previous weekly failures.
Key results include:
Following the success of this project, it now serves as a demonstration site, showcasing the reliability and performance advantages of Emotron drives for other water utilities in the region.
The customer expressed strong satisfaction with the system’s simplicity, reliability, and performance.
The successful implementation also led the end user to purchase an additional 300 HP Emotron Soft Starter for another application.
