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LEGOLAND® is saving energy with a splash

March 20, 2012
The amusement park LEGOLAND has installed frequency converters to two water pumps in one of its most popular attractions. In this way electricity consumption is reduced by 190,000 kWh per year and safety has increased because water flow has become easier to regulate.
The Vikings' River Splash is popular in LEGOLAND®, Denmark. Something within the region of 1,800 liters of water per second are pumped round the channels so that children and adults can have fun. The goal here is to use only the necessary amount of water to send the guests on a wild ride in the tub-shaped boats. A band hauls these up onto a higher level. Here we find propeller pumps which send the water out in a long vessel with curves, fish ladders and small bumps, all of which create the rafting effect.

This requires energy and energy consumption is now higher on the agenda than ever before. This is why regulating the water flow in the attraction is of supreme importance and the installation of frequency converters to the pumps is an important step towards energy reduction.


Using only the required water volumes


“By installing Danfoss VLT® frequency converters on the two pumps of the ride we have reduced energy consumption. At the same time it is now easier to regulate the water volume because the frequency converter ensures that the pumps only circulate the necessary volumes of water,” says Anders Christensen who works as an electrical technician at LEGOLAND.

“Previously we used wood shutters and gates to regulate water volume. We would then send the surplus water back to its starting point. The pumps operated at the same speed irrespective of how much water was required. Installation of the frequency converters means that it is possible to close all shutters so there is no longer any waterfall. At the same time it is possible to control and regulate the water volume as required at any given moment. We can also send the boats off much faster, and the more we can send off in one hour, the more we reduce the waiting time for our guests,” says Anders Christensen.


Regulation of water flow increase safety


According to Anders Christensen, adjusting the water ride with Danfoss frequency converters has both improved this attraction and made it more reliable. Safety is always uppermost in the minds of LEGOLAND’s staff, and here energy optimisation of the pumps has also brought with it excellent results.

“We did have a problem with boats banging against the timbers when they departed and returned because we could not control the flow of water. We have now solved this problem by adjusting the frequency converters on the two pumps to 43.0 and 46.0 HZ respectively - so now there is a bit of difference between them. This makes the ride more pleasant for the children,” says Anders Christensen.

Improved energy efficiency of Vikings' River Splash and other activities such as the installation of light-emitting diodes has meant that LEGOLAND’s green accounts continue to look better. This famous amusement park is on its way to becoming a truly climate-friendly organisation.


Facts
Electricity consumption per season on the Vikings' River Splash attraction:
  • Prior to installation of the frequency converters: 440,000 kWh.
  • After installation: 250,000 kWh.
  • Savings: 190,000 kWh per season.

Two 132 kW Danfoss VLT® 6172 frequency converters connected to two 125 kW propeller pumps control the water flow in the Vikings' River Splash attraction.

Pictured right: Anders Christensen, electrical technician at LEGOLAND is used to work with Danfoss frequency converters. He says: "Complete familiarity with Danfoss frequency converter smeans that when on a rare occasion a frequency converter does go down, we can get it up and running again in no time. It is very important from the point of view of the guests at LEGOLAND that no attraction is out of service more than is absolutely necessary." 

 
Comments
Hans de Groot October 17, 2012
Dear Mohamed,

Do you mean whether there are any disadvantages connected to using a VLT frequency drive? None that we can think of.
But if you know about disadvantages, please do not hesitate to let us know too!

Best regards,
Hans de Groot
Danfoss VLT Drives
mohamed shawky October 14, 2012
oki but what is the side effects of usage VLT ?!!
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