General overhaul of the Petershagen and Drakenburg weirs
Initial situation
The Petershagen and Drakenburg weirs on the Weser River require a comprehensive general overhaul due to their long service life and lack of adaptation for ice loads. The existing electrical systems no longer meet modern standards for operational safety, control and energy supply, making complete modernisation necessary.
Project scope
As part of the general overhaul, the electrical systems of both weirs must be fully upgraded. This includes not only bringing power supply and control technology up to date but also integrating modern security and communication solutions to ensure long-term reliability and operational efficiency.
Services
As part of the comprehensive refurbishment, DriveCon was responsible for planning the entire electrical engineering system to ensure reliable power supply and efficient control technology. Initially, a detailed power balance assessment was conducted to determine the energy requirements of all consumers. Based on this analysis, the power supply infrastructure and the necessary cable routes for safe and efficient electricity distribution were planned. To guarantee uninterrupted operations, an emergency power supply system was developed, including a backup generator. In addition, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) was designed to support complex electronic systems and maintain communication continuity.
Another key aspect of the planning was the design of the lighting for both the interior and exterior areas of the weir facility, as well as the integration of modern communication technology. A comprehensive grounding and lightning protection system with potential equalisation was also developed to safeguard against electrical disturbances and surges.
The weir control system will now be managed both from the central control station in Minden and via a newly established local control unit. To achieve this, a fail-safe programmable logic controller (PLC) was implemented, ensuring precise and secure control. A high-performance data connection was also established for seamless communication between control units. Furthermore, a system for reading pressure sensor level data and integrating it into the control system was developed.
To comply with the highest safety standards, a comprehensive risk assessment was conducted for each weir, in accordance with the Machinery Directive. To further enhance operational safety, a weir heating system was implemented to ensure smooth operation even under adverse weather conditions.
Through comprehensive planning, the modernisation of the electrical, communication and control systems ensures that both weirs are brought fully up to date with modern technology.
Challenges and special features
A key challenge was ensuring the continuous operation of the weirs during modernisation work. To address this, a detailed transition concept was developed to guarantee that the non-renovated weir field remained fully operational at all times.
One of the most demanding aspects of the modernisation was the outdated system technology in Petershagen. Due to its age, extra precautions were necessary to minimise risks during the upgrade process. This included delaying any work on the old control panel in the powerhouse of power pier 2 until the very last project phase, ensuring uninterrupted operation until the final switchover to the new technology.
