It could make engineering much easier if all water moved at the same rate.
It’s not.
The quantity of wastewater flowing into a residential system varies throughout the day. Commercial and industrial facilities may be operating at peak times. Stormwater flow can be affected by weather conditions. Demand for clean-water also increases and falls depending on the nature of the application.
In order to design a pump station, it’s not just a case of choosing the right equipment to be able to handle a particular flow. Engineers should be aware of the environmental conditions that the system will be subject to.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
Do not just think of maximum capacity, as well as operating conditions
It is evident that maximum flow is important but it’s just one aspect of the station’s operation. Let’s say that a wastewater system is constructed to handle a large volume of flow. In most cases the flow that enters it could be significantly less. During those normal operating periods the station must function normally.
It also raises issues related to wet-well sizing and the size of the pump controls, head condition, and the best way to modify equipment when the demand for it changes.
A properly engineered package pumping system brings these considerations together around the actual requirements of the site instead of treating maximum pump capacity as the entire design objective.
Wastewater Has Its Own Daily rhythm
The conditions for the water that flows through a wastewater liftstation serving households as well as businesses or municipal infrastructure can change over the course of the operation.
The system has to collect wastewater and activate its pumps in accordance with the control strategy established for the station. This involves structural dimensions and pumping gear, valves and pipes, as well as electrical components.
Design could also incorporate other considerations for the specific site. Romtec Utilities will incorporate any other systems like grinders, vaults and odor control devices whenever needed. It is cost-effective to design the station around a specific task than to use a generic configuration for every wastewater facility.
Stormwater may change faster than you think.
Stormwater has a completely different operational set of conditions. A stormwater lift-station may see relatively little activity during dry weather conditions, but it will experience significant increases in flow when a weather storm occurs. The station might be a component of a larger flood control strategy or be a treatment, detention or drainage plan.
Romtec Utilities evaluates factors including flow rates that are required as well as head conditions, size of the system, site requirements, and environmental factors when designing these systems.
A station used for commercial development may therefore look quite different from one engineered for municipal stormwater use.
Both head conditions and flow are crucial.
The issue of moving 1,000 gallons is not the only challenge for engineers. Engineers need to understand the direction of that water and how much resistance they will face.
Elevation changes, piping configuration, discharge conditions, and other system characteristics affect the head conditions that pumps work.
The relationship between flow and head is another reason to select a pump solely based on its rating isn’t enough. Pump technology and station configuration should be designed to meet the specific hydraulic requirements of the entire application.
Design for the conditions the station will experience
Romtec Utilities designs and develops custom pumping systems to meet the needs of wastewater, stormwater management as well as industrial applications, boosters, and much more. The procedure can involve budgeting and design in the beginning, complete plans, system supplies, documentation and start-up, testing, and commissioning.
The principle of engineering that underlies it is quite simple: genuine pumping systems don’t go through their lives under a suitable set of circumstances.
They face shifting flows, changing requirements, and project-specific hydro needs. It is vital to create a station that is able to cope with the challenges.