It would make engineering much simpler if all water traveled at the same rate.
It’s not.
The amount of wastewater that enters a residential system may vary through the day. Commercial and industrial facilities may experience operating peaks. Stormwater flow is affected by weather conditions. Clean-water demand also rises and falls based on use.
It’s not enough just to choose equipment that will be able to meet a certain flow rate when designing the pumping station. Engineers should be aware of the environmental conditions that the system will be subject to.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
Think in Operating Conditions Think in Operating Conditions, Not just Maximum Capacity
The flow that is the highest in importance however, it is just part of the station’s operation. Imagine that a wastewater treatment system was designed to handle a large maximum flow. For the most part the incoming flow is less. During those normal operating periods, the station should still be functional.
It brings up issues like wet-well sizing, sizing the pump as well as control of head condition, how to modify equipment when the demand for it changes.
The design of a well engineered package pump system will take into consideration the actual site requirements, instead of focusing on the maximum pump capacity.
Wastewater Has Its Own Daily Timeline
A wastewater lift station serving homes, businesses, or municipal infrastructure may experience changing influent conditions throughout its operating cycle.
The station’s control strategies will decide how the station collects wastewater and operates its pumps. The structural dimensions, pumping equipment, valves electrical components, piping and controls play a role in this process.
The design can also incorporate particular considerations for the location. Romtec Utilities can incorporate auxiliary systems such as grinder vaults, odor control equipment and so on when required by the application. It is cost-effective to create the station around a specific project rather than using the same configuration for each wastewater treatment facility.
Stormwater Changes Much More Fast
Stormwater has a distinct set of operating conditions. When it is dry the stormwater lift station is likely to not be utilized much. However, during extremely severe weather conditions, the station is likely to see a significant increase in activity. The station could be part of a larger flood control or detention, treatment or drainage strategy, making the stormwater strategy surrounding it an integral part of the design.
Romtec Utilities evaluates factors including required flow rates along with head conditions, system size, site requirements, and environmental factors when designing these systems.
Stations used for commercial developments can look very different than those designed to serve municipal stormwater needs.
Head Conditions Matter Along With Flow
The task of moving 1,000 gallon is not the only problem for engineering. Engineers also have to determine where the water will go and the level of resistance required by the pumping system.
Pumps can be operated with different head sizes based on the design of the system, including the piping configuration or discharge conditions.
This relation between flow and head is another reason why choosing one’s pump purely based on its ratings isn’t enough. The pump technology and the station’s configuration should be aligned to the conditions of hydraulics to be used for the entire process.
Plan for the conditions that the station will experience
Romtec Utilities creates customized pumping system for stormwater, wastewater and clean water systems. They also design systems for industrial, booster and other uses. The design process begins with preliminary designs and budgeting, as well as plan sets along with system components, documentation, starting and testing.
The principle behind the design is straightforward pumps don’t have to work for the rest of their lives under one set of convenient conditions.
They should also take into consideration the particular needs of the project’s hydraulic system, in addition to the fluctuating flow, demand and needs. It is essential to design a station that can deal with this situation.