The process would be easier if the water came at the exact same rate.
It doesn’t.
The quality of water that is pumped into a residential system may vary through the day. Industrial and commercial structures may have operating peaks. Stormwater levels can drastically change with weather conditions. The demand for clean water also fluctuates according to the type of application.
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As a result, designing a pump station isn’t simply a matter of identifying one flow number and selecting equipment capable of meeting it. Engineers need to be aware of the environment that the equipment will be exposed to.
Don’t just think about capacity but also operating conditions
The maximum flow is important but it’s only part of the station’s operation. Imagine a system for wastewater which is designed for high flow rate. The majority of the time the flow inflow is less. During these normal periods, the station must still perform as it should.
This raises questions regarding wet-well sizing, pump operation, control conditions, head, and how the equipment performs to demand fluctuations.
A properly engineered package pumping system can bring these aspects in line with the requirements of the site instead of thinking of maximum pump capacity as the entire design objective.
The wastewater industry has its own day-to-day rhythm
A sewerage lift station which serves homes, businesses or municipal infrastructure can be subject to changing influent conditions throughout the duration of its operation.
The station’s control strategy will determine how the system collects wastewater and operates its pumps. The structural dimensions, pumping equipment, piping and pumps as well as electrical parts and controls all play a part in this process.
Design could also incorporate other site-specific considerations. Romtec Utilities will incorporate any auxiliary systems, such as grinders, vaults, and odor-control systems in the event of need. The result is a station engineered around the project instead of a standard configuration used for every wastewater facility.
Stormwater changes much more quickly
Stormwater provides a totally different operating environment. A stormwater lift-station may experience minimal activity in dry conditions and then face significant increases in flow during a weather-related event. It could be part of an overall flood-control strategy or a detention, treatment or drainage plan.
In the process of developing these systems, Romtec Utilities considers a variety of variables, including the flow rate needed and head condition, the system size, needs of the site and environmental factors.
A station serving a commercial development may therefore look completely different from one that is designed to serve a municipal stormwater system.
Head conditions are important along with Flow
The problem of moving 1,000 gallons not the only challenge for engineers. Engineers need to be aware of where the water is going to go and the level of resistance required by the pumping system.
Changes in elevation, piping configuration as well as discharge conditions and other system parameters contribute to the head conditions under which pumps operate.
The connection between head and flow is one reason that choosing an appropriate pump based upon a capacity rating isn’t enough. The pump technology and station configuration should match the specific hydraulic requirements of the entire application.
Create a design for the conditions the Station is likely to experience
Romtec Utilities designs and develops custom pumping systems designed to meet the needs of wastewater, stormwater management clean water, industrial applications, boosters, and much more. The process may include preliminary design and budgeting, complete plan sets and system supplies, documentation, startup, testing, and commissioning.
The fundamental principle of engineering is that real pumping systems can’t function under one condition.
They must contend with shifting flows, changing demand and the specific requirements of each project. This reality must be taken into account when designing a functional station.