The design would be simpler if the water travelled at exactly the same speed.

It’s not.

The amount of wastewater that enters a residential system can vary throughout the day. Commercial and industrial facilities might have peak operating hours. Stormwater levels can drastically change with the weather. The demand for water that is clean also differs depending on its application.

Thus, designing an efficient pump station isn’t just it’s a matter of finding a flow rate and choosing equipment that can meet it. Engineers should be aware of the environmental conditions that the equipment will be exposed to.

Image credit: romtecutilities.com

Examine the Operating Conditions and not only the maximum Capacity

The flow rate is of course crucial but it’s just one element of station operation. Imagine a system for wastewater designed to provide a large peak flow. Most of the times that flow inflows are significantly lower. However, the station has to perform as it should during normal times.

This raises questions about wet-well dimensions as well as pump operation and control and head conditions and the way equipment can respond to the changing demands.

A well-designed package pumping system brings these factors into the real needs of the site instead of considering the maximum capacity of the pump as the primary design goal.

The daily cycle of wastewater

A wastewater lift station serving homes, businesses, or municipal infrastructure may experience changing influent conditions throughout its operating cycle.

The station must have a control strategy that allows the system to turn on the pumps and collect the water. The dimensions of the structural components, pumping equipment and piping, and electrical components and controls, all play a role in this process.

The design may also include aspects specific to the particular site. Romtec Utilities will incorporate any additional systems, like grinders, vaults and odor control devices as needed. This results in a station which is specifically designed to suit the particular project, instead of being a standard design which can be applied to all wastewater sources.

Stormwater is able to change significantly faster

Stormwater is a distinct operation. A stormwater-related lift station might see relatively little activity during dry weather conditions, but it will experience an influx that is significantly greater during an event of weather. It could be an element of a larger flood-control, detention, treatment, or drainage plan, which makes the plan for stormwater management surrounding it an important part of system design.

Romtec Utilities takes into consideration elements like the flow rate needed, the head conditions, the system size as well as the requirements of the location and environmental considerations in the design of these systems.

The layout of a station for commercial purposes could be quite different from that of a station built to manage stormwater in municipal areas.

The Head Conditions are vital. Together with Flow

The task of moving 1,000 gallon is not the only challenge for engineers. Engineers must also know where the water is going and what kind of resistance the pumping system must overcome.

The changes in elevation, the piping configuration, discharge conditions, and other system parameters influence the head conditions against which pumps work.

The relationship between flow and head is another reason why choosing an appropriate pump solely based on its ratings isn’t enough. The pump’s design and station configuration must be matched to the hydraulic parameters throughout the application.

Design for the conditions the station will actually experience

Romtec Utilities creates customized pumping system for stormwater, wastewater and clean water applications. They also design and develop systems for industrial, booster and other applications. The process includes preliminary design, budgeting, plan sets, system supplies, documentation, startup and testing.

The underlying engineering principle is simple: true pumping systems don’t live their lives under a ideal set of conditions.

They are faced with fluctuating flows, changing demand and specific hydro requirements for projects. A successful station must be designed to meet the demands of the future.