On paper, it could seem simple: water is pumped into a different location. In reality there are a myriad of factors which can influence the distance between two locations, such as elevation of the ground, flow rate solids, pressure storage capacity, and access for maintenance.
Romtec Utilities initiates the design of a pumping station by defining the operating conditions rather than choosing equipment from an inventory. The project’s requirements can be used to develop sketches and budgetary details.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
Start With One Question What are we doing?
The technology is changed immediately.
The flow of domestic sewage is subject to significant fluctuations throughout the day. A wastewater lift station must move that wastewater reliably when gravity conveyance is unavailable or insufficient. Engineers therefore need to consider the expected flow, the conditions of peak as well as pumping capacity, wet-well behaviour, discharge requirements as well as how the facility is operated and maintained.
Diverse challenges arise from industrial water. A processing or manufacturing facility could require moving high-temperature, caustic and oily, or high-pressure fluids. Romtec Utilities designs industrial systems to support a variety of applications, from food processing and power generation to data centers pharmaceutical waste, oil and gas facilities.
Rainfall has a totally different operating environment
Stormwater systems tend to be unoccupied for long periods of time and then suddenly face a large volume during the course of a storm.
For instance, a stormwater lift station that is associated with a basin of detention is required to be in line with the larger drainage strategy for the area. The runoff enters the detention basin. The temporary storage system manages the immediate volume and the pumping system transports the water collected to an authorized discharge point.
Romtec Utilities supplied this type of solution to a business park located in Norco, California. The project called for an emptying pumping station a detention facility into the public stormwater drainage network. This station had to be engineered as part of the drainage infrastructure, not as a separate piece of equipment.
The word “package” does not have to mean off-the-shelf
The most common misconception is that a system of pumping packages is just a predetermined assortment of components.
For infrastructure that is engineered, packaging can instead mean coordinating the key components into one specific project. Pumps and valves can be determined based on the duty requirements.
This method is especially beneficial when a brand new system needs to connect to existing infrastructure. In municipal and industrial structures, there’s not an infinite amount of space or totally clean space for installation. The equipment could need to be built around existing structures, piping systems, electrical system, and operating schedules.
Capacity Planning Can Have Real Consequences
The cost of undersizing is higher as the facility expands.
Romtec Utilities supplied a sewer lift station located at Portland International Airport for the PDX Next extension. The new station is designed to double the peak-flow capability of the current system as airport facilities grow.
This example illustrates a key engineering principal: Design conditions should not be limited to the amount of work a facility is able to cope with on an average afternoon. Engineers must also understand the impact of demand spikes.
The job isn’t done until the Equipment Arrives
At some point, drawings and calculations have to become an operational system. Installation coordination, startup and testing, documentation and operator comprehension are all essential for long-term efficiency.
The outcome after the creation of a pumping device determines its value. The decisions made during initial design are clearly visible when equipment needs maintenance, flows increase or storms strike.
For Romtec Utilities, integrating these decisions into a complete project-specific pumping strategy helps transform parts of equipment into infrastructure specifically designed for the conditions it will actually face.