On paper, a pumping project could appear simple enough: water must be pumped from one area to another. In real life, the distance between those two points may be subject to changing flows, elevation changes and solids, pressure requirements, storage capacity, controls, electrical equipment, maintenance access and site restrictions.
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For Romtec Utilities, designing a pump station begins by defining those operating conditions rather than selecting equipment from a standard catalog. Initial designs and budgetary details can then be developed around what the project will actually require.
Consider: Where do we go?
The answer changes immediately the process of engineering.
There can be significant fluctuations in the flow rate of household sewage. If gravity conveyance fails, or is not sufficient an wastewater lift station is needed to move the wastewater. Engineers should be aware of the following aspects: expected flow, peak condition, pumping capacity, behavior of the wet well discharge requirements and how equipment is operated and maintained.
Diverse challenges arise from industrial water. The water used in a manufacturing or processing facility might need to be caustic, oily, or heated with high pressure or temperature. Romtec Utilities designs industrial systems that can be used for everything from power generation and food processing to data centers, pharmaceutical waste, and oil and gas plants.
Rainfall can create a completely new operating environment
Stormwater systems are often inactive for long periods of time but then suddenly they have to deal with massive volumes in the event of a major storm.
A stormwater lift station associated with a basin for detention, for instance, should work within the overall drainage plan. As the water flows into the basin temporary storage is responsible for the volume immediately, and a pumping system moves the water collected towards an approved discharge point.
Romtec Utilities offered this type of solution to an Norco, California business park. The plan called for a pumping station for emptying an existing detention system into the stormwater drainage system of the public. This station had to be engineered as part of the development’s drainage infrastructure, rather than being treated as isolated equipment.
“Package Doesn’t Denote “Off the shelf”
Many believe that a package-pumping system is just a predetermined collection of parts.
In the scenario of engineered infrastructures packaging can refer to the fact that all of the main components are incorporated into a single system. Controls, pumps and meters as well as the structural elements and other equipment, can be chosen according to the duty conditions.
This strategy is particularly beneficial when a new system must connect to existing infrastructure. Industrial plants and established municipal facilities usually do not provide a lot of space or clean installation conditions. Equipment could need to be fitted within existing structures, piping electric systems, as well as operating schedules.
Capacity planning can have real-world consequences
In particular, undersizing can be costly as facilities grow.
Romtec Utilities supplied a sewer lift station at Portland International Airport for the PDX Next extension. The new station was required been designed to have twice the peak flow capacity when the airport was expanded.
This case illustrates a fundamental engineering principle: Design specifications must not be limited by the limitations of what a building can handle on a typical afternoon. Engineers must also be aware of the impact of the times of peak demand.
The Work isn’t Done until the Equipment is delivered
At time, drawings and calculations have to become an operational system. Documentation and coordination of installation are vital to long-term success.
The time between construction and the success of an engineered pumping system is measured. The decisions made in the preliminary design are very evident when flows increase when major storms occur or maintenance is required.
Romtec Utilities integrates these decisions into a solution for pumping which is unique to a particular project. This helps transform individual equipment into an infrastructure built for the conditions they will be confronted with.