On paper, it could seem straightforward: water is then pumped to a different location. In reality there are a myriad of factors which can influence the distance between two points, including: elevation of the ground, flow rate, solids, pressure, storage capacity and maintenance access.
Romtec Utilities begin the development of a pumping station by defining the operational conditions, instead of choosing the equipment from catalogues. After that, initial plans and budgetary specifications can be developed based on what the needs of the project.
Image credit: romtecutilities.com
Begin with a single question What are we doing?
The engineering changes immediately.
Domestic sewage could contain solids and experience significant variations in the daily flow. A wastewater lift station must move that wastewater reliably when gravity conveyance is unavailable or insufficient. Engineers should therefore take into consideration the expected flow, the conditions of peak the capacity of pumping, wet-well behavior, discharge requirements as well as how the facility will operate and maintained.
Industrial water has its own challenges. The fluids used in manufacturing or processing facility might require caustic, oily, or heated to high temperatures or pressure. 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 creates a completely different operating environment
Stormwater systems can go unnoticed for long periods and then suddenly be required to manage large amounts in the event of a major storm.
A stormwater pumping station that is part of an egress basin needs to, for instance, work in conjunction with the larger drainage plan of the site. As the water flows into the basin, temporary storage controls the volume immediately, and the pumping system then moves the water collected towards an approved discharge point.
Romtec Utilities supplied this type of solution for a business park in Norco, California. A pumping system was needed to empty the basin and discharge it into the stormwater network. This station had to be engineered as part of the development’s drainage infrastructure, rather than being treated as an isolated piece of equipment.
“Package” Doesn’t Need to Be Off-the-Shelf
Many people believe that a package-pumping system is simply a predetermined collection of parts.
In the case of engineered infrastructure, packaging may also refer to coordinating the major pieces into one particular project-specific system. Valve and pump components can be selected according to their duty requirements.
It’s especially helpful for connecting a new system with an existing infrastructure. In industrial plants and municipal structures, there’s not any space at all or a totally clean space for installation. Equipment might need to be positioned around existing piping, structures electric systems, as well as operating schedules.
Capacity Planning Has Real Consequences
When facilities grow in size, undersizing becomes a significant expense.
Romtec Utilities, a Portland International Airport utility company, developed and built a sewer interceptor lifting station to the PDX Next project. The new station was built to provide twice the peak-flow capacity of the previous system, as the airport facilities expanded.
This illustration illustrates an important engineering principle: Design specifications shouldn’t be restricted by the limitations of what a building can handle on a typical afternoon. Engineers also need to understand what happens during peak demand.
The Job Isn’t Finished When the Equipment arrives
Then, drawings and calculations have to become an operating system. Documentation and coordination of installation are important to long-term success.
A properly engineered pumping system is ultimately defined by the events that occur after construction. When flow rates increase or a major storm occurs or equipment needs maintenance The decisions made during the initial design process become evident.
Romtec Utilities integrates these decisions into a pumping solution specifically tailored to a project. This helps transform individual equipment into an infrastructure built to handle the environment they be confronted with.