On paper, the idea of a pumping project might appear straightforward. Water has to be moved from one location to the next. In reality there are a myriad of factors which can influence the distance between two locations, which include elevation as well as flow rate solids, pressure storage capacity and maintenance access.
For Romtec Utilities, the design of a pump station begins by setting the operating conditions, rather than selecting an item from a catalogue. Initial designs and budgetary details will be developed in accordance with the requirements of the project.
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You should ask yourself: Where do we go?
The engineering is immediately modified.
Domestic sewage can contain solids and may experience significant fluctuations in flow. A wastewater lift station must move that wastewater reliably when gravity conveyance is unavailable or insufficient. Engineers have to be aware of the following aspects: expected flow and peak conditions, pumping capacity, behavior of the wet well as well as the way in which equipment is operated and maintained.
Industrial water presents different challenges. The fluids utilized in a manufacturing or processing facility could need to be caustic, oily, or heated at high temperature or pressure. Romtec Utilities creates industrial systems that are used in applications that range from data centers to installations of oil and gas, food processing, power generation, and pharmaceutical waste.
Rainfall Creates an Entirely Different Operating Cycle
Stormwater systems can be inactive for long periods but then suddenly they have to manage large amounts in the course of a major storm.
For instance, a rainwater lift station with a basin of detention is required to be in line with the larger drainage strategy for the location. When the basin fills up and storage in temporary mode controls the immediate volume and the pumping system moves the water collected towards an approved discharge point.
Romtec Utilities provided this solution for the development of the Norco business park in California. A pumping system was required to empty the basin and then discharge it into the stormwater network. The station had be constructed as part of the drainage infrastructure for the development, rather than as a separate piece of equipment.
“Package” Doesn’t Need to Mean Off-the-Shelf
There is a common misconception that a system of pumping packages is merely a predetermined array of components.
In the case of engineered infrastructure, packaging could mean coordinating all the major pieces into one project-specific system. Meters, pumps, valves control, communications, structural components, and other equipment may be chosen based on the specific duty requirements.
This strategy is especially useful for systems that need to be connected with an existing infrastructure. In industrial plants and municipal structures, there’s not any space at all or a perfect environment to install. Equipment may need to fit around existing piping, structures electric systems, as well as operational schedules.
The real consequences of capacity Planning
The cost of undersizing increases as the size of the facility increases.
Romtec Utilities supplied a sewer lift station in Portland International Airport for the PDX Next extension. The new station was constructed to double the peak-flow capacity of the existing station as the airport’s facilities increased.
This example illustrates a key engineering principle: Design specifications shouldn’t be restricted by the limitations of what a building can handle on the typical afternoon. Engineers must know what happens during peak demand.
The job is not finished when the equipment arrives
At the point where drawings and calculations have to become an operational system. Installation coordination, startup testing documentation, and user knowledge all affect long-term performance.
After a few years, the success of an engineered pumping systems is determined. The decisions made during the initial design are evident when equipment needs maintenance flow increases or a storm hits.
Romtec Utilities brings these two decisions together to create a complete pumping solution for a specific project. It helps turn equipment into infrastructure that is designed specifically for the conditions for which it is employed.
