Lift Stations and Conveyance

Lift Stations and Conveyance
Small-footprint macerator system needed for large detention center

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  Small-footprint macerator system needed for large detention center

Problem
A high volume of large debris in the wastewater at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., must be macerated before being discharged into the city sewer. The existing macerator/pump system began to fail in late 2012, causing the facility’s administrators to seek an alternative.

Solution
Jensen Engineered Systems, a division of Jensen Precast, assisted the plumbing subcontractor in the design of a grinder/pump station. The preliminary design called for a large, pour-in-place concrete structure. The challenge of building the structure was that it was located between two high-rise buildings in close proximity. In addition, all mechanical equipment was to be located in a dry pit (no submersible motors), with complete system redundancy and one station to both grind and pump wastewater. The last requirement would typically be solved by passing wastewater through three independent structures: grinder vault, wet well and then a dry pit pump vault.

Result
The first and third structures were combined into one U-shaped design. By stacking two manhole bases, the footprint was minimized and a dry environment for the mechanical equipment was provided. Redundancy was provided by utilizing a three-way plug valve with an electric actuator on the upper grinder deck. Once a week, the sewage flow is redirected to the alternate grinder. Alternating duplex pumps were also used. The pump station has met all expectations since installation. 855/468-5600; www.jensenengineeredsystems.com.

  Lift station upgrades constant-speed pump system

Problem
In an effort to keep up with increased demand and the high probability of future development in the village, Romeoville, Ill., decided to make an upgrade to the existing duplex constant-speed pump system at the Woods Lift Station.

Solution
Based upon design suggestions by Metropolitan Industries, it was decided that the station be upgraded to a triplex system configuration, housed in three prefabricated concrete buildings, which would include separate chemical and generator rooms. In addition, the upgrade would include a new control system with cost-effective variable-frequency drives.

Result
The system now has three submersible explosion-proof sewage pumps each with a capacity of 2,084 gpm at 99 feet TDH. Each pump motor and VFD is rated to 125 hp. A 400 kW, diesel-fueled generator and automatic transfer switch, which are protected by the housing, support all three pumps during a power or phase failure. The generator’s automatic transfer switch recognizes any power failure, brownout or phase issues, and supplies clean power from the generator to the pumps until reliable power is regained, ensuring that unstable power cannot damage the motors, VFDs or other sensitive electrical equipment. 800/323-1665; www.metropolitanind.com.

  Large-volume motors move water in underground canal

Problem
The Delta-Mendota Canal/California Aqueduct Intertie project is the latest effort to relieve the water woes in the Golden State. The Intertie, or short canal, is a 500-foot underground canal and pumping station that moves water from the state-controlled California Aqueduct to the federally controlled Delta-Mendota Canal. Large-volume pumps and motors were needed to move the water.

Solution
Cascade Pump Company selected Nidec Motor Corporation to provide the motors for the four pumps. Powering the pumps are 1,000 hp Titan solid-shaft vertical motors from U.S. MOTORS. Because vertical motors are specifically designed for the pump application, they deliver superior durability and reliability.

Result
According to Cascade, the Nidec motors have performed to their expectations and are considered a major contributor to the success of the project. 888/637-7333; www.nidec-motor.com.

  Illinois municipality replaces outdated SCADA system and saves funds

Problem
The Lakes Region Sanitary District (LRSD) in Northwestern Lake County, Ill., needed to replace its failing SCADA system quickly. The integrator that supplied the system was no longer in business, leaving them with no source for replacement equipment. As units failed, they lost the ability to remotely monitor their stations, resulting in significant overtime expenses. The system required a complete cost-effective replacement that could be installed and operational as quickly as possible.

Solution
LRSD evaluated several systems and decided to hold a public bid for a new system that allowed PLC-based systems. LRSD awarded the contract to Precision Systems, a distributor for Scadata-Pac SCADA systems. Due to the simplicity of the Scadata-Pac system, LRSD elected to self-install the system to reduce costs.

Result
LRSD personnel were able to install the Scadata-Pac and make it operational on time and under budget. The system monitors 20 lift stations with over 200 inputs. The system delivers detailed alarm messages to operators’ cellphones, and performs complete trending and historical analysis of all connected processes, features not available with their old system. 708/891-4300; www.precision-systems.com.



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