This white paper discusses monitoring the force main and pump speed via a patented algorithm to add a standalone pump station to a common force main with multiple pump stations already in service. Readers of this white paper will learn about conventional approaches to the problem, including:
- Costly communication systems, tying all the pump stations together, which limit the number of pump stations online at the same time.
- Oversizing the pump and/or pump motor.
- Orifice plates or partially closed discharge valves to create artificial head and prevent run-out — resulting in increased energy usage and increased chances for choked piping.
- Installation of a flowmeter with feedback loop to a VFD to maintain a constant flow rate regardless of head. The flowmeter complicates the operation of the station and requires additional infrastructure.
