Pumping Stations & Rising

Mains

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Pumping Stations
• In sewerage schemes, the topography may
dictate that sewage has to be lifted;
• Pumping required when gravity sewers become
too deep and sewage is required to be lifted to
higher level – transfer station;
• Design involves input from civil, mechanical,
electrical & instrumentation and is normally led
by civil designer;
• Important to recognise the requirements of all
disciplines at an early stage to ensure a
cohesive and integrated design;
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Pumping Stations (contd…)
• Sometimes architectural input required for
superstructure;
• Pumping stations require routine maintenance
and incur operating costs (mainly power) and
therefore inclusion of pumping stations must be
carefully considered in any scheme. Can they be
avoided?
• Effluent is pumped via rising mains (pressure
mains);
• Residence time is important and should be kept
as low as possible (<12 hours) to avoid septicity;
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Pumping Stations (contd…)
• Residence time is the length of time the sewage is in
the collection system (before it receives treatment);
• Septicity is the anaerobic decomposition of organic
matter, which produces Hydrogen Sulphide gas
(H2S) – foul odour. In suitable conditions, this gas
combines with water vapours to produce sulphuric
acid (H2SO4). This may condense onto pipe walls,
thereby corroding pipe material. This is a particular
problem in warm climates e.g. middle east. Vitrified
clay pipes are used here as they are resistant to
chemicals. Also GRP lined concrete pipes have
been used.
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Pumping Stations (contd…)

• Pumping stations are generally in low lying

areas and therefore risk of flooding is
significant;
• Structural design includes anti flotation checks
as well as water retaining design (Eurocode 2,
ISEN 1992, Part 3 (formerly BS 8007)).

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Pumping Stations (contd…)
Type:- Wet Well

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Pumping Stations (contd…) Pumps are submerged
in the liquid which also
Type:- Wet Well (contd…) functions to keep the
pump cool. Electric
motor sealed from
surrounding fluid

Pumps operate on a
start stop basis and
pump capacity must
exceed rate of flow
arriving at station.

Sump water level

dictates operation of
pumps, generally via
ultrasonic level sensors.
(Float switches shown on this
sectional drawing)

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Pumping Stations (contd…)
Type:- Wet Well (contd…)

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Pumping Stations (contd…)
Type:- Wet Well / Dry Well

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Pumping Stations (contd…)
Type:- Wet Well / Dry Well (contd…)

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Pumping Stations (contd…)
Type:- Wet Well / Dry Well (contd…)

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Pumping Stations (contd…)
Type:- Wet Well / Dry Well (contd…)

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Pumping Stations (contd…)
Type:- Wet Well / Dry Well (contd…)

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Pumping Stations (contd…)
Type:- Wet Well / Dry Well (contd…)

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Pumping Stations (contd…)

Dry Well of Main

Lift Pumping
Station

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Pumping Stations (contd…)
• Other construction efficient shapes are circular
(caisson construction), particularly for deep
pumping stations;
• Screening upstream of the pumps is an
important consideration. This is required to
protect the pumps. Removal of the screenings
must be considered also;
• It is essential that maintenance issues be
incorporated into the design at an early stage.
This involves consultation with end user and
possibly retraining for operatives.
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 Pumping Stations (contd…)
Operation:-
• Start/Stop basis;
• Effluent stored in wet well of pumping station;
• Minimum 2 pumps – Duty/Standby (alternating);
• Sometimes (larger schemes), duty assist pump
included (for economical reasons also);
• Control by ultrasonic / float
– Pump start level
– Pump stop level
– High level alarms / Low level alarms
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 Pumping Stations (contd…)

Design:-
• Wet well design should consider the following:-
– the liquid to be pumped;
– Prevention of excess solids deposition and
– Suitable flow conditions (no swirl or vortex
activity) at the intake.

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Pump Specification

Pumps may be fixed or variable speed. Fixed speed

used if flow rates are well known & consistent.
Variable speed used to match variable flow rates
with wide range of pumping heads.

Note that multiple fixed speed pumps can also be

set up to deal with varying flow rates

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The function of a pump is to provide an increase in
pressure (head) to the flow, sufficient to overcome
static, friction & shock (minor) losses.
Note:- Pump required to lift
liquid to highest point, which
may not always be at the
discharge location!

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Pumps in Series

Discharge as for a single

pump.

This arrangement facilitates

increased head for given flow

H-Q curve for 2 pumps in

parallel established by
doubling H for given Q.

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Pumps in Parallel

Parallel pumps with independent suction lines discharge to

common rising main.
This arrangement facilitates increased flow for given head
H-Q curve for 2 pumps in parallel established by doubling Q
for given H. Energy Environment Infrastructure
Pumping Station Design (Cont’d)

Important not to over / under estimate system

characteristics as this will affect pump efficiency

Note:-
The overall efficiency comprises the pump efficiency
( & the motor efficiency (
Overall Efficiency, = x

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Note:

Pump Efficiency =

Motor Efficiency =

Overall Efficiency = =

Overall Efficiency, = x

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Pump start & stop level locations
Pump start level
between low level &
incoming flow pipe;
Pump stop level
typically at or slightly
above pump casing;
High level alarm at
location above incoming
sewer & below high
level overflow;
Storage volume is
volume between pump
start level & pump stop
level.
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Design of Rising (pumped) mains
• Pipe generally laid along contours of ground with
minimum 900mm cover. Allow for air-release
valves, scour valves as necessary;
• Design based on sufficient velocity to scour
deposited solids from main;
• Ideal velocity in the region of 1.5m/s;
• Low velocities (<0.8m/s) can result in the build up
of slime and potential septicity problems;
• High velocities (>3m/s) can give rise to excessive
turbulence and pumping inefficiencies.
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Design of Rising (pumped) mains (cont’d…)
• Trial pipe size,
Where = Pipe diameter (mm)
= Design Flow (l/s)
• Typically minimum rising mains size 100mm but
may be as small as 50mm provided macerator
pumps installed to reduce solids size;
• Long term pump operation (economics) must
be considered.

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Power Requirements

Work done when a force is moved through a

distance.
Power = Rate at which work performed
If pump required to lift flow, against a head H(m),
then required Power,

P=
Units:-
=
=N
= Watt
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Power Requirements (Cont’d)

Need to take account of efficiencies

(Pump Efficiency & Motor Efficiency)

Installed Power Requirements:-

Pinstalled =

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Example:-
Calculate the installed pump power required to
convey a flow of 0.25 through a rising main with a
total calculated head, H = 25m

Take = 60%, = 85%

= = 120,220W
≈ 120kW

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Note:-
Sometimes dual rising mains are used to
accommodate uncertain future flow requirements or
to accommodate build up of flows over time. This
arrangement also provides operational flexibility (i.e.
if one main out of action, the other is available for
use etc.)

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Example: (Cont’d)-

Calculate annual power requirements (for previous

example) assuming that pump is operating for 6
hours per day and electricity charges are €0.15/kWh.

Annual Cost:-
120kW x 6hrs/day x 365days/annum x €0.15/kWh
= €39,420/annum

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