TonyBr
Civil/Environmental
- Jun 3, 2003
- 3
I am currently investigating connecting 2 existing treated water distribution systems together by laying a new pumped pipeline between 2 clear water tanks sited at the existing water treatment works.
It is intended that one of the water treatment works will be upgraded and the other decommissioned, with the upgraded one supplying both zones.
A pumping station will be built to boost the water over the hill from one tank to the other, gravitating down the hill to the other tank. The intention is to control the pumps by water level in the downstream tank, having the pumps switch on and off at min and max levels.
The issue is that when the pumps are switched off leakage within the pipeline will draw the pressure down, potentially causing ingress of ground water.
My thought is to install a small tank on top of the hill … or maybe a pressure vessel at the pumping station to keep most of the main charged to above atmospheric pressure….. the problem with this is the length of main either side of the tank may be at less that 10m when the pumps are off.
An alternate option would be to have the pumps run all the time to maintain a constant level in the downstream tank……. But this obviously has the issue of maintenance of the pumps and high energy consumption.
It is our intention to install a turbine on the downstream side of the hill, to try and recover some of the energy.
Has anyone come across similar situations, how did you prevent ingress of groundwater into your pipe line? Would you use either of the above 3 options, if so which one?
Hopefully my sketch clarifies my description above.
Thanks in advance Tony
It is intended that one of the water treatment works will be upgraded and the other decommissioned, with the upgraded one supplying both zones.
A pumping station will be built to boost the water over the hill from one tank to the other, gravitating down the hill to the other tank. The intention is to control the pumps by water level in the downstream tank, having the pumps switch on and off at min and max levels.
The issue is that when the pumps are switched off leakage within the pipeline will draw the pressure down, potentially causing ingress of ground water.
My thought is to install a small tank on top of the hill … or maybe a pressure vessel at the pumping station to keep most of the main charged to above atmospheric pressure….. the problem with this is the length of main either side of the tank may be at less that 10m when the pumps are off.
An alternate option would be to have the pumps run all the time to maintain a constant level in the downstream tank……. But this obviously has the issue of maintenance of the pumps and high energy consumption.
It is our intention to install a turbine on the downstream side of the hill, to try and recover some of the energy.
Has anyone come across similar situations, how did you prevent ingress of groundwater into your pipe line? Would you use either of the above 3 options, if so which one?
Hopefully my sketch clarifies my description above.
Thanks in advance Tony