Tag: energy
Introduction In the hierarchy of wastewater treatment equipment, process pumps often receive the bulk of engineering attention. However, the humble dewatering pump acts as the critical fail-safe for plant operations. Engineers frequently encounter a scenario where a tank needs emergency draining, or a gallery floods during a storm event, only to find the portable or […]
Introduction One of the most persistent misconceptions in municipal wastewater engineering is that positive displacement (PD) pumps are immune to the hydraulic sensitivities that plague centrifugal systems. While it is true that double disc pumps (DDP) are robust, self-priming, and capable of handling high solids, they remain subject to the fundamental laws of fluid mechanics. […]
INTRODUCTION A frequent failure mode in municipal water and industrial wastewater applications is not the catastrophic burst of a casing, but the silent, cumulative degradation of insulation and mechanical seals due to thermal stress. Engineers often prescribe Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) to improve energy efficiency, assuming that slowing a pump down inherently reduces stress on […]
Introduction One of the costliest errors in municipal wastewater design is the mismatch between pump metallurgy and fluid characteristics. Engineers often default to 316 Stainless Steel for its “universal” corrosion resistance, only to witness premature failure due to abrasive scour in grit-heavy sludge applications. Conversely, specifying standard Grey Cast Iron for septic receiving stations can […]
Introduction The modern wastewater stream has undergone a radical transformation in the last two decades. The proliferation of non-dispersible synthetic fabrics—commonly known as “flushable” wipes—combined with water conservation mandates that reduce transport velocities, has created a perfect storm for municipal and industrial operators. For engineers involved in lift station design and treatment plant operations, the […]
Introduction One of the most frequent points of failure in municipal pumping infrastructure involves the misapplication of pump geometry to the wet well environment. While submersible non-clog pumps dominate small to medium sewage lift stations, engineers frequently turn to vertical turbine pumps (VTPs) for high-flow, high-head, or footprint-constrained applications. However, a staggering number of these […]
INTRODUCTION One of the most persistent causes of premature equipment failure in municipal and industrial fluid handling systems is the disconnect between the design point and the actual operating reality. Engineers frequently specify pumps for a peak flow condition that occurs less than 5% of the time, leaving operators to manage equipment that runs inefficiently—and […]
Introduction Sludge digestion remains one of the most volatile and critical unit processes in wastewater treatment. A sour anaerobic digester or a foaming aerobic basin can cost a utility tens of thousands of dollars in chemical buffering, hauled waste fees, and regulatory fines. For design engineers and plant superintendents, the reliability of the “eyes and […]
1) INTRODUCTION In the design of municipal water and wastewater infrastructure, the management of fluid dynamics and headspace containment represents a critical intersection of hydraulics, structural engineering, and environmental control. One of the most frequent trade-off analyses engineers face—particularly in surge control and storage applications—involves choosing between active pressurized containment and passive atmospheric covering. This […]
Introduction In the design of municipal water and wastewater treatment systems, the distinction between static storage and dynamic hydraulic control is often the line between long-term reliability and catastrophic failure. Engineers frequently encounter scenarios where fluid containment overlaps with pressure management, leading to critical decisions regarding vessel specification. A common point of confusion arises when […]