Patent ID: 8594851
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a plurality of pump stations feeding a wastewater treatment facility, each of the plurality of pump stations positioned exterior to the wastewater treatment facility so as to move wastewater from a position exterior to the wastewater treatment facility to a position interior to the wastewater treatment facility for treatment, the method comprising the step of controlling operation of the plurality of pump stations in a systematic fashion from a central location by activating pumps at the plurality of pump stations on a force main in an order of priority based on capacity of wet wells and intake volumes at the plurality of pump stations by manipulating a threshold level of activation for the wet wells; wherein the step of controlling the operation of pump stations in a systematic fashion includes causing the wet wells of one or more pump stations to fill to a secondary lead level, activating a sufficient number of pumps at one or more pump stations to pump down the wet wells, notifying the central location from each pump station of a status of the wet well and identifying of any pumps running, receiving a command from the central location if any relatively small pump is running on a force main to increase the threshold level of activation for wet wells associated with relatively larger pumps on that force main, and, if no relatively smaller pumps are operating, receiving a command from the central location to activate larger pumps at full pressure output by manipulating the threshold level of activation for the wet wells so that no relatively smaller pumps are operating on a force main at the same time that a larger pump is running on that force main.