Pump Station Flush Pipe for Wastewater Tank Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pump stations for wastewater and sewage face issues with accumulation of solid matter and grease at the tank's surface and bottom, leading to structural damage and energy inefficiencies due to the need for additional energy to maintain cleanliness, particularly when using existing flush valve systems or 'snoring' operational strategies.
Innovation Solution
The pump station incorporates a flush pipe with its lower opening above the pump stop liquid level and a mechanical check valve, allowing automatic priming during liquid level rise, storing energy in a liquid column for mixing and circulation without additional energy input, and ensuring the flush pipe is emptied in each pump cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a flush valve is attached to the pump volute to discharge accumulated matter, then the tank cleanliness is improved, but the energy consumption increases due to pump running without transporting wastewater
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the flush function from the pump system by providing a separate flush pipe that bypasses the pump. The flush pipe has a lower opening below the pump and an upper opening above the pump, allowing wastewater to flow directly from the lower to upper opening without passing through the pump, thus eliminating energy consumption for flushing while maintaining tank cleanliness
Solution Approach 2:
The flush pipe acts as an intermediary element that provides a separate pathway for flushing operations. By introducing this intermediate structure, the system enables matter discharge without requiring pump activation, resolving the contradiction between maintaining cleanliness and consuming energy
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pump operates with liquid level below inlet to remove surface matter, then the tank cleanliness is improved, but noise and vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the matter removal function from the pump operation by providing a separate flush pipe system. The flush pipe's lower opening is positioned below the pump inlet, allowing the pump to operate normally without sucking air and creating noise, while the flush pipe handles surface matter removal separately through its dedicated pathway
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the pump runs continuously to prevent matter accumulation, then the tank cleanliness is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements periodic flushing action through the flush pipe system. The flush pipe can be activated periodically to discharge accumulated matter from the tank, while the pump operates only when needed for wastewater transport. This periodic operation of the flush pipe maintains cleanliness without requiring continuous pump operation, thus reducing energy consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration maintains the tank's cleanliness without using extra energy, effectively preventing solid matter accumulation and reducing operational noise and energy consumption, while ensuring efficient wastewater circulation and discharge.
Implementation Method 1
the valve is constituted by a mechanical check valve and configured to open/close fluid communication between the lower opening of the flush pipe and the upper opening of the flush pipe and configured to admit fluid flow in the direction from the lower opening of the flush pipe towards the upper opening of the flush pipe
Implementation Method 2
the flush pipe is configured to alternate between a primed state filled with liquid and a released state empty of liquid, the flush pipe being configured to go from the released state to the primed state when the pump is inactive
Implementation Method 3
the flush pipe is configured to go from the primed state to the released state when the pump is active
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
Figure 6~9
AI summary
The invention relates to a pump station for intermediate storage of liquid, such as wastewater, comprising a tank (2) configured to house said liquid, an inlet (5) for influent liquid flow, a pump (6) configured to intermittently discharge liquid from the tank (2) and an outlet (7) for effluent liquid flow. The pump station (1) is characterized in that the pump station comprises a flush pipe (9) having a lower opening (10) provided in said tank (2) and an upper opening (11), wherein the lower opening (10) of the flush pipe (9) is located below a pump start liquid level (15) of the tank (2), and wherein the flush pipe (9) comprises a valve (13) configured to open/close fluid communication between the lower opening (10) of the flush pipe (9) and the upper opening (11) of the flush pipe (9).