Course Descriptions
Week 1 – April 12
The Systems Approach
Learn how the systems approach can benefit the design engineer, manufacturer, sales representative, contractor and end user. If the facility design uses the systems approach as the basic philosophy, many pitfalls inherent in the low-bid approach should be avoided. At a minimum, the scope of supply should include pumps and guide-rails, access frames and covers (hatches), motor control, and pump station control systems. The scope can be expanded to include access hatches over a valve vault (if included in the design), variable frequency drives, pre-cast concrete wet well and valve vault, and all accessories, such as discharge gauges, check valves, plug valves, piping, etc. In the end, the goal is a quality project with no insurmountable issues during construction and successful operation with minimal call-backs after completion. Learn how the proper application of a systems approach can help all involved parties to reach this goal.
Week 2 – April 19
Smart Water Solutions
As our national infrastructure ages and loads increase on our wastewater treatment systems, operators are demanding equipment that delivers more efficiency, greater reliability and lower life cycle cost. Leading manufacturers are finding ways to deliver these contradictory goals by integrating intelligent controls and sensors into state-of-the-art hardware that can act autonomously to deal with problems and optimize performance without operator intervention. Attractive customer benefits and significant opex and capex savings can be achieved by this component intelligence, but for simplicity to achieve optimization we need total harmony of the network. Learn more about the breakthrough technology available as well as the substantial and tangible benefits of using intelligent equipment with a fully harmonized system.
Week 3 – April 26
AC Motors
This session deals with the construction, rating & application of submersible motors. The session will cover basic submersible motor construction features and will include detailed discussions of motor ratings such as efficiency, power factor, torque, insulation classes, etc.
Week 4 – May 3
Grinder Pumps and Pressure Sewers
Since the early 1970s, pressure sewer systems have been an effective method to move residential wastewater through small diameter pipes of a wastewater collection system where other methods are less economical and less feasible. It has taken more than four decades for pressure sewer systems to take their proper place within the public health engineering field. Today, these systems provide daily service to more than a million users worldwide and range in size from a single pump to thousands of pumps.
Week 5 – May 10
Large Grinder and Chopper Pumps
Historically, grinder pumps in the wastewater industry have been used in residential pressure sewers or for smaller lift stations where downtime is costly, such as restaurants, retail spaces, etc. These pumps were generally 1 to 2 horsepower and located at upstream points where the wastewater enters the system. As wastewater has changed with the advent of lower flow fixtures and increased use of “flushables,” larger capacity downstream lift stations that have historically employed solids-handling pumps are becoming more challenging to maintain due to chronic clogging and jamming issues. Although significant improvements have been made over the years with respect to impeller design, their success has been limited and the increase in downtime issues has inspired manufacturers to find more aggressive ways of dealing with these challenges. This training will provide a brief overview of the evolution of pump wet-end design, and then take a more detailed look into the new generation of larger horsepower grinder and chopper pumps, highlighting their differences, strengths and weaknesses, and culminating with some real-world examples of successful implementations.
Week 6 – May 17
Today's Wastewater Challenges
The introduction of new consumer products marketed as “flushables,” along with water conservation efforts, have combined to create many problems for wastewater utilities. Frequent clogging is one such problem in wastewater pump stations. During this presentation, learn more about:
. Characteristics of wastewater—yesterday and today
. Historical approach to wastewater solids handling
. How some manufacturers have responded to this common problem
. Alternative methods that can be effective in the elimination of clogging
Week 7 – May 24
Solutions for Managing Today’s Major Storms & Flood Event
As communities recover from hurricanes, record rainfall and flooding, utilities and businesses need to be prepared for the worst. This requires solutions for pumping stations, stormwater systems and emergency contingency plans. Learn how to evaluate station design and implement proper hydraulics while sizing pumps and other components correctly for efficiency. These solutions will help to manage today’s increasing number of natural disasters that produce excess stormwater and flooding.
Week 8 – May 31
Controls 101
This presentation will cover the most seen methods of level control with an explanation of some commonly used control topics. These following methods of level controls will be discussed: floats and float systems, bubbler systems, ultrasonic control and level probe control. Common control topics will include: The 4-20 mA loop, isolated versus non-isolated inputs, level control versus proportional integral derivative (PID) and more.
Week 9 – June 7
Applying VFDs to Submersible Pumps
Do you understand how submersible pumps operate on variable frequency drives (VFDs)? In this course, participants will learn how the pump’s performance is affected by the drive, and how to make good pump selections for use in variable speed applications. In addition, learn more about potential energy savings and rules of thumb for variable speed applications. NEMA MG1 part 31 will also be discussed.
Week 10 – June 14
Startup & Tuning
This session will address mechanical and electrical issues, generator testing, the pump end, level measurement, starter types, tuning to minimize starts and stops, and forcing alternatives. The required paperwork for starting and tuning a station and related issues will be discussed. As a reference tool, attendees will receive a complimentary copy of SWPA’s “Startup & Field Check-Out Procedures Manual for Submersible Sewage Lift Stations.” The panel of expert speakers will review station readiness prior to startup and demonstrate the requisite paperwork (A Start-Up Report), as well as review mechanical and electrical issues that need to be addressed before applying power. They will also cover the electrical point of view (the field service point of view verifying that the controls actually work), and the engineering point of view (verifying that the panel design meets specs)—both of which must be addressed after applying power. They will also review additional subjects and issues to consider, such as those items electrical inspectors will look for.
Free Manual
SWPA’s Manual “Start-Up & Field Checkout Procedures Manual for Submersible Sewage Lift Stations” will provide additional startup and field checkout procedures. It lists startup and checkout procedures at three separate levels, based on test equipment available.
Procedure A1 — Using a Multimeter
Procedure A2 — Using a Multimeter and a Clamp-On Ammeter
Procedure A3 — Using a Voltmeter, a Clamp-On Ammeter, and a Megohmmeter
In addition, procedures for flow and performance (flow and head) evaluations were developed and are included in this publication:
Procedure B1 — Flow Evaluation Using a Watch Displaying Seconds
Procedure B2 — Performance (Flow and Head) Using a Watch Displaying Seconds and a Pressure Gauge
The manual also includes a listing of periodic station checks and inspections, notes on operation and maintenance, a sample Start-Up Report Form, simple guidelines concerning a Station Log Book and Log Book Forms, information about standards setting organizations and a glossary of commonly used terms. Finally, as a reference tool, it includes a drawing and SWPA’s “Common Terminology for the Components of a Typical Submersible Pump Station.”