Linking Efficiency to Functional Performance by a Pump Test Standard for Wastewater Pumps

Abstract

Upcoming Energy related Products (ErP) regulations on wastewater pumps by the European Commission will affect all pump manufacturers and operators of wastewater systems. Hence, the preparation of efficiency standards for wastewater pumps is intensively accompanied by input from the affected stakeholders and experts of different fields [1]. The previous approaches of ErP regulations, as in lot 11 (Electric motors, Ventilation fans, Circulators in buildings, Electric pumps), focus only on efficiency. However, when applying the philosophy of Ecodesign directly to wastewater pumps, the complex flow structure and the transport behaviour of this inhomogeneous multi-phase fluid must be taken into account. While efficiency is an important criterion, it is necessary to take the specifics of sewage transport into account when designing a new test standard, so as not to compromise on proven and “system-efficient” technologies. Therefore, the Berlin Institute of Technology is currently investigating wastewater compositions and limits for reliable pump operation in order to design a test standard for wastewater pumps comparable to the DIN EN ISO 9906 efficiency tests for clear water [2]. The test will assess the functional fulfilment level of the pump performance, differentiating between the wastewater classes.

Application and Evaluation of Energy Conservation Technologies in Wastewater Treatment Plants

“…Therefore, upgrading the sewage pump can improve energy efficiency without worrying about the disposal of the equipment. Although the European Commission's previous standards for wastewater pumps focused on energy efficiency, many recent studies have focused on reliability and delivery characteristics [128].…”

A Thin Film Fluid Structure Interaction Model for the Study of Flexible Structure Dynamics in Centrifugal Pumps

“…Pump optimization for this type of application often involves some form of compromise between hydraulic efficiency and anticlogging performances. A few studies [1][2][3][4][5] have attempted to characterize and quantify experimentally the mechanisms that lead to blockage and their impact on pump hydraulic performance. It has proven very difficult, however, to understand the behavior of thin flexible structures, so that the effectiveness and consequences of more subtle pump design changes are difficult to assess.…”

Characterisation of textile shape and position upstream of a wastewater pump under different part load conditions

“…Thamsen (2009) used Aro super dust cloths made for household cleaning, which are similar to the wet wipes found in wastewater, to create artificial wastewater and evaluate how the type of clogging depends on the pump operating point. The same type of dust cloths has since been used in several experimental investigations in TU Berlin as a part of a work to define a test standard for wastewater pumps (Pöhler et al 2015). In the present experiments the artificial wastewater is created using clean water and 20 of the mentioned dust cloths.…”