Robust model for estimating pumping station characteristics and sewer flows from standard pumping station data

Martin Fencl*, Morten Grum, Morten Borup, Peter Steen Mikkelsen

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

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    Abstract

    Flow data represent crucial input for reliable diagnostics of sewer functions and identification of potential problems such as unwanted inflow and infiltration. Flow estimates from pumping stations, which are an integral part of most separate sewer systems, might help in this regard. A robust model and an associated optimization procedure is proposed for estimating inflow to a pumping station using only registered water levels in the pump sump and power consumption. The model was successfully tested on one month of data from a single upstream station. The model is suitable for identification of pump capacity and volume thresholds for switching the pump on and off. These are parameters which are required for flow estimation during periods with high inflows or during periods with flow conditions triggering pump switching on and off at frequencies close to the temporal resolution of monitored data. The model is, however, sensitive within the transition states between emptying and filling to observation errors in volume and on inflow/outflow variability.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalWater Science and Technology
    Volume79
    Issue number9
    Pages (from-to)1739-1745
    ISSN0273-1223
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Keywords

    • Flow estimation
    • Level data
    • Power consumption
    • Pumping station
    • Urban hydrology

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