Pressure stations

The task of the pressure rising station is to increase the pressure in the transport of water over a distance. The stations are built both above ground and below ground. The stations are dimensioned for current requirements for flow and pressure increase. Pressure boosting requirements can range from small communities for remote communities to separate pressure zones in cities that guarantee rapid response to contamination scenarios. The work must be carried out in order to fulfill the protection class 2 according to SSF 200: 4 - the protection class Livsmedelsverkets places on distribution facilities of drinking water. The challenge with pressure boosting stations is that condensation easily arises on the surface of the cold pipes in the station. Even if the air feels dry, there is water in the air. Hot air keeps more moisture than cold. This means that the moisture present in the "dry" air is deposited on the pipes, which usually have a temperature below 10 ° C. That temperature is the dew point and it is the one that controls the relative humidity level (RH) that must be kept. Many keep warm in their stations to lower the relative humidity level. It usually helps against mould in the station but not against rust because heating does not remove the water from the air. The heating makes it possible for the air to hold more water - but it does not help with the cold pipes. So lower the heat in the station and let the cold pipes instead become the ones that instead heat the room when it is cool outside.

The right moisture level

What is needed is a controlled humidity level below 60% relative humidity (RH) to avoid corrosion and mould but also to reduce bacterial growth. This requires a controlled relative humidity at the temperatures that can cause condensation on the cold pipes - not in the air otherwise. See the Mollier chart where the curve for condensation (saturation) is indicated as 100% RH at different temperatures.

We recommend having a dew point sensor connected to our air dehumidifier for pressure boosting stations. It then senses the temperature of the coldest surface in the room (pipes) and which then controls the dehumidifier to extract as much water from the air so that condensation does not occur.

Simple installation

We do not have to knock any holes in the walls or pull long pipes and our dehumidification technology is as energy efficient in cold as hot spaces. The dehumidifier can be mounted on a wall bracket which allows it to be easily mounted on the wall so that the floor is kept free in the station building. Regular 1-phase 230V plug is enough to get started. The water is most easily led away with a hose to a swamp or other runoff. If there is no run-off, it is possible to dissolve with a collecting vessel or pump to divert the condensate.

Profitability calculation

Heating using a typical electric element consumes just over 3200 kWh per year. An Airwatergreen dehumidifier consumes an average of 500 kWh in a normal-sized pressure boosting station. It provides a substantial saving in energy and ensures that costs for renovation due to rust and mould are eliminated.

INSTALLATIONS IN PRESSURE STATIONS

Airwatergreen currently has a large number of installations in pressure boosting stations. In some cases, the dehumidifier works independently against the set dew point and in other cases it is connected to the existing monitoring system. The products are built to withstand the tough environment that applies with few moving parts and well thought out material choices and an IP63 classification. The air passing through the dehumidifiers not only dehumidified but also filtered so that dust and insects are caught. It creates the conditions for a good work environment!