Pressure stations

The task of the pressure rising station is to increase the pressure in the transport of drinkingwater 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.

One challenge with pressure stations is the condensation that will be on surfaces of cold pipes in the station. Even if the air feels dry, there is water in the air! Warm air can hold more moisture than cold. This means that the moisture present in the "dry" air is deposited on the surfaces of the pipes, typically having a temperature below 10 ° C. That temperature is the dew point and this is what defines the relative humidity level (RH) that must be maintained to avoid condensation. Just warming up the air in the station will thus not keep condensation away as the air is still there. What is needed is to remove water from the air to a level suitable for the temperature on the cold surfaces.

We recommend to lower the temperature in the station and let the cold pipes instead warm up the station when it is cold outside!

Return of Investment

Maintaining av warm pressure station using a typical electrical element consumes between 10,000 - 12,000 kWh per year based on the data we have available. An Airwatergreen dehumidifier consumes on average significantly less than 3,500 kWh per year. Rather under 2,000 kWh in the installations where our customers have measured the power consumption. This provides with a substantial energy saving of between 8,000 - 10,000 kWh per year! How much money will that add up to with your price/kWh and the numer of stations you are operating?!

In addition, you of course reduce the costs of renovation by eliminating corrosion, damage to electronics and mold!

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. A relative humidity at the temperatures that can cause condensation on the cold pipes - not in the air otherwise.

See the Mollier chart below where the curve for condensation (saturation) is indicated as 100% RH at different temperature.

We recommend having a dew point sensor connected to our air dehumidifier for pressure stations. In this way the temperature of the coldest surface in the room (the pipes) control the dehumidifier in an optimal way to extract the water needed to avoid condensation and any damages from humidity.

Plug'n play installation

We do not need to install any unnecessary ventilation pipes and our dehumidification technology is as energy efficient at low temperature. 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.

The Airwatergreen dehumidifiers are built to withstand the tough environment that applies 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.