While the level transmitter is small, it is a critical component in a sewage lift or pump station to maintain system integrity and avoid spillage.  Sewage lift and pump stations are an integral part of the wastewater industry, the need for improving technology has been high.  Level transmitters are proving to reduce maintenance and ultimately increasing productivity.

History of Sewage Lift and Pump Stations

Sewage Lift or Pump Stations’ aim is to move sewage from one level to a higher elevation.  Within the last few years, the level transmitter has had serious development.

The installation costs of a lift or station can range from $150,000 to $1.5 million USD based on capacity and complexity.  So, the technology to make the industry more productive and efficient is critical.

The Level Sensor Technology

The level sensor provides feedback to the pump as to when to switch on and off.  While there are many technologies for measuring, it is about finding a cost-effective solution.  Submerged hydrostatic pressure transmitters can withstand environmental conditions and provide continuous monitoring.  They also are at a better price point and have long-term reliability.

PMC Engineering saw the need for better technology and developed dedicated sensors especially for this application.  They designed the features into this level/pressure transmitter to overcome the challenges facing sewage lift stations.

The PMC Solution

Many lift stations are located in inaccessible places, which makes reliability a requirement.  The design needs to be clean with high integrity seals.  Due to the nature of the effluent, it must expose the sensing element to avoid clogging.

The technology also provides a very high overpressure of at least three times the rated range, with no degradation of the sensor performance.   This protects the transmitter against damage due to overflow or back pressures.

The electrical connection is another design feature that PMC took into account.  Avoiding O-rings is important because they will generally overflow over time.  The most reliable solution is to incorporate a customer molded cable utilizing thick polyurethane.

The level transmitter is light in weight and when it is preferred to position the transmitter a few inches from the tank bottom it is common to use as a sink weight.

Reduction in Maintenance

The cable termination is important for several reasons.  Not only to provide the connection to the control system and the pump but also to provide an outlet for the breather tube to the atmospheric pressure.  This is key to ensure the correct operation of the transmitter.  It protects it from being affected by changes in barometric pressure.  It must be protected from the ingress of moisture.  There are many techniques for this, such as the use of desiccant within the termination enclosure, to enhance the long-term reliability of the level transmitter.

PMC has developed a sealed Mylar enclosure which requires zero maintenance.  It also does not rely on the use of desiccants or consumables.

SRP control systems ltd Can Help

The high integrity of a well-developed pressure level transmitter provides reliable, zero maintenance, level monitoring, and pump control for the sewage lift stations.  With the enhancements, PMC has made the monitoring of the facility is more effective.  SRP control systems ltd is the sole Canadian distributor of PMC equipment. If you have any questions about what will work best for your facility’s needs, we can help.  Contact our engineers today.