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Final Report: Stormwater Flow Control Device
EPA Contract Number: EPD05055Title: Stormwater Flow Control Device
Investigators: Boner, Mark C.
Small Business: WWETCO LLC
EPA Contact: Manager, SBIR Program
Phase: II
Project Period: April 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006
Project Amount: $224,797
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2004)
Research Category: SBIR - Wastewater Management , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Description:
The patented WWETCO technology is a passive flow control device that consists of an upward opening flexible bladder in a structure containing a static fluid (adjustable) that seals the bladder against all or a portion of a conduit that transports dry and/or wet weather flow. The technology can be used in a stream or water conveyance channel, in a piping network, in a storage basin or structure, and as a part of a treatment system. The operational hypothesis is that the bladder will open from the bottom to relieve excess flow (and solids) to maintain a maximum upstream liquid level equal to or slightly above the contained static liquid level over the bladder and will close when the upstream level drops slightly below the contained static liquid level.
The technology is designed to optimize diversion to or around treatment and/or for the attenuation of wet weather flow. Operation is passive, riding on the drainage system hydraulic gradient, optimizing available upstream storage without need for control instrumentation or mechanical devices. Because the bladder opens from the bottom of the conduit, it is non-clogging and opens to provide full-bore peak flow so as to not impede system capacity. The technology can be designed to seal the conduit completely, diverting all flow below an adjustable static control level or partially, allowing passage at the invert for dry weather flow such as sewage in a combined sewer in-line storage application or stream base flow. In stream applications, passage of base flow also enables the bi-directional migration of aquatic biology.
Phase I SBIR research objectives included pilot-scale testing that demonstrated the operational concept of the technology. Phase II SBIR research objectives included design development, pilot testing of alternative prototypes, and full-scale verification testing of operational objectives.
Phase II efforts included alternative material selections and destructive testing; alternative fabrication designs for different materials and applications; additional pilot-scale testing of alternative designs and applications; associations for fabrication and sales; full-scale fabrication and installation at three project locations; field-testing of full-scale installations at two locations; and commercialization activities including literature development and dissemination through technical papers, workshops, conference exhibits, and Web page development.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):Product development resulted in more than one method of technology design, fabrication, and installation. Several fabrications and different bladder materials were pilot tested. It was demonstrated that some designs did not meet the operational objectives and others re-confirmed earlier Phase I results. One of the successful designs was chosen for three full-scale project installations in which two had multiple flow control devices installed. These installations were fitted with bladders having different materials, flexibilities, and strengths. Full-scale installations were found to fully meet the operational hypothesis of the technology. Measurement data and observations provided new information on strength, flexibility, and construction techniques. Lessons learned from the full-scale testing will be incorporated into future fabrication designs, product development, and implementation alternatives.
Conclusions:The WWETCO flow control technology is a simple, passive approach to control the full range of wet weather flows. It requires no instrumentation or mechanical features to make it work. It uses a static liquid level against the drainage system hydraulic gradient to attenuate wet weather hydrographs. It reduces downstream velocities. It optimizes available upstream storage. It maintains a desired upstream level. It opens from the bottom up and is self-cleaning. It can be provided with an orifice at the invert of the flow conduit for the passage of base flows allowing the bi-directional passage of aquatic biology or the passage of dry weather wastewater flows. It is easily adaptable to existing infrastructure. There is no other device exactly like it in the marketplace. The benefits of the flow control are extensive and can be used for flow attenuation and diversion, settling, erosion reduction, treatment optimization, floatables capture, sediment control, habitat improvement, wetland restoration, groundwater flow augmentation, irrigation, and recreational water level control.
Supplemental Keywords:small business, SBIR, EPA, flow control, attenuation, retention, storage, drainage, diversion, stormwater, wet weather flow, hydraulic control, runoff, urban runoff, agriculture runoff, sedimentation, erosion, BMP, CSO, SSO, stormwater ponds, storm drainage, creek flows, culverts, in-line storage, off-line storage, split-stream flow, passive flow control, flood control, aquatic biology migration, irrigation water control, floatables control, trash trap, sediment control, settling control, aquatic habitat improvement, wetland restoration, groundwater augmentation, flow optimization, erosion control, erosion reduction, velocity reduction, velocity control, rainfall, wet weather treatment, wastewater treatment, water level control, water quality control, water pollution,
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Water, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Scientific Discipline, Wastewater, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Water Pollution Control, Wet Weather Flows, Environmental Engineering, Ecology and Ecosystems, Urban and Regional Planning, wastewater treatment, flow monitor, control technologies, sewage, aqueous waste stream, flow controls, storm water, aqueous waste, combined sewer overflows, hydraulic flow controls, stormwater, urban runoff, wastewater discharges
Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract