6.2.3 Pneumatic boosting supply system (Fig.

4 & 5)

A pneumatic system comprises of sump or main storage tank, transfer

pump set (duty and standby), and a pneumatic cylinder with pressure
sensor/switches controllers.

City water supply is firstly connected to the sump tank. From this tank
water supply is pumped into a pressure vessel located near the sump tank
which also serves as the main storage. This pressure vessel is pre-charged
with an inert gas to pressurize the rubber diaphragm. The pre-charged gas
imposes a pressure on the surface of the rubber diaphragm to boost the
water supply pressure for delivery to the draw-off points. By adjusting the
pre-charge pressure, the pressure for delivery can be regulated to the
desired figure.

The pumps working together with sensing the water pressure inside the
pipework operates together the pneumatic tank. When the water level is
drawn down at the draw-off points, the water pressure will fall. The
pressure switches will actuate the pump. By the time when the water
pressure built-up to the high water level, the pump will stop.

The pressure switches in the pipework actuate the pump coupled to the
pneumatic tank. Assume that the pressure in the tank is lower than P1, and
the pump is charging water into the tank. The pumping rate is larger than
the consumption rate and the pressure in the tank increases steadily. When
the pressure in the tank has increased to P2, the pump will stop. The air
pressure in the pneumatic tank then maintains the pressure in the system.
As water is being consumed, the pressure of the air falls and if it drops to
P1, the pump will be switched on to start another cycle.

The disadvantage of this system is that it requires a pressure vessel

manufactured from metal creating additional maintenance work. Another
disadvantage is that during periods of no-draw off, the compressed air enters
the water as oxygen and this in turn causes more rapid corrosion of cold
water pipes.

Nitrogen is an alternative gas used to replace compressed air. It is separated

from the water in the tank by a membrane made of elastomer. However,
there is always some absorption of the gas by the water. As such, there is
the need for periodic recharging of the gas in the pneumatic tank.

Chapter 2 Page 32
 Figure 4 Pneumatic Boosting Supply System

Figure 5 Operation of a Pneumatic Tank under a Pneumatic Boosting Water Supply System

Chapter 2 Page 33
 6.2.4 Variable speed pump supply system (Fig. 6 & 7)

The performance of a centrifugal water pump varies its flow rate output
by operating at different pressure. The performance curves of a centrifugal
pump are shown in Figure 7. This curve shows the variation of the output
pressure with flow rate.

Suppose that the design flow rate and pressure are Fd and Pd, respectively. If
the pump speed remains unchanged, say fixed at l500 rpm, and the demand
drops from Fd to F1, the system pressure will be increased to P1. The value
of P1 is very much greater than P d and will cause trouble: water leakage
from pipes, water jerking out of taps, and so forth. Changing the pump
speed to a lower one, say 600 rpm, as shown in Figure 6 may eliminate this
problem. A typical variable speed pump uses a sensor to monitor the
pressure of the supply system. The signal from the sensor is received by a
controller which decides whether to increase or decrease the pump speed.
The output of the controller is passed to an actuator which physical

changes the speed of the pump.

Figure 6 Typical Performance Curve for a Centrifugal Pump

There are several methods of changing the speeds of pumps. Examples of

which are gearbox, variable speed D.C. motor, and solid-state power
frequency charger.

The main storage will remain on the ground or basement floor. The
variable speed pump transfers the water supply up to the roof. It has a
major drawback similar to the pneumatic supply system is no reserve.

Chapter 2 Page 34
 A typical variable speed pumping system is shown in Figure 7. In the
system, there are pressure sensors which monitor the pressure of the water
system. The signal from the sensor is received by a controller which
decides whether to increase or decrease the pump speed. The output of the
controller is passed to an actuator which physically changes the speed of the
pump.

Although the initial investment cost is greater than for conventional

pump/booster systems, variable speed pumping system is still favoured by
many engineering consultants.

A typical example is the Nikko Hotel in East Tsim Sha Tsui Kowloon, HK,
where the hotel is sited. There is a height restriction on buildings, a limit of
20 storeys above ground. By using variable speed pumps, the designers of
the water supply system eliminated the need for roof tanks to give a head to
the supply and permitted an extra floor to be used for commercial purposes.

Figure 7 Variable Speed Pump Water Supply system

Chapter 2 Page 35
 Another reason why the variable speed pumps become acceptable in hotels
is that they are very suitable for maintaining constant pressure in the water
supply. There are few things that upset hotel guests, paying high room rates,
than sudden changes in water pressure when they are having a shower. The
balance between hot and cold supply is upset and the guest is subject to near
scalding water one moment and cold the next.

Partly for this reason, variable speed pumps have been installed at the
Peninsula Hotel, the Kowloon Hotel and some of the new hotels at Pacific
Place in Hong Kong.

Of course, by eliminating the roof tank, there is also a reduction of loading

on the building foundations.

In addition, variable speed pumps offer the opportunity for energy savings
in water supply by virtue of the fact that they can be run at maximum
efficiency. And when hundreds of apartments with thousands of people are
involved, the saving of pumping energy is significant.

The basic disadvantage is that supplies would cease to be available to

tenants immediately the pumps stop operating as no roof storage is
provided. Pumps must therefore be duplicated to allow for maintenance, but
even then, no water would be available during power failures to the pumps.

6.2.5 Top floor boosting supply system (Fig. 8)

This system will work together with an indirect water supply system and
it is quite a common system to improve the top three floors water supply
pressure due to no elevation of the roof tank. The top floor directly under
the water tank will find insufficient pressure to operate the water heater
and lack of water pressure to have a nice shower wash.

As a rule of thumb, 10 metres static above the highest fixture will just
adequate to operate the water heater and shower unit. The week pressure
will create difficulties to operate an effective supply system.

The top floor boosting system is a reverse pneumatic boosting water

supply system. The pneumatic boosting pump will be installed on the roof
to improve the weak pressure if directly supply under the tank. The water
will pass through the pneumatic tank and flowing downwards. Pressure
sensors will also be installed to control the pump operation. The top floor
boosting supply system will gain some static head from the dropper. The
working principle is similar to a pneumatic boosting supply system.

Chapter 2 Page 36
 Figure 8 Top Floor Boosting Supply System

6.2.6 Gravity supply system (Fig. 9)

Similar to the top floor boosting system, it works with an indirect water
supply system. But in this case, the water tank is elevated to approximate
two-storeys above the roof. The elevation will increase the static column
to deliver the water to the water draw off points under the gravitational
force. The usual location will be above the lift machine room. That will
make up to 10 metres above the top fixture.

Figure 9 Gravity Supply System

Chapter 2 Page 37
7. Flushing water supply modes

The flushing water supply system according to the local regulation cannot adopt the
direct supply system. The indirect system must be used. Moreover, there is also a need
for storage. Similar to indirect water supply systems, like sump and pump supply system,
cascade sump and pump supply system, or pneumatic boosting supply system can be
adopted. The materials must be suitable for seawater use. The town main pressure is
advised at 150 kPa. Direct supply to the roof tank depends very much on the roof tank
position.

The roof tank will supply the lower floors by gravity supply system similar to cold water.
Due to the flushing cisterns of water closet or urinal did not demand a high pressure, a 4
metre available pressure will be sufficient. Hence, flushing water supply seldom engaged
pneumatic boosting systems.

8. Type of Water Meters and Metering requirements

Paying for the cold water consumption is the first consideration that the designers or
engineers must be allowed in the system design. The consideration of metering
requirement will be based on several principles:

8.1.1 Each tenant should have his or her own water bill.
8.1.2 Separate usage should be counted with different flow and metered
separately.
8.1.3 Industrial and manufacturing process are considered for large
consumption and metered separately.
8.1.4 Independent water supply systems should be allowed with a separate
meter.
8.1.5 Fire services will be allowed with a check meter position.
8.1.6 Flushing water supply should be provided with a check meter position.
8.1.7 Temporary fresh water main for flushing will be allowed with a meter.
8.1.8 Air-conditioning should be allowed with a check meter position.
8.1.9 Metered cleansing water supply will be equipped with a check meter
position.
8.1.10 Swimming pool will be separately metered.

Type of water meters

8.2.1 Positive
8.2.2 Semi-positive
8.2.3 Inferential
8.2.4 Combination meter units

According to the usage, water meters will be classified to either domestic meter or
trades supply meter. There will be a third one, it will be the free supplies meter for
Government department.

8.3 Characteristic of water meter

A good meter should have the following characteristics:

Chapter 2 Page 38
 8.3.1 It should not offer any resistance to the flow of water.
8.3.2 It should record even a leak of 10 litres/hour.
8.3.3 It should measure discharge up to 20% accuracy.
8.3.4 All its parts should be of non-corrosion alloy.
8.3.5 It should be easy to maintain and repair.
8.3.6 It should have screen in its inlet sides to exclude the clay, silt, grit, etc.
8.3.7 It should not be very costly.

8.4 Advantages and disadvantages of using meters in distribution system

8.4.1 Advantages
a) Wastage of water is reduced.
b) Consumer pay only for the quantity of water actually used by them.
c) Waste water surveys can be more easily carried out.
d) The consumers are careful about putting off the taps when not required.
e) Because of reduced consumption of water, comparative load on
treatment plant is reduced.

8.4.2 Disadvantages
a) The installation and maintenance of meters adds to the cost of water.
b) Installation of meter caused loss of head.
c) Consumers tend to economize use of water, which may lead to in
sanitary condition.
d) Deflective meters cause loss to consumer or water authority as the case
may be.
e) The user has to pay for meter charges even when he does not use the
water.

Reference Web Site

1. Whipps Wood Consulting

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~schya/index.html

2. Yahoo! Real Estate

http://verticals.yahoo.com/reinfo/usinspect/hwheater.html

3. Rules & Regulations of the Department of Water Supply

http://www.mauiwater.org/rules.html

4. Waterworks Regulations for WSD

http://www.info.gov.hk/wsd/regulate.html

Chapter 2 Page 39