Method for determining a pump station capacity measure

A method for determining a Pump Station Capacity Measure (PSCM) value in relation to a theoretical or actual Precipitation Event as calculated or measured using a source of precipitation information data in an area of a pump station, the pump station comprising a tank for temporary storage of a liquid, an inlet for influent liquid, an outlet, at least one pump configured for transporting the liquid away from the tank via the outlet, at least one control unit connected to the at least one pump, to at least one sensor operatively mounted on the pump station, to the source of precipitation data information, and to a variable frequency drive operative to control a speed of the at least one pump, the at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

• one or more liquid level sensors configured to measure a liquid level in the tank, a flowmeter configured to measure the inflow, and a flowmeter configured to measure outflow, the method comprising the steps of:
• with the at least one control unit:
• determining a Precipitation Inflow character (IN-RAIN) of the pump station representative of the inflow of the influent liquid to the pump station originating from the theoretical or actual Precipitation Event in the area of the pump station,
• determining a Dry Inflow character (IN-DRY) of the pump station representative of the inflow of the influent liquid to the pump station not originating from the theoretical or actual Precipitation Events,
• determining the Pump Station Max Capacity (PSMC) value representative of a maximum output capacity of the pump station, and
• determining the Pump Station Capacity Measure (PSCM) value based on:
• a maximum value of the Precipitation Inflow character MAX(IN-RAIN),
• a maximum value of the Dry Inflow character MAX(IN-DRY), and
• the Pump Station Max Capacity (PSMC);
• and
• operating the drive for the at least one pump at a maximum/rated operational speed:
• at a scheduled time, in response to manual initiation by an operator, or automatically based upon a need as determined by the at least one control unit, and operating the drive for the at least one pump otherwise at a reduced operational speed less than the maximum/rated operational speed.