Distributed control system for a vacuum sewer system

A valve pit apparatus for a vacuum sewer system having a suction pipe which is communicated with a vacuum source via a transport conduit by opening a vacuum valve, and which is cut off from the vacuum system by closing said vacuum valve so that sewage in a sewage sump is sucked through said suction pipe and sent to a predetermined place by opening said vacuum valve, said valve pit apparatus comprising:

• (a) a plurality of sensors, comprising:
• i. a vacuum valve close position sensor associated with said vacuum valve, said sensor being capable of sensing whether the valve is in a close position, wherein determining a vacuum valve state to be equal to a close state when the vacuum valve is sensed to be in said close position and a vacuum valve state to be equal to an unknown state when the vacuum valve is sensed to not be in said close position, whereby the vacuum valve state may be used in processes along with at least one operating parameter to determine at least one other operating parameter,
• ii. a transport conduit vacuum sensor used for measuring a vacuum in the transport conduit to define a transport conduit vacuum operating parameter, wherein this vacuum sensor is communicated to the transport conduit at a location in the valve pit that enables the measurement of the highest level of vacuum present in the transport conduit at the interface between the vacuum valve and transport conduit,
• (b) computer for processing at least one measured operating parameter value obtained from the plurality of sensors to determine at least one calculated operating parameter, comprising:
• i. a processor, whereby enabling the computer to process variables comprising states, measured and calculated operating parameters,
• ii. a signal input port, whereby enabling the computer an electrical connection to the plurality of sensors,
• iii. a memory, whereby enabling the computer to record and save all the operating parameters and their respective time of measurement.

A transport conduit apparatus for a vacuum sewer system having a suction pipe which is communicated with a vacuum source via a transport conduit by opening a vacuum valve, and which is cut off from the vacuum source by closing said vacuum valve so that sewage in a sewage sump is sucked through said suction pipe and sent to a predetermined place by opening said vacuum valve, said transport conduit apparatus comprising:

• (a) a portion of said transport conduit, comprising:
• i. at least one low-point conduit portion,
• ii. at least one riser conduit portion, wherein the riser conduit portion defining a riser conduit first end and a riser conduit second end,
• iii. at least one down-slope conduit portion, wherein the down-slope conduit portion defining a down-slope conduit first end and a down-slope conduit second end,
• iv. said riser conduit first end is at a lower point than said riser conduit second end,
• v. said down-slope conduit second end is at a lower point than said down-slope conduit first end,
• vi. said riser conduit first end is in fluid communication with said low-point conduit portion,
• vii. said riser conduit first end is connected at 45 degree angle to said low-point conduit portion,
• viii. said riser conduit second end is in fluid communication with said down-slope conduit first end,
• ix. said riser conduit second end is connected at 45 degree angle to said down-slope conduit first end,
• x. said vacuum source is in nearest fluid communication through said transport conduit to said riser conduit second end than to said riser conduit first end,
• xi. said suction pipe is in nearest fluid communication through said transport conduit to said riser conduit first end than to said riser point second end,
• (b) a riser conduit sensor used for measuring differential pressure within the riser conduit portion to define a riser conduit operating parameter, wherein said riser conduit sensor has a means of communicating to the riser conduit portion that enables the measurement of the highest level of differential pressure within said riser conduit portion as a result of sewage within said riser conduit portion,
• (c) a computer for processing said riser conduit operating parameter to determine at least one calculated operating parameter, comprising:
• i. a processor, whereby enabling the computer to process measured and calculated operating parameters,
• ii. signal input port, whereby enabling the computer an electrical connection to the riser conduit sensor,
• iii. memory, whereby enabling the computer to record and save all the operating parameters and their respective time of measurement.