Flow control system for a holding pond
OwnerAdam S. Fultoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for controlling the fluid flow rate from a drainage pond that is common in developed sites where the drainage pond is adapted to supply a degree of fluid capacitance so the runoff does not overflow downstream creek beds and the like. The method and apparatus for controlling the fluid draining from a pond comprises a system for allowing a higher flow that is allowed by regulatory bodies when the pond is at a lower level so the pond drains more quickly when it is at a lower water level. Thus the apparatus allows for a smaller retention pond.
Claims27
A flow control system adapted to operate within a control structure adjacent to a pond having a water level, the flow control system comprising:
- a) a flow control module having a buoyant portion and an intake portion, a surface defining an interior chamber region and an orifice of a known cross section, positioned at a known depth from a mean water level line within the interior chamber, where the mean water level line corresponds to the height of the water level of the pond,
- b) a water receiving component comprising vertical displacement system adapted to reposition the flow control module, the water receiving component being in communication with the flow control module where the water receiving component provides an interior passageway that is in communication with the orifice of the flow control module where the flow control module is adapted to allow a predetermined flow rate of water through the orifice when the water level within the control structure is at a low level or at a high level.
A method of draining a pond comprising the steps of:
- positioning a control unit having an interior cavity region with an opening that is in communication with water contained in the pond,
- a) positioning a flow control module within the control unit and allowing water to enter an interior chamber region of the flow control module where the flow control module is adapted to float in the water within the control unit,
- b) providing a sufficient and predetermined buoyant lift of the flow control module where the water level contained within the interior chamber region is at a prescribed height with respect to an orifice positioned in the flow control module,
- c) the orifice having a calculated cross-sectional area to allow a prescribed flow rate to pass therethrough given the known height of the water level contained within the chamber region of the flow control module,
- d) providing a communication passage that is in fluid communication with the orifice where the communication passage is at a known pressure to allow a predictable flow rate therein,
- e) whereas the prescribed flow rate through the orifice is substantially constant at various water levels within the control unit.
A flow control module having an entrance passage that is adapted to communicate with a fluid, where the fluid is adapted to be positioned in an interior chamber of the flow control module and an orifice is provided at a fixed position within the chamber, the flow control module being sufficiently buoyant so it is adapted to float on water at a prescribed height so the fluid within the chamber is at a prescribed fluid height when the flow control module is floating, the orifice being in communication with an output flow line where the pressure of the output flow line, the known hydrostatic pressure acting upon the water entering the orifice, and the average viscosity of the fluid allows a prescribed flow rate therethrough the orifice to the output flow line at various water level heights.
A flow control module having an entrance passage that is adapted to communicate with a fluid, where the fluid is in communication with a body of water, an orifice is provided in fluid communication with the entrance passage, where the orifice size and height of the water acting thereon provides a hydrostatic pressure acting upon the orifice to allow a prescribed fluid flow rate to flow therethrough at a substantially similar rate at a first water level height and second water level height that is higher than the first water level of the body of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.