COMO SE ELEVA EL AGUA POTABLE EN UN RASCACIELOS

Por: Mark Brickley, et al. Traduccin del ingls: Luis Villa

COMO SE ELEVA EL AGUA POTABLE EN UN RASCACIELOS

Por: Mark Brickley, et al. Traduccin del ingls: Luis Villa

Los rascacielos decoran el paisaje de las principales ciudades de nuestra gran nacin. No slo representan un reto arquitectnico, sino que hay tambin otros factores de reto, tales como el bombeo de agua. Poca gente piensa en como se hace llegar agua a la parte alta de un edificio, para servicios cotidianos como es el agua potable, agua para baos y usos mecnicos tales como torres de enfriamiento y equipo de aire acondicionado. Conforme lea esto, entender que el diseo de tubera de cada edificio es tan importante como cualquier otro aspecto de la construccin. No importa que tan grande y hermoso sea el edificio, este no es habitable sin agua. EN EL PASADO Desde que han existido los edificios altos, ha sido necesario disear formas para distribuir agua en cada piso. El sistema ms comn, usado a fines del Siglo XIX y a principio del Siglo XX, consista en un tanque en la azotea del ltimo piso, en combinacin con un conjunto de bombas a velocidad fija, operada por un interruptor de nivel, localizado en el tanque. Cuando en el nivel en el tanque alcanza una altura predeterminada, las bombas arrancan para bombear agua al tanque, o apagan estas porque el tanque se encuentra lleno. El sistema de tanques en la azotea requera de calentar el agua en invierno para prevenir el congelamiento y durante el verano, el agua estaba caliente. Un problema inherente con el sistema de tanque era el ambiente de club vacacional que generaba a las palomas, lo cual creaba condiciones poco sanitarias. An se pueden ver algunos de estos tanques en muchos de los edificios ms viejos en las principales ciudades, aunque ya no estn en servicio. En la dcada de los cincuentas, los sistemas con tanques a presin neumtica (hidroneumticos) remplazaron mucho de los sistemas de tanque de azotea. Estos sistemas colocan el tanque hidroneumtico dentro del edificio, eliminando el problema de las palomas. El equipo de bombeo bombea agua al tanque, presurizado por un compresor de aire, que entrega agua a los pisos. La mayora de los sistemas trabajaban correctamente cuando reciban el mantenimiento adecuado, pero necesitaban de grandes reas dedicadas a la instalacin del equipo y eran caros de instalar. Adicionalmente, estos sistemas eran grandes consumidores de energa, dado que operaban a velocidad constante, a pesar de haber perodos de demanda baja, donde prcticamente no hay consumo de agua. EL PRESENTE Hoy, los sistemas de presurizacin de agua, o sistemas booster han avanzado enormemente desde los primeros das de los tanques de azotea, infestados de palomas. Hoy los dueos de edificios tienen a su alcance muchas opciones para bombeo y control, que resuelven cualquier problema de bombeo, mientras brindan ahorros en espacio y energa. Los sistemas de booster, vienen ahora prefabricados y montados en una base o chasis, lo cual facilita la instalacin. Con esto se pueden ofrecer muchas soluciones de diseo para cumplir con los requerimientos de las construcciones. Los dueos de edificios pueden escoger diseos avanzados de control de velocidad variable, lo cual reduce los costos de energa a la mitad, durante la vida del sistema, aumentando la vida til de este por aos.

Desarrollando tecnologa para el agua

COMO SE ELEVA EL AGUA POTABLE EN UN RASCACIELOS

Por: Mark Brickley, et al. Traduccin del ingls: Luis Villa

LA MARAVILLA DE LOS SISTEMAS DE VELOCIDAD VARIABLE Los sistemas de presurizacin a velocidad variable estn convirtindose rpidamente en la principal opcin para los ingenieros de diseo y de operacin, debido a sus ventajas de menor costo de equipo y consumo de energa, la eliminacin de los efectos de golpe de ariete y los picos de presin asociados con la mayora de sistemas de velocidad constante. Esto gracias a la capacidad de mantener una presin constante y precisa por medio de la velocidad variable. Los sistemas de presurizacin de agua, con base en la velocidad constante, usan un transductor para sensar la presin en la lnea y ajustar de manera automtica la presin de descarga, sin importar la demanda o le flujo. El resultado es que la energa usada por la bomba se readuce conforme la demanda de flujo disminuye. Por otra parte, los sistemas de velocidad constante, mantienen la misma velocidad en la bomba sin importar el flujo, y dependen de vlvulas reguladoras de presin (VRPs) para ajustar la presin del edificio. Esto es similar a pisar a fondo el pedal del acelerador de su auto, y controlar la velocidad de su vehculo pisando o soltando el pedal del freno, segn requieran las condiciones de manejo. COMO DEFINIR LA CAPACIDAD DE UN SISTEMA BOOSTER El primer punto a considerar cuando se defina la capacidad de un sistema booster es calcular el gasto, o galones por minuto (GPM). El mtodo de unidades de salidas creadas por la American Society of Plumbing Engineers ayuda a determinar este valor. Este mtodo le asigna un valor relativo a cada salida de agua o dispositivo de servicio que se encuentren normalmente. Un dispositivo es algo que consuma agua, tal como una llave de lavabo, fuente, toma de manguera de jardn lavaplatos, etc. Una vez que se determina el nmero de dispositivos, la tabla ASPE asigna el valor necesario de GPM basado en la probabilidad de que se usen mltiples dispositivos a la vez. El segundo punto a considerar es la carga total dinmica (TDH). Cada piso en un rascacielos se traduce en prdidas de presin de la fuente de agua. Las prdidas por friccin y las perdidas por altura son consideradas aqu para que el agua alcance a llegar a los pisos ms altos. Cada sistema de bomba booster debe calcularse para que venza las prdidas estticas y de friccin para una cantidad de GPM o de gasto dado. Combinando la carga esttica (Distancia vertical o alzado) y la carga por friccin (resistencia al flujo opuesta por varios componentes tales como las tuberas, se determina el TDH. Conforme envejecen los sistemas de distribucin municipal, se reduce su capacidad para enviar agua a presin a los edificios. Es por esto que la mayora de edificios de varios pisos requieren sistemas de bombeo booster para presurizar el agua en los pisos ms altos. En Chicago, muchas partes de la ciudad tienen 20 psi en la calle, categorizndola como una de las ciudades importantes con menor presin. Tpicamente una presin de 40 psi es ideal en lo ms alto de un edificio. Una vez que tu GPM y TDH han sido determinados, es momento de seleccionar el nmero de bombas que deber utilizar su sistema. Para sistemas pequeos, debajo de los 150 GPM, dos bombas sern suficientes. Un sistema se disea tpicamente con un mnimo de dos bombas. Esto permite que las bombas alternen su operacin para extender la vida de ambas. Si una bomba requiere de servicio, el sistema sigue dando agua al edificio sin una suspensin total del servicio. Las aplicaciones de ms de 150 GPM deben considerar instalaciones con tres bombas para obtener mayor confiabilidad. Se deben considerar bombas adicionales para sistemas con demanda extremadamente variable, como en un estadio, donde la demanda pueda ir, en un periodo corto, de un pico mximo posible, durante el medio tiempo, cuando los asistentes usan todos los baos a la vez, al flujo ms bajo posible al final de este. Para edificios extremadamente altos como el John Hancock en Chicago, la distribucin de agua se divide en zonas de presin para poder mantener las demandas altas de flujo debidas a cargas altas. Esto permite tener una presin de trabajo a todo lo largo y alto del edificio. Las zonas de presin se crean usando vlvulas reductoras de presin o colocando sistemas de bombas dedicadas en cada zona.

Desarrollando tecnologa para el agua

COMO SE ELEVA EL AGUA POTABLE EN UN RASCACIELOS

How Potable Water Rises to the Top of Skyscrapers

By Mark Brickey, Paul Larson, P .E. & Joseph Sanchez of Metropolitan Industries
(Information compiled by Gunnar Collins, IPP , F ASSE, Collins Backflow Specialists, Inc.)
High-rise buildings decorate the landscape of our major cities across our great nation. Not only are they a challenge to build architecturally, but there are also many other challenging factors that go into each ones design, such as pumping water. Few people ever think about how the water gets to the top floors of these buildings for everyday living purposes such as drinking, bathing and mechanical uses such as cooling towers and supplying HVAC equipment. As you read, you will understand that each high-rise buildings plumbing design is just as important as any other aspect of construction. No matter how big and beautiful the building, it is not habitable without water. The Early Days As far back as high-rise buildings existed, ways to deliver water to every floor was a necessity. The most common system used in the late 1800s and early 1900s consisted of a roof tank combined with constant speed pumps that operated by a level switch in the tank. When the level in the tank would approach a predetermined height, the pumps would either turn on to Typical Commercial Building pump more wawith Roof Top T ank ter to the tank or turn off because the tank was full. The roof tank system required heating the water during the winter to prevent freezing and during the summer months the water was hot. One inherent problem with the tank system was the vacation/resort-like atmosphere it
WATER TANK WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM CITY WATER MAIN PUMP SYSTEM

offered pigeons, which lead to unsanitary conditions. On many of the older buildings in major cities, you can still see some of these tanks on the rooftops although they may not be in ser vice. In the 1950s, pneumatic pressure tank systems replaced many roof tank systems. These systems put the pneumatic tank inside the building, eliminating the pigeon problem. The pumping equipment pumped water to the pneumatic tank pressurized by an air compressor that supplied water to the floors. The systems, for the most part, worked well if properly maintained, but required large areas for equipment installation and were expensive Typical Commercial Building to install. In adwith Pneumatic Tank System dition, these systems were big consumers of energy given they ran at a constant speed, despite low demand periods where water is hardly used.
WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

The Present Today, water pressure systems, or booster systems, have come a long way since the early
CITY WATER MAIN

PNEUMATIC TANK PUMP SYSTEM

Typical Pneumatic Tank Pump System

PRESSURE SWITCH RELIEF VALVE

CHECK VALVE PRESSURE TANK STOP ELECTRODE AIR COMPRESSOR START ELECTRODE

WATER TRAP

MOTOR

PUMP SUCTION

Page 1 Reprinted with permission from the October - December - 2005 issue of Plumbing Standards Magazine

COMO SE ELEVA EL AGUA POTABLE EN UN RASCACIELOS

days of pigeon-infested roof tanks. Constant Speed with PRV vs. Variable Speed Now building owners have many control and pumping options that solve any pumping application while saving on energy costs and space. Booster systems, such as the one marketed by Metropolitan Industries in Romeoville, now come prefabricated and skid-mounted, which allows for ease of installation and provides many design solutions to meet constrictive space requirements. Building owners can now choose from state-of-the-art variable speed control, which cuts energy bills in half over the life of the system while increasing system life by years. Other advances in technology include touch-screen panels speed of your vehicle by depressing or pressing the brake allowing operators to make system adjustments with the pedal based on driving conditions. touch of a finger, ability to interface into existing building automation systems and smart pump technology that Sizing a Booster System allows booster systems to continually self-diagnose itself The first item to consider when sizing a booster sysand alert the operator to any problems. tem is to calculate the flow rate, or gallons per minute (GPM). The Fixtures Unit method created by the American The Joy of Variable Speed Systems Society of Plumbing Engineers determines this figure. This Variable speed pressure systems are fast becoming the approach assigns a relative value to each fixture or group of first choice for both operating and designing engineers due fixtures normally encountered. A fixture is any item that uses to the advantage of reduced equipment and energy costs, water such as a sink, dishwasher, hose spigot, water founthe elimination of water hammer/surges found with most tain, etc. Once the number of fixtures is determined, the constant speed systems and variable speeds ability to mainASPE table assigns the necessary GPM based on the probtain accurate pressure settings. ability that multiple fixtures will be used at the same time. Variable speed water pressure systems use a transducer The second item to consider is your Total Dynamic to sense pressure and automatically adjust the speed of the Head (TDH). Every floor in a high-rise building translates pump in order to maintain a constant discharge pressure, into pressure loss from the city water supply. Friction losses regardless of demand or flow . The result is that the pump and vertical losses are considered here for water to reach energy used is rehigher floors. Every booster pump system is sized to duced as the flow Typical Commercial Building demand dewith Multiple Pump Systems creases. On the Typical Duplex Constant Speed Booster System other hand, constant speed systems maintain the same pump speed, regardless of PLAN VIEW flow, and depend on pressure reducing valves (PRV) to adjust building pressure. This is similar to pressing the gas pedal in your car to the floor and controlling the FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW
PUMP SYSTEM STORAGE TANK

SUCTION HEADER

CONTROL PANEL

DISCHARGE HEADER

WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

STORAGE TANK

PUMP SYSTEM

CONTROL PANEL

CITY WATER MAIN

PRESSURE REDUCING VALVE

BUTTERFLY VALVE

BUTTERFLY VALVE

PUMP SYSTEM

Page 2 Reprinted with permission from the October - December - 2005 issue of Plumbing Standards Magazine

COMO SE ELEVA EL AGUA POTABLE EN UN RASCACIELOS

Typical Commercial Building Variable Speed System with Buffer Tank

Typical Duplex Variable Speed Booster System

SUCTION HEADER

BUFFER TANK

VFD

VFD

VFD

CONTROL PANEL DISCHARGE HEADER

PLAN VIEW

WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

VFD

VFD

VFD CONTROL PANEL

DISC.

DISC.

DISC.

CITY WATER MAIN

CHECK VALVE BUTTERFLY VALVE

CHECK VALVE

BUTTERFLY VALVE

VARIABLE SPEED PUMP SYSTEM

FRONT VIEW

SIDE VIEW

overcome static head and friction losses at a given GPM or flow rate. By combining the static head (vertical distance or lift) and friction head (resistance to flow within various components such as pipes) your TDH is determined. As large city water mains age, their ability to deliver water pressure to buildings reduces, which is why most multi-story buildings need a booster pump system to pressurize water on upper floors. In Chicago, much of the city has 20 psi in the street, ranking it among the lowest compared with other major cities. Typically, a pressure of 40 psi at the top of a building is ideal. Once your GPM and TDH are determined, it is time to choose the number of pumps your systems will utilize. For a small system below approximately 150 GPM, two pumps will suffice. Typically, a system is designed with a minimum of two pumps. This allows for the pumps to alternate, which extends the life of both. Should one pump need service, the system can continue to supply water to the building without a total system shutdown. Applications over 150 GPM should consider three pump installations for greater dependability. For systems with extremely variable demands, such as a stadium application, where the demand can range from the highest peak possible, such as during a halftime intermission when fans utilize the washrooms

all at once, to the lowest flow in a short period, additional pumps should be considered. For extremely tall buildings, such as the John Hancock Building in Chicago, water distribution is divided into pressure zones in order to meet high flow demands due to large heads. This allows for workable pressure throughout the entire building. If the system requires 250 psi to get water to the top of the building, this pressure cannot be transmitted to the fixtures on lower floors. Pressure zones are created by using pressure reducing valves or having dedicated pump systems for each zone. L

Pressure Reducing/ Regulating Valves

CONTROL LIST 1 Cock Valve 2 Cock Valve 7 Check Valve 7A Check Valve 25 Pressure Valve 4 Control Y-Filter 8 Press. Reducing Pilot Valve #2

These valves are used to control downstream pressure by utilizing an upstream pressure pilot line feeding a regulating valve. The regulating valve controls pressure supplied to the top of the main valve bonnet. By regulating the pressure on the valve bonnet, the downstream pressure can be regulated. Additional PRVs installed at high energy costs can be added for stability and reponse times.

Page 3 Reprinted with permission from the October - December - 2005 issue of Plumbing Standards Magazine