Lift station floats work by using buoyant switches connected to cables, strategically positioned within the wet well to control the activation and deactivation of pumps based on the wastewater level. These floats essentially act as level sensors, triggering pump operation as the wastewater rises and shutting them off as it's drawn down.
Here's a breakdown of how they function:
- Float Switches: These are the core component. They contain a switch mechanism activated by their tilt or position, which changes based on the water level.
- Cable Connection: Each float switch is attached to a cable that runs to the control panel of the lift station.
- Sequential Activation: Typically, multiple floats are used, each set at a different height. As wastewater enters the wet well and the level rises:
- Low-Level Float: The lowest float might activate the first pump at a certain level.
- Mid-Level Floats: As the level continues to rise, additional floats trigger the activation of more pumps to handle the increased flow. This staged activation prevents overwhelming the system.
- High-Level Float: The highest float serves as a high-level alarm, indicating a potential overflow situation if the pumps can't keep up.
- Deactivation: As the pumps remove the wastewater and the level drops:
- The floats deactivate sequentially, turning off pumps as the water level falls below their activation point.
- The lowest-level float triggers the final pump to shut off when the wet well has been sufficiently emptied.
In summary, lift station floats are level-sensing devices that utilize a series of float switches to automatically turn pumps on and off based on the wastewater level in the wet well, ensuring efficient and reliable operation of the lift station.
