WO2008066328A1

WO2008066328A1 - Buriable type vacuum station for vacuum sewer collection system

Info

Publication number: WO2008066328A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/006079
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tai-Hong Jeon; Do-Hyung Kim; Jeong-Chun Kim; Soon Huh
Original assignee: Green Environmental Technology Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-11-29
Filing date: 2007-11-29
Publication date: 2008-06-05
Also published as: KR100824810B1

Abstract

The present invention provides a buried type vacuum pump station for a vacuum sewer collection system which draws sewage, collected in a sewer pit, through a vacuum pipe and feeds the sewage under pressure to a sewage treatment plant through a force-feed pipe. The vacuum pump station includes a sewage collection tank pit (10), which is buried underground and is provided with a manhole cover for covering an opening formed in the upper end of the pit, and a sewage collection tank (30), which is installed in the sewage collection tank pit and is connected to the vacuum pipe, the force-feed pipe and an air pipe. The vacuum pump station further includes a control box (20), which is installed aboveground and includes a vacuum pump, an exhaust cooler, a deodorizing device and a control panel for controlling the operation of the pump station.

Description

BURIABLE TYPE VACUUM STATION FOR VACUUM SEWER

COLLECTION SYSTEM

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to buried type vacuum pump stations for vacuum sewer collection systems to draw sewage, collected in sewer pits buried underground, through vacuum pipes and feed the sewage under pressure to sewage treatment plants through force-feed pipes, and, more particularly, to a buried type vacuum pump station for a vacuum sewer collection system for drawing sewage, in which a sewage collection tank is installed in a sewage collection tank pit, which is buried underground, and a vacuum pump and a control panel are provided on a control box, which is provided aboveground, thus reducing the building site area of the vacuum pump station, and making the repair and maintenance thereof convenient. Background Art

[2] Generally, sewer collection systems collect sewage, which is emitted from sewage- generating places, such as dwellings, buildings, or factories, and feed the collected sewage to sewage treatment plants. Vacuum type sewer collection systems, which draw sewage and air through pipes using vacuum force and feed the sewage under pressure through sewer pipes, have been widely used.

[3] FIG. 1 is a view showing the construction of a representative example of a conventional vacuum sewer collection system. As shown in the drawing, the conventional vacuum sewer collection system 100 includes a sewer pit 110, which is buried underground around a sewage-generating place 101, and a vacuum pump station 120, which draws sewage, which is collected in the sewer pit 110, through a vacuum pipe 130 using vacuum force, generated from a vacuum pump 122, and feeds the sewage under pressure to a sewage treatment plant (not shown) through a force-feed pipe 140, which is connected to a sewer pump 125.

[4] The sewer pit 110 serves to collect sewage, which occurs from the sewage- generating place and has therein a suction pipe 111, a vacuum valve 112, a controller 113 and a sensing pipe 114, which monitors the level of sewage collected in the sewer pit 110.

[5] The vacuum pump station 120 serves to maintain the vacuum state in the corresponding pipe and feed the collected sewage under pressure to the sewage treatment plant. The vacuum pump station 120 includes a sewage collection tank 123, which communicates with the sewer pit 110 through the vacuum pipe 130, the vacuum pump 122, which maintains the vacuum state in the sewage collection tank 123, and a control panel 124, a sewage level measuring device and a pressure gauge, which monitor the pressure and the level of sewage in the sewage collection tank and control the vacuum pump 122 and the sewer pump 125.

[6] However, in the conventional vacuum pump station 120, the sewage collection tank

123, the vacuum pump 122, the sewer pump 125 and the control panel 124 are installed together in a building 121, which is provided on or under the ground.

[7] Therefore, the external building site area required for the vacuum pump station 120 is increased. Furthermore, due to exhaust gas, such as sulfureted hydrogen, which is generated from sewage drawn into the sewage collection tank 123, people near the vacuum pump station 120 may have an unpleasant feeling.

[8] In addition, in the case where the control panel 124 and other devices are installed underground, there are problem in that it is difficult to repair and maintain them, and the building of the vacuum pump station is poorly ventilated. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a buried type vacuum pump station for a vacuum sewer collection system to draw sewage, in which a sewage collection tank is installed in a sewage collection tank pit, which is buried underground, and a vacuum pump and a control panel, which monitors and controls the pressure and the level of sewage in the sewage collection tank, are provided on a control box, which is provided aboveground.

[10] Another object of the present invention is to provide a buried type vacuum pump station for a vacuum sewer collection system to draw sewage in which a cooler and a deodorizing device, which remove moisture and odors from the air in the sewage collection tank, are provided in the control box, which is provided aboveground. Technical Solution

[11] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a buried type vacuum pump station for a vacuum sewer collection system which includes a sewage collection tank pit, which has a sewage collection tank therein and is buried underground, and a control box, which has therein a vacuum pump and a control panel and is provided aboveground.

[12] Generally, the vacuum pump station serves to draw sewage, which has been collected in a buried type sewer pit, through a vacuum pipe and feed the sewage under pressure to a sewage treatment plant through a force-feed pipe.

[13] The sewage collection tank pit is buried underground and has a casing having an opening in the upper end thereof. Furthermore, the sewage collection tank pit is connected to the vacuum pipe and the force-feed pipe such that the vacuum pipe and the force-feed pipe extend to the interior of the sewage collection tank pit. The sewage collection tank pit is connected to an air pipe such that the air pipe extends from the interior of the sewage collection tank pit to an outside thereof. A manhole cover is provided on the upper end of the sewage collection tank pit to cover the opening in the upper end of the sewage collection tank pit.

[14] The sewage collection tank has a casing having a space therein. The sewage collection tank is installed in the sewage collection tank pit and is connected to the vacuum pipe, the force-feed pipe and a first end of the air pipe.

[15] The control box has a cabinet shape having a space therein. The control box includes the vacuum pump, which is connected to a second end of the air pipe, an exhaust cooler, which is connected to the vacuum pump, a deodorizing device, which is connected to the exhaust cooler and is filled with activated carbon, and a control panel, which measures the level of sewage and the vacuum pressure in the sewage collection tank and controls the vacuum pump according to the measured values.

[16] The vacuum pump station having the above-mentioned construction draws sewage from the sewer pit through the vacuum pipe or feeds the sewage under pressure through the force-feed pipe depending on the relationship between the vacuum pipe and the force-feed pipe, which are connected to the sewage collection tank, and the vacuum pump, which adjusts the vacuum pressure in the sewage collection tank under the automatic control of the control panel.

[17] Furthermore, check valves are provided on the vacuum pipe and the force-feed pipe, respectively. The check valves are electrically connected to the control panel and thus control the drawing and feeding of the sewage. A valve is provided at a predetermined position on the air pipe to control the operation of drawing air from the sewage collection tank or of feeding outside air into the sewage collection tank depending on the operation of the vacuum pump.

[18] In addition, a sewage level control device for measuring the level of sewage in the sewage collection tank and a pressure gauge for measuring the pressure in the sewage collection tank are provided at predetermined positions on the sewage collection tank. The sewage level control device and the pressure gauge are electrically connected to the control panel via a circuit.

[19] Here, the pressure gauge comprises a vacuum transmitter, which is provided at a predetermined position on the air pipe and is electrically connected to the control panel in the form of a circuit.

[20] As well, a pit sewage suction pipe is provided in the sewage collection tank pit such that the upper end thereof communicates with the sewage collection tank and the lower end thereof extends to the lower end of the sewage collection tank pit. An air vent valve is provided at a predetermined position on the pit sewage suction pipe. [21] As necessary, the vacuum pump may comprise two vacuum pumps.

Advantageous Effects

[22] In a buried type vacuum pump station for a vacuum sewer collection system according to the present invention, a sewage collection tank pit is buried underground, so that the building site area required for the vacuum pump station is markedly reduced. Furthermore, because an existing manhole pit can be used, there are advantages in that the installation of the vacuum pump station is simplified and the maintenance cost thereof is reduced. [23] Moreover, in the present invention, an exhaust cooler and a deodorizing device remove odors generated from the sewage in the sewage collection tank, and hazardous gas, such as sulfureted hydrogen, thus preventing the exhaust of polluted gas, thereby ensuring environmental safety.

Brief Description of the Drawings [24] FIG. 1 is a view showing a conventional vacuum sewer collection system having a vacuum pump station; [25] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the construction of a buried type vacuum pump station for a vacuum sewer collection system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [26] FIG. 3 is an internal construction view showing the connection of a pipeline to the buried type vacuum pump station for the vacuum sewer collection system according to the present invention; and [27] FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing the operation of the buried type vacuum pump station for the vacuum sewer collection system according to the present invention. [28] ***Description of the elements in the drawings***

[29] 1: buried type vacuum pump station 2: vacuum pipe

[30] 3: force-feed pipe 10: sewage collection tank pit

[31] 20: control box 21: box casing

[32] 22: control panel 30: sewage collection tank

[33] 40: air pipe 50: vacuum pump

[34] 60: exhaust cooler 70: deodorizing device

[35] 80: silencer al, a2: check valve

[36] bl, b2: air vent valve

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [37] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a vacuum pump station for a vacuum sewer collection system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. [38] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the construction of the buried type vacuum pump station for the vacuum sewer collection system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an internal construction view showing the connection of a pipeline to the buried type vacuum pump station for the vacuum sewer collection system according to the present invention.

[39] As shown in the drawings, the buried type vacuum pump station 1 for the vacuum sewer collection system according to the present invention includes a sewage collection tank pit 10, which has a sewage collection tank 30 therein and is buried underground, and a control box 20, which has therein a vacuum pump 50 and a control panel 22, for maintaining a vacuum state in the sewage collection tank 30, and is installed aboveground.

[40] The sewage collection tank pit 10 has a casing, the upper end of which is partially open, and is buried underground such that the upper end thereof is disposed just below the ground surface. A manhole cover 11, which has a size appropriate to cover the opening of the upper end of the sewage collection tank pit 10, is placed on the open upper end of the sewage collection tank pit 10 to facilitate repair or maintenance of the sewage collection tank pit 10.

[41] The sewage collection tank pit 10 is made of reinforced plastic or concrete, which is relatively hard, and, preferably, comprises a concrete structure. The sewage collection tank 30, which has a predetermined capacity, is installed in the sewage collection tank pit 10.

[42] Furthermore, a pipe hole 12a is formed through a first wall of the buried sewage collection tank pit 10, and a vacuum pipe 2 is connected to the sewage collection tank pit 10 through the pipe hole 12a. The vacuum pipe 2 communicates with a buried type sewer pit 4, which collects sewage emitted from a sewage-generating place, such that the sewage, which is collected in the sewer pit 4, is drawn into the sewage collection tank 30 using vacuum force.

[43] Furthermore, another pipe hole 12b is formed through a second wall of the buried sewage collection tank pit 10, and a force-feed pipe 3 is connected to the sewage collection tank pit 10 through the pipe hole 12b. Sewage, which is in the sewage collection tank 30, is fed under pressure to a sewage treatment plant 5, which finally treats sewage, through the force-feed pipe 3 using vacuum force.

[44] Preferably, the vacuum pipe 2 and the force-feed pipe 3 are tightly fitted into respective pipe holes 12a and 12b such that the interior of the sewage collection tank pit 10 is prevented from communicating with the outside through pipe holes 12a and 12b, thus preventing outside soil or foreign substances from undesirably entering the sewage collection tank pit 10.

[45] The sewage collection tank 30 is installed in the sewage collection tank pit 10 and is connected at respective predetermined positions to the vacuum pipe 2 and the force- feed pipe 3, which respectively extend into the sewage collection tank pit 10 through the pipe holes 12a and 12b.

[46] Preferably, the vacuum pipe 2 and the force-feed pipe 3 are connected to the upper end of the sewage collection tank 30.

[47] Furthermore, a sewage level control device 31, which measures the amount of sewage drawn into the sewage collection tank 30 when necessary, and a pressure gauge (not shown), which measures the pressure in the sewage collection tank 30, are provided at predetermined positions on the sewage collection tank 30. In addition, the sewage collection tank 30 communicates with an air pipe 40, through which air is drawn into or discharged from the sewage collection tank 30 to adjust the vacuum pressure in the sewage collection tank 30.

[48] Various valves for controlling the supply and discharge of sewage or air are provided in each device.

[49] In addition, a pit sewage suction pipe 32 is connected at a predetermined position to the sewage collection tank 30. Preferably, the pit sewage suction pipe 32 is constructed such that the first end thereof communicates with the upper end of the sewage collection tank 30, and a second end thereof extends to the lower end of the sewage collection tank pit 10.

[50] The pit sewage suction pipe 32 serves to draw and feed sewage, which is taken from the sewage collection tank 30 and thus gathers in the sewage collection tank pit 10, into the sewage collection tank 30 using vacuum force in the sewage collection tank 30.

[51] The force-feed pipe 3 is preferably disposed higher than the sewage collection tank

30 to prevent the backflow of air. If the force-feed pipe 3 is disposed lower than the sewage collection tank 30, it may be difficult to conduct the operation of repairing and maintaining the force-feed pipe and an associated check valve.

[52] Meanwhile, the control box 20, which is installed aboveground, is disposed at a po sition spaced apart from the buried sewage collection tank pit 10 by a predetermined distance. The control box 20 is connected to the air pipe 40 and is electrically connected to the sewage level control device 31 through a wire cable.

[53] The control box 20 has a rectangular cabinet shape having an internal space. A control panel 22 is installed in a box casing 21 to automatically or manually control devices pertaining to the sewage collection tank 30 depending on the sewage level or the vacuum pressure of the sewage collection tank 30, which are measured by the devices. Furthermore, a vacuum pump 50, which is connected to the air pipe 40, an exhaust cooler, and a deodorizing device 70 are installed in the box casing at predetermined positions such that they are isolated from the control panel 22 by a partition.

[54] The control box 20 will be explained in detail later herein.

[55] Next, the buried type vacuum pump station 1 for the vacuum sewer collection system according to the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 3.

[56] As shown in the drawing, the buried type vacuum pump station 1 according to the present invention includes the sewage collection tank pit 10, which is buried underground, and the control box 20, which has the control panel 22 and the vacuum pump 50 therein and is installed aboveground.

[57] The sewage collection tank pit 10 is the rectangular or cylindrical concrete structure having the internal space. The sewage collection tank 30 is installed in the sewage collection tank pit 10 such that the sewage collection tank 30 can be repaired or replaced with a new one when necessary. If necessary, an existing manhole pit, which has been buried underground, may be used as the sewage collection tank pit 10.

[58] Furthermore, the vacuum pipe 2, which communicates with the sewer pit 4, in which sewage is collected, is connected to and enters the sewage collection tank pit 10 through the first wall thereof.

[59] In detail, the vacuum pipe 2 is inserted into the sewage collection tank pit 10 through the corresponding pipe hole. Preferably, the part of the vacuum pipe 2 that is inserted into the sewage collection tank pit and is connected to an internal pipe in the sewage collection tank pit is a flexible pipe 6. A check valve a2, for controlling the flow of sewage that is drawn into the sewage collection tank pit through the vacuum pipe 2, is provided on the vacuum pipe 2 in the sewage collection tank pit 10, in detail, between the flexible pipe 6 and the part of the vacuum pipe 2 that is connected to the sewage collection tank 30.

[60] Furthermore, the force-feed pipe 3 for feeding sewage 7 under pressure to the sewage treatment plant 5 is connected to the sewage collection tank pit 10 through the second wall thereof. The part of the force-feed pipe 3 that is inserted into the sewage collection tank pit 10 through the corresponding pipe hole comprises a flexible pipe 6b. A check valve al for controlling the flow of sewage that moves along the force-feed pipe 3 is provided at a predetermined position on the force-feed pipe 3 in the sewage collection tank pit 10.

[61] The check valves al and a2, which are respectively provided on the vacuum pipe 2 and the force-feed pipe 3, are electrically connected to the control panel 22 of the control box 20, and are thus controlled in an automatic manner. Alternatively, the check valves may be constructed such that they are controlled using the gravity or vacuum pressure, as necessity requires.

[62] In addition, preferably, a subsidiary vent 13, which communicates with outside air, is connected to the sewage collection tank pit 10 for ventilation of the sewage collection tank pit 10.

[63] Meanwhile, the sewage collection tank 30, which is installed in the sewage collection tank pit 10, has a size appropriate to contain a predetermined amount of sewage. The sewage collection tank 30 is preferably made of reinforced plastic or stainless steel, which is relatively hard. The sewage collection tank 30 is connected at the upper end thereof to the vacuum pipe 2 and the force-feed pipe 3, which extend into the sewage collection tank pit 10.

[64] Furthermore, the pit sewage suction pipe 32, which draws sewage that is undesirably gathered in the sewage collection tank pit 10, and on which an air vent valve bl is provided at a predetermined position, is connected to the upper end of the sewage collection tank 30.

[65] The sewage level control device 31, which measures the level of sewage in the sewage collection tank 30 and controls the operation of the vacuum pump 50 provided in the control box 20, is provided on the upper end of the sewage collection tank 30. To measure the level of sewage in the sewage collection tank 30, the sewage level control device 31 may include a single sensing probe, which determines the level of sewage in the sewage collection tank 30, or, alternatively may include a plurality of sensing probes, which are disposed at different heights, a level transmitter 33 and a level switch 34.

[66] The sewage level control device 31 is electrically connected to the control panel 22 through the wire cable 34, so that the sewage level control device 31 measures the level of sewage in the sewage collection tank 30 and displays it on a sewage level display panel of the control panel 22. According to the measured level of sewage, the control panel 22 operates and controls the vacuum pump 50. In addition, although this is not shown in the drawings, the pressure gauge for measuring the pressure in the sewage collection tank 30 is electrically connected to the control panel 22, if necessary.

[67] As well, the sewage collection tank 30 is connected to the air pipe 40 for adjusting the vacuum pressure in the sewage collection tank 30. The air pipe 40 is connected to the vacuum pump 50, which is disposed in the control box 20, so that, depending on the operation of the vacuum pump 50, the air pipe 40 forcibly supplies outside air into the sewage collection tank 30 or forcibly discharges the air outside the sewage collection tank 30 to maintain the vacuum pressure in the sewage collection tank 30 constant.

[68] Depending on the above-mentioned operation, the sewage collection tank 30 draws sewage 7, which has been collected in the sewer pit 4, through the vacuum pipe 2 or feeds the sewage 7 under pressure to the sewage treatment plant 5 through the force- feed pipe 3.

[69] Preferably, the part of the air pipe 40 that is inserted into the sewage collection tank pit 10 and is bent comprises a flexible pipe 6.

[70] The vacuum pipe 2, the force-feed pipe 3, the pit sewage suction pipe 32, the sewage level control device 31 and the air pipe 40 are provided on the upper end of the sewage collection tank 30.

[71] Below, the control box 20, which is installed aboveground near the vacuum pump station 1, will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.

[72] The control box 20 has a rectangular steel cabinet shape. The control panel 22, which measures the level of sewage and the vacuum pressure in the sewage collection tank 30 and has the display panel for displaying the measured values, is provided at a first position in the control box 20. The vacuum pump 50, the exhaust cooler 60, the deodorizing device 70 and a silencer 80, which are electrically connected to the control panel 22 and are coupled to the air pipe 40, are provided at a second position in the control box 20.

[73] The control panel 22 is an automatic control device and includes a sewage level control panel 24, which is electrically connected to the sewage level control device 31 of the sewage collection tank 30 through the wire cable 34 to measure and display the level of sewage 7 in the sewage collection tank 30, and a pressure control panel 23, which measures and displays the pressure in the sewage collection tank 30 using a vacuum transmitter 25, which serves as a pressure gauge and is provided at a predetermined position on the air pipe 40 connected to the vacuum pump 50. As necessary, the control panel may further include manual switches (not shown) for controlling these devices.

[74] The vacuum pump 50 is provided at the second position in the control box 20.

Preferably, the vacuum pump 50 comprises two vacuum pumps 50, which are respectively connected to the sewage collection tank 30 and the air pipe 40.

[75] Furthermore, a valve b2 is provided at a predetermined position in each vacuum pump 50. As necessary, a two-way valve or a four- way valve is used as the valve b2. Here, in the case where the two-way valves are used, when the vacuum pumps are rotated in normal directions, air is discharged from the sewage collection tank, so that sewage is collected into the sewage collection tank. On the other hand, when the vacuum pumps are rotated in reverse directions, air in the sewage collection tank is compressed, so that sewage is fed under pressure from the sewage collection tank to the sewage treatment plant.

[76] In the case where the four- way valves are used, the valves are provided on the inlets and the outlets of the pumps such that the direction in which air is suctioned or discharged is freely switched. Therefore, depending on the orientations of the four- way valves, even if the vacuum pumps are rotated in one direction, a vacuum-creating operation of discharging air from the sewage collection tank 30 and a compressing operation of supplying the outside air into the sewage collection tank 30 can be selectively conducted.

[77] The silencer 80 is provided around each vacuum pump 50 to prevent noise generated by the operation of the vacuum pump.

[78] Furthermore, the exhaust cooler 60 and the deodorizing device 70 are installed in the control box such that they communicate with the vacuum pumps 50. The exhaust cooler 60 serves to remove moisture from exhaust gas that is drawn from the sewage collection tank 30 into the vacuum pump 50.

[79] The deodorizing device 70, which is connected to the exhaust cooler 60, deodorizes exhaust gas and removes hazardous gas, such as sulfureted hydrogen, from the exhaust gas. Preferably, the deodorizing device 70 is filled with activated carbon 72.

[80] Furthermore, an exhaust vent 71 is coupled at a predetermined position to the deodorizing device 70. The exhaust vent 71 extends a predetermined length such that the end thereof is exposed outside the control box 20. Exhaust gas, from which moisture and odors are removed by the exhaust cooler 60 and the deodorizing device 70, is discharged outside the control box 20 through the exhaust vent 71.

[81] In the buried type vacuum pump station 1 for the vacuum sewer collection system according to the present invention having the above-mentioned construction, sewage 7 is drawn into the sewage collection tank 30 through the vacuum pipe 2, or is fed under pressure to the sewer pit by adjusting the vacuum pressure in the sewage collection tank 30 using the vacuum pumps 50.

[82] The operation of the vacuum pump station 1 according to the present invention and the process of moving sewage 7 in the vacuum pump station 1 will be described herein below with reference to the drawings.

[83] FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing the operation of the buried type vacuum pump station for the vacuum sewer collection system according to the present invention.

[84] As shown in FIG. 4, the sewage collection tank 30, which is installed in the sewage collection tank pit 10, which is buried underground, communicates with the vacuum pipe 2 and the force-feed pipe 3.

[85] First, the vacuum pumps 50 provided in the control box 20 are operated to maintain the interior of the sewage collection tank 30 in the vacuum state. For this, in the state in which the valve b2, which is connected to each vacuum pump 50, is opened, the vacuum pumps 50 are rotated in normal directions to conduct the vacuum-creating operation of discharging air from the sewage collection tank 30, that is, exhaust gas.

[86] Then, exhaust gas is discharged from the sewage collection tank 30 to the control box 20 through the air pipe 40 by the operation of the vacuum pumps 50. Thereafter, while the exhaust gas passes through the exhaust cooler 60 and the deodorizing device 70, moisture, odors and hazardous gases are removed from the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is subsequently discharged out of the control box 20.

[87] Thereafter, in the state in which the sewage collection tank 30 maintains the vacuum state, the check valve a2, which is provided on the vacuum pipe 2, is opened. Then, sewage 7 is drawn from the sewer pit 4 into the sewage collection tank 30 through the vacuum pipe 2 by the vacuum force in the sewage collection tank 30.

[88] As such, to create the vacuum state in the sewage collection tank 30, the vacuum pumps 50 are rotated in normal directions. The valves a2 and b2, which are respectively provided on the air pipe 40 and the vacuum pipe 2, are opened, and the valve al, which is provided on the force-feed pipe 3, maintains the closed state.

[89] Here, sewage 7 may enter the sewage collection tank pit 10 through a gap of the pit, made of concrete, or through the manhole cover, and may be present in the sewage collection tank pit 10, in which the sewage collection tank 30 is installed.

[90] Therefore, as required, when the valve bl of the pit sewage suction pipe 32, which is connected at a predetermined position to the sewage collection tank 30, is opened, sewage, which has gathered between the sewage collection tank 30 and the sewage collection tank pit 10, is drawn into the sewage collection tank 30 by the vacuum force of the sewage collection tank, which is generated by the air discharging operation of the vacuum pumps 50.

[91] When the level of sewage 7 in the sewage collection tank 30 exceeds an appropriate level, the sewage level control device 31 detects the high sewage level, and, simultaneously, the vacuum pumps 50 stops the vacuum creating operation under the control of the control panel 22.

[92] As such, when the level of sewage 7, which is drawn into the sewage collection tank 30 through the vacuum pipe 2 during the vacuum-creating operation, reaches the appropriate level, a compressing operation of feeding the sewage 7 under pressure to the final sewage treatment plant 5 through the force-feed pipe 3 is conducted, as shown in FIG. 5.

[93] To conduct the compressing operation, the vacuum pumps 50 suctions and forcibly supplies outside air into the sewage collection tank 30 through the air pipe 40 under the control of the control panel 22.

[94] At this time, the valve a2, which is provided on the vacuum pipe 2, is closed such that the vacuum pipe 2 is reliably closed, and the valve al, which is provided on the force-feed pipe 3, is in the open state.

[95] Air supplied from the vacuum pump 50 compresses the interior of the sewage collection tank 30, so that the sewage 7 stored in the sewage collection tank 30 is fed to the sewage treatment plant 5 through the force-feed pipe 3 via the valve al. [96] As described above, the vacuum pump station 1 according to the present invention includes the control box 20, which is installed aboveground, and the sewage collection tank pit 10, which is buried underground. The vacuum pump station 1 of the present invention repeatedly conducts the drawing and feeding of sewage 7 using vacuum force, which is created in the sewage collection tank 30, which is installed in the sewage collection tank pit 10, by the vacuum pumps 50 installed in the control box 20, under the control of the control panel 22.

[97] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment or the attached drawings.

Claims

[1] A buried type vacuum pump station for a vacuum sewer collection system to draw sewage, collected in a sewer pit buried underground, through a vacuum pipe and feed the sewage under pressure to a sewage treatment plant through a force-feed pipe, comprising: a sewage collection tank pit including a casing, having an opening in an upper end thereof, the sewage collection tank pit being buried underground and connected to the vacuum pipe and the force-feed pipe such that the vacuum pipe and the force-feed pipe extend to an interior of the sewage collection tank pit, the sewage collection tank pit being connected to an air pipe such that the air pipe extends from the interior of the sewage collection tank pit to an outside thereof, and a manhole cover provided on the upper end of the sewage collection tank pit to cover the opening of the upper end of the sewage collection tank pit; a sewage collection tank including a casing, having a space therein, the sewage collection tank being installed in the sewage collection tank pit and connected to the vacuum pipe, the force-feed pipe and a first end of the air pipe; and a control box having a cabinet shape having a space therein, the control box being installed aboveground at a position spaced apart from the sewage collection tank pit by a predetermined distance, the control box including two vacuum pumps connected to a second end of the air pipe, an exhaust cooler connected to the two vacuum pumps to remove moisture from gas drawn by the two vacuum pumps, a deodorizing device connected to the exhaust cooler, the deodorizing device being filled with activated carbon to remove hazardous gas and odors from the drawn gas, and a control panel to measure a level of sewage and a vacuum pressure in the sewage collection tank and control the vacuum pumps depending on measured values, wherein check valves are provided on the vacuum pipe and the force-feed pipe, respectively, and are electrically connected to the control panel to control drawing and feeding of the sewage, and a valve is provided at a predetermined position on the air pipe to control an operation of drawing air from the sewage collection tank or of feeding outside air into the sewage collection tank depending on operation of the vacuum pumps; a sewage level control device for measuring the level of sewage in the sewage collection tank and a pressure gauge for measuring the vacuum pressure in the sewage collection tank are provided at predetermined positions on the sewage collection tank, the sewage level control device and the pressure gauge being electrically connected to the control panel via a circuit; and a pit sewage suction pipe is provided in the sewage collection tank pit such that an upper end thereof communicates with the sewage collection tank and a lower end thereof extends to a lower end of the sewage collection tank pit to draw and discharge sewage, gathered in the sewage collection tank pit, with an air vent valve provided at a predetermined position on the pit sewage suction pipe. [2] The buried type vacuum pump station for the vacuum sewer collection system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure gauge comprises a vacuum transmitter provided at a predetermined position on the air pipe, the vacuum transmitter being electrically connected to the control panel via a circuit.