Sudbury Project Installs Lifespan Water Tight Manhole Solution
An enormous amount of thermal energy is lost when wastewater flows into and through sanitary or storm sewer pipes. Why not capture and utilize this energy? That is exactly what Renewable Resource Recovery Corp (RRRC) is doing with their recently installed @Source-Energy Pipe system in Greater Sudbury.
This system utilizes standard precast reinforced concrete sewer pipe incorporating a patented (pending) heat recovery system that extracts heat energy from the pipe effluent and adjacent ground, returning the energy to heat residential, institutional, commercial and industrial buildings.The System uses the engineering principles of ground source heat recovery to collect or reject heat to the sewer pipes and adjacent ground. Rainbow Concrete Industries supplied the pipe and structures for this project and are the first licensee to manufacture the thermal energy-capturing pipe.
With the first installation of the @Source-Energy Pipe system in the Naneff Gardens subdivision (Phase 2) on Donnelly Drive, 18 homes will be able to take advantage of the low cost, safe, dependable, renewable energy source. The system is expected to provide heating and cooling for homes with an energy efficiency ranging from 400 to 500%. RRRC estimates the energy costs for buildings using their system would actually be up to 10 to 20 per cent lower than installing a conventional heating system.
While not a component of the energy recovery system, Rainbow Concrete wanted to be sure they left no stone unturned in this sustainable “Green” subdivision, and decided to utilize the Lifespan manhole frame and lid system on all of their sanitary manhole structures. Lifespan is provided by Hamilton Kent of Toronto, Ontario, in conjunction with Clean Water Resources. This system offers the benefit of a watertight seal at the top of the manhole structure, eliminating all inflow of surface water into the sewer system. Studies have show that up to 50% of the surface water that gets into the sanitary system does so through the top of the manhole. This creates unnecessary energy usage, increased green house gas emissions and dramatically reduced connection capacity. Studies have also shown that the most effective and least costly inflow remediation method involves creating a water tight seal at the top of the manhole.
The Lifespan inflow solution does exactly that. The Lifespan frame and the integrated, tapered adjustment risers are made of a structural, elastomeric material that is corrosion proof, leak proof, and unbreakable. It has been field tested for over 5 years. Extensive lab tests, in addition to punishing traffic and weather, suggest that this is the “best in class” solution for collection systems.
The Lifespan frame and adjustment risers are designed to absorb the impact and vibration of road traffic, virtually eliminating damage to the manhole structure and the pavement surrounding the manhole. From a worker safety perspective, the rubber frame weighs only 55 lbs. (25 Kgs.), making it easy to install without the need for cranes or hoists. It also meets AASHTO H-20 load requirements, making it appropriate for nearly all road applications. The system is topped by a cover with three locking cams, which not only ensures watertightness, but also prevents unauthorized entry into the manhole structure.
Lifespan units were installed in the Naneff Gardens subdivision on all the sanitary manhole structures. While this was the installation crew’s first exposure to the Lifespan system, they quickly realized the ease with which it could be transported, set in place and attached to the manhole. They found the tapered adjustment rings especially effective in achieving a sloped grade.
For more information about the Lifespan System, please contact:
Henry Flattery
Director, Sustainable Market Development
Hamilton Kent Inc,
416-675-9873 Ext. 296
Cell: 416-990-4166