United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Municipal Environmental Research
Laboratory
Cincinnati OH 45268
Hlf
rchK^V
Research and Development
EPA-600/S2-81-219 Oct. 1981
Project Summary
A Mobile Stream Diversion
System for Hazardous
Materials Spills Isolation
James V. Zaccor
This program was undertaken to
design and develop a practical proto-
type mobile stream diversion system
for quick rerouting of a stream flow
around a contaminated area.
Spill scenarios were analyzed to
establish design criteria for a com-
pletely self-contained, independent
system that would maintain flow
continuity around a region undergoing
decontamination processing. The
system was designed to use stock
items available nationwide, to be
easily maintained, and to be readily
repairable. To provide flexibility and
reliability, the system has been assem-
bled as two totally independent units
mounted on trailers. These trailers do
not require permits for hauling over
state or interstate highways and they
can also be moved over unimproved
roads to gain access to spill sites.
Components are fastened on the
trailers so that they can be quickly
unloaded for air shipment to more
distant locations. Once onsite, the
system can be assembled and placed
in operation by a crew of five in a
matter of hours.
Unit operation and ability to deliver
a f lowrate of 0.35 m3/s (5,600 gpm) a
distance of 0.3 km (1,000 ft) over
unprepared ground were evaluated in
a shakedown test.
Alternative modes of operation have
been defined and capabilities indicated.
The system can deliver a flowrate of
0.09 mVs (1,425 gpm) a nominal
distance of 1 km (3,280 ft), or a
flowrate of 0.35 mVs (5,600 gpm) a
distance of 0.3 km (1,000 ft).
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Municipal Environmental
Research Laboratory, Cincinnati. OH,
to announce key findings of the
research project that is fully docu-
mented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).
Introduction
This report discusses the design and
development of a practical prototype.
mobile stream diversion system (MSDS)
to be used for quick rerouting of a
stream flow around a contaminated
area.
Spill cleanup scenarios often involve
contamination of small streams by
insoluble, sinking hazardous materials.
An analysis of the proposed list of
designated hazardous substances indi-
cates that approximately 45% of these
materials either are insoluble sinkers or
form insoluble precipitates on contact
with water.
These materials can be cleaned up in
several ways, including hand-vacuuming
and dredging. But the use of these
methods can lead to problems resulting
from spread of contamination down-
stream or treatment of contaminated
dredge water. Another approach is to
dam the stream above the affected area
and bypass the normal flow; this
procedure allows the contaminated
-------
stream bed to dry and, thus, facilitates
mechanical cleanup.
In the case of smaller streams, a
bypass can be achieved through gravity
flow. But stream flows greater than
0.0063 mVs (100 gpm) generally
require that a pumping and piping
system be used to bypass the flow.
Suitable systems are not always readily
available, and valuable time is lost while
attempting to engineer a system.
Scientific Services, Inc., of California,
under the sponsorship of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) Oil and Hazardous Materials
Spills Branch, Edison, New Jersey,
undertook a project to build a mobile,
pre-engineered pumping and piping
system designed to bypass streams
affected by spills of insoluble, sinking
hazardous materials. The stream diver-
sion system developed as a result of this
study is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. MSDS spill application.
Discussion
For the MSDS to be reliable and
financially viable, the selection of
components had to be made principally
from commercial items that were
stocked and readily available nation-
wide. Such components also simplify
system maintenance and repair. The
major design task of this study became
one of choosing from available products
to achieve maximum operational flexi-
bility at an acceptable cost. At the same
time, the system had to meet certain
operational specifications; it had to be:
1. Completely self-contained (on a
maximum of two trailers) and capa-
ble of independent operation (with
liquid fuels supplied separately),
2. Self-propelled, as a tractor-trailer,
over interstate highways without
special permits,
3. Able to be fully assembled on site in
4 hr by five men,
4. Capable of diverting a volume flow-
rate of 0.35 mVs (5,600 gpm) a
distance of 0.3 km (1,000 ft), or a
lower flow volume a distance of 0.91
km (3,000 ft),
5. Continuously operable for 21 days
(500 hr) without dropping below 50%
capacity in the event of any single
component failure, and
6. So mounted, that the components
could be quickly and easily removed
when the need arose for them to be
shipped by air.
Specifications for individual components
also had to be met.
Component Selection
The major components of the system
were identified as the following:
1. Booster pumps
2. Submersible pumps
3. Generator
4. Pipes, hoses, and fittings
5. Crane
6. Transportation system
7. Lighting system
Compatibility of these components
was an important factor in the design
and selection analysis. Because the
booster pumps were available as
surplus U.S. government property, their
capacities were chosen as an appropriate
starting point for the analysis. The
booster pump specifications indicated
that their use would place certain
demands on the system. A hierarchy of
selection criteria for the other compo-
nents was developed based on how well
the components could meet these
demands and on their availability and
cost. The costs were analyzed both in
terms of the initial investment and
subsequent operating cost.
The report discusses in detail the
rationale involved in the selection
process for all major components and
ancillary equipment such as electrical
hookups, pipe racks, and dollies. A list of
the items that were eventually selected
is given in the report.
System Operation
The mobile stream diversion system
has been designed to a I low for maximum
flexibility, reliability, and practicability
by providing two totally independent
units. The two-unit system allowed the
development of units having access to
state as well as interstate highways
without special permit. In addition,
should one unit be delayed or lost in an
accident, it would not affect the opera-
tion of the other unit. The system is
capable of a number of different
operational modes, which gives added
flexibility for use in various terrains.
Table 1 contains a list of the operational
modes.
The design philosophy, performance
specifications, and rationale for selecting
the components (including manufac-
turer's model number and performance
specifications) are described in the full
report. Photographs and figures illus-
trate the system; explanations of the
various operational modes are intended
as an aid in using the system effectively
and efficiently.
The full report was submitted in ful-
fillment of Contract No. 68-03-2458 by
Scientific Service, Inc., Redwood City,
California 91320, under the sponsorship
of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
-------
Table 1. Mobile Stream Diversion System (MSDS) Operational Modes
If Series Staged With Additional Pipe
Mode
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s B
s B
s B
s B
s B
s B
s B
s B
s B
Rate®
Q
(irf/s)
.11
.22
.18
.35
.10
.20
.18
.35
.3 km Rate @ .6 km Rate @ .9 km
Q Q Q
(gpm) (rrf/s) (gpm) fm3/s) Igpm) Stages (rrf/s) (gpm)
1,750 .09 1,425 .06 950 4 .09 1,425
3,500 2 .18 2,900
2^900 .10 1.600 .07 1,100
5,600 1 .10 1,600
1,600 .10 1,600 .09 1,425 4 .09 1,425
3,200 2 .18 2.900
2,900 .18 2,900 .11 1,750
5.600 1 .35 5,600
Pipe
Range Required
km ft km ft
2.4 7,900 2.4 7,900
1.2 3,900 2.4 7,900
0.6 2,000 1.2 3,950
11 36,000 11 36,000
5 16.400 11 36,000
1.1 3.600 2.2 7,200
Note: Submersible pumps s and booster pumps B may be used singly or jointly, in series or parallel, with individual or
common pipelines. The mode symbols used are descriptive of such arrays. Volume rate of flow for the system has been indi-
cated for the two specified and one intermediate distance in the lefthand columns, possible future options in the right.
J. V. Zaccor is with Scientific Service, Inc., Redwood City, CA 94063.
Frank J. Freestone is the EPA Project Officer fsee below).
The complete report, entitled "A Mobile Stream Diversion System for Hazardous
Materials Spills Isolation," (Order No. PB 82-109 679; Cost: $6.50, subject to
change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Oil and Hazardous Materials Spills Branch
Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory—Cincinnati
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Edison, NJ 08837
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1981 — 559-017/7395
-------
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
t) ^*
(j o
Postage and
Fees Paid
Environmental
Protection
Agency
EPA 335
,.
------- |