NDS-StormChamber supported by HydroCAD
HydroCAD provides direct support for the NDS-StormChamber system, allowing the StormChamber to be easily used within any HydroCAD model for stormwater storage, detention, or infiltration.
HydroCAD also provides an interactive chamber wizard for easy layout, pricing, and modeling of underground storage systems.
Note: With the completion of the StormChamber acquisition by NDS, the StormChamber chamber definitions have been renamed to NDS StormChamber. Previous projects will continue to work exactly as before, but new designs will use the new naming system.
Important: NDS has revised their storage values for the StormChamber in 2024. To get the latest "V3" chamber definitions make sure you're using HydroCAD 10.2-6a or later. A corrected V2 file is also available for HydroCAD 10.20-3/4/5, although an update to 10.2-6a is still required to get the latest V3 data.
Note: Depending on your release, you will find the StormChamber listed under "NDS", "NDS-Stormchamber", "StormChamber" or "Hydrologic Solutions"
How chambers are modeled
In a HydroCAD model, stormwater chambers typically appear as part of the storage definition for a "pond". In the simplest case, HydroCAD calculates the available storage for use with other calculations. But more often, it is used to generate a complete inflow or runoff hydrograph and route it through the pond. The resulting analysis indicates the water levels attained throughout the rainfall event, as well as any discharge that may occur through outlet devices or infiltration into the surrounding ground.
Flexible storage options
Each pond may include an unlimited number of storage definitions as required to describe its overall storage characteristics. This makes it easy to model complex storage arrangements, such as a combination of multiple chambers, pipe storage, catch basins, or other contributing volumes.
But the most significant feature is the ability to embed (bury) chambers in a bed of crushed stone, and have HydroCAD automatically calculate the combined storage at any water surface elevation. This makes it easy to determine the storage for virtually any configuration of storage chambers, without resorting to any manual calculations.
HydroCAD can also model almost any imaginable storage arrangement, including chambers of different sizes combined with auxiliary storage from adjacent pipes and catch basins, and even the above-ground areas (parking lot) that may provide overflow storage for certain events.
Modeling with the StormChamber
Setting up a pond with StormChamber storage is a simple process: Just pick the StormChamber model from the drop-down list, and specify the number of chambers plus their elevation.
For chambers in a stone bed, you can describe the shape and dimensions of the outer excavation, plus the stone voids (porosity), and the composite storage is calculated automatically. Or you can use the new chamber wizard for automatic chamber layout, modeling, and cost estimating.
Modeling the StormChamber SedimenTrap
Each StormChamber installation is normally configured with two "sediment traps". If desired, the volume of the sediment traps can be included in the HydroCAD model by using the "vertical cylinder" storage option with these parameters:
Diameter=2.50' Height=1.67' Side-Z=0 Embed Inside=Nothing Storage Multiplier=2 Voids=100%
Set the storage invert elevation 1.67' below the bottom of the StormChambers. The option to "Allow Exfiltration" should not be selected, since exfiltration for this area is already being allowed for the main chamber system and should not be double-counted.
Detailed chamber information
For detailed chamber specifications and design information, please visit Hydrologic Solutions.
For more information about HydroCAD
Please see the following pages for further HydroCAD information:
Pond storage calculations
Storage chamber modeling
Exfiltration calculations
General support page
HydroCAD features and capabilities
Free evaluation program
Pricing and ordering
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