New range of pumps easier to maintain
Published 2011-12-15 00:00:00
A lot of attention is being given to ITT Water & Wastewater’s demerger from ITT and its rebranding as Xylem, but that hasn’t stopped the company from continuing to develop new products. In recent months the company has launched of a new range of sludge pumps and now we have the introduction of redesigned versions of its Ready ‘entry level’ submersible pumps.
The three pumps in the new range are the 0.4 kW Ready 4 and two 0.8 kW models, the Ready 8 and Ready 8S. As with the old range the new 8S uses a vortex impeller design which can handle larger solids than the others. Monica Bakszt, dewatering business development manager, says that the main aims behind the redesign were to make the range easier to maintain and more robust on site. The maintenance improvement comes from having just three screws at the top to remove to access major components, and reliability and robustness are improved by using an aluminum die-cast construction rather than the stainless steel of the previous models. This allows Xylem to design out several internal components – there are ten fewer parts – which means less to replace and increased reliability. Another big improvement, says Ms Bakszt, is a better seal between the power cable and the pump casing. A common problem on site is when the cable is run over by a vehicle, which damages the seal and eventually leads to water making contact with electrical components inside the pump.
The use of aluminum also leads to another advantage, which is better heat dissipation characteristics, reducing the risk of the pump overheating. Ms Bakszt says the switch to aluminum has been made possible by investment in aluminum casting techniques among some of its sub-suppliers.
In addition to these new models comes a range of three sludge pumps to add to the “flagship” Flygt 2600 series. The new pumps, in the 1.5 to 5.6 kW sizes, are portable, multi-purpose pumps that can handle sludge and other liquids containing solids of up to 80 mm (3.2 in) in size. The pumps feature Hard-Iron vortex impellers. Xylem says the sludge pumps will be ideal for temporary sewage pumping, digester cleaning at wastewater treatment plants, light slurry transfer, open-pit and underground mine dewatering, and emergency site drainage. The pumps – models 2620.280, 2630.280 and 2640.280 - are capable of flows up to 28 l/s (450 gallons per minute) and heads to 38 m (128 ft).
Xylem has used its own pump rental operation to trial the new Ready pumps, and the rental business has already started adding the 2600 sludge pumps to the fleet. That rental business continues to grow. Stefan Swartling, marketing manager for rental & dewatering services, says that “we are trying to offer rental in all countries that there is potential and where we have reasonable capability.” Brazil is one area where Xylem is planning to open new locations, both for sales and rental; “We are expanding our fleet in Brazil, but not as fast as the general market growth”, he says. Xylem rental operation focuses on larger and more ‘special’ pumps, which rental companies or contractors may not own. Also ongoing is the addition of Godwin’s Dri-Prime® pumps to Xylem rental operation worldwide. That alone will require a “multi million” Euro investment in pumps this year, says Mr. Swartling.
