Two pumps prove better than four in Anglian Water upgrade project
03 February 2021
Replacing four fixed-speed pumps with two variable speed-controlled pumps has increased pumping capacity, improved reliability and significantly reduced noise for Anglian Water’s Kentford Moulton site, near Newmarket.
Four 11kW line shaft-driven pumps, first installed in 1992, were running without any form of variable speed control. They have been replaced with two 45kW submersible sewage pumps, the flow rate of which is controlled by two ABB water drives.
The upgrade increases pumping capacity and delivers substantial energy savings, as the ABB drives ensure that the pumps only operate at the speed required. Prior to the upgrade, the average pump running time was 14 hours per day. Following the upgrade, the average run time was reduced to three hours per day. This reduction in energy led to an estimated £4,000 annual saving for Anglian Water.
The four old pumps ran simultaneously, generating high noise levels and disturbing local residents. The two replacement pumps are run in a duty-standby configuration, meaning only one pump is typically running at a given time, significantly reducing noise levels. The load is shared between the two pumps via switching, spreading wear between the pumps more equally.
Read the full article in the February issue of DPA.
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