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Close-coupled Pump solution for deep well pumping station

Bedford Pumps contributed to the success of one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Northern Ireland with the installation of six 15 tonne Storm Water pumps. The extreme weather conditions Belfast had been experiencing, in conjunction with the city’s effluent on overburdened sewers, has resulted in major issues with flooding and pollution.

Challenging Pumping Application

The pumps had to be installed 40 metres below ground level at the project’s Terminal Pumping Station.
The station lies at the end of a 10km network of new storm tunnels which have been under construction over the past three years. The pumps are fundamental to the whole project to alleviate storm conditions and reduce the risk of flooding in the city.

The following design criteria had to be met:

  • The ability of the pump to maintain a constant flow of 750 l/s over a static head range of 10 m to 36 m whilst remaining hydraulically stable and operating efficiently.
  • Ensure a minimum self-cleansing velocity greater than 1.8m/s
  • Minimise the possibility of valve slam by strategic positioning of the NRV.
  • Construction materials to be capable of resisting severe abrasion due to the high levels of grit present in the pumpage.

The Bespoke Pumping Solution

Bedford Pumps were chosen for their knowledge and expertise in the field, as well as their unique design specification.

Storm Pumps and Forward Flow to Treatment Pumps

Storm pumps at bedford pumps

Bedford Pumps installed 6 Storm Pumps and 2 FFT (Forward Flow to Treatment) pumps. Each Storm Pump had the capacity to deliver 3,500 l/s which means that when all six pumps are running they could empty an Olympic sized swimming pool in less than two minutes. The Storm Pumps were driven by 950 kW, 3.3 kV immersible, flameproof motors. The 2 FFT pumps were used to discharge the lower, base load flows to the treatment works. These pumps are also driven by immersible, flameproof motors.

Bespoke Pumping Solution reduces installation & maintenance costs

Bedford Pumps used an innovative new technique when designing their pumping solution, moving away from the traditional arrangement adopted for deep well stations. The norm for this type of application would be to install the drive motor at ground level thereby ensuring that it is kept dry in the event of a flood. This type of installation would add cost to both the mechanical and civil installation in addition to the ongoing maintenance requirements on long drive shafting needed to couple the motor to the basement-mounted pumps

Bedford Pumps revolutionary design eliminated the need for drive shafts, bearing and supporting structures by incorporating a motor fitted directly above the pump. The direct drive motor, manufactured by Bedford Pumps, is floodproof (IP68), flameproof and fully immersible.
This was close coupled to the pump, minimising the overall cost of the installation whilst ensuring optimum reliability. Both the FFT and the Storm Pump shaft sealing arrangement is of the conventional packed-gland type which affords the client low capital and maintenance cost

In this PIF interview, Frank Cooper from Bedford Pumps describes the innovative and bespoke Pumping Solution…

Company Profile

Bedford Pumps Ltd

Bedford Pumps are one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of large submersible and conventional pumps to the water and wastewater industries.

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