During
the contract period, representatives of the client attended SPP
Pumps UK based first class manufacturing facility to undertake
witness testing of the pumping plant. This testing comprised
of noise, heat, vibration, flow and pressure monitoring, during
which the full capabilities and features of the pumps were demonstrated
and as a result received the customer’s representative’s
approval following satisfactory completion of demonstration tests
Two pump duties were specified in the tender document, one for
a duty of 100l/s @ 15m TDH operating on a 7m suction lift for
which we offered our QI200 driven via an Isuzu 4LE2 engine and
the second duty 200 l/s @ 15m TDH again on a 7m suction lift
for which we offered our XF250 driven via an Isuzu 6BG1T engine.
Absolutely critical to the satisfactory operation of the pumps
when deployed on site was the ability of the pumps to operate
continuously on this high (7m) suction lift, priming quickly
and maintaining prime as long as a sufficient liquid level was
maintained in the sewer network, from which the pumps must draw.
Many challenges were presented along the way. Not least the
design, manufacture and testing of a new pump and engine combination
in the form of the acoustically enclosed road trailer mounted
Autoprime XF250 driven by an Isuzu 6BG1T diesel engine. Individually
the pump and driver performance was known and there was no shortage
of confidence in these components to make a package that would
meet the design criteria and offer full compliance with the specification.
Critical to the operation of this new pump and engine package,
was its ability to operate in a super silent enclosure whilst
providing sufficient cooling air flow across the engine as local
ambient temperatures may exceed 30 deg C. This element of the
design required detailed design review meetings and subsequent
factory
testing, during which both the noise and heat criteria were met
and even exceeded.
The
technical specification criteria dictated that both sizes of
pumps offered should operate on a 7m suction lift at the specified
discharge flow and pressure. This criterion was to be proven
during detailed site commissioning tests by SPP Pumps representatives,
Duncan Jackson and Billy Cuthbertson, at one of Prague’s
main sewage treatment plants. This was held in the presence of
the customer’s representatives and those from the Prague
Magistrates office, Prague Mayors office, Czech TV, press and
media.
Needless to say these tests went without a hitch with both pumps
operating for 5 hours in temperatures exceeding 35 deg C. As
part of these tests the client undertook flow measurement through
specially designed test lines, again proving the pumps complied
with the specified requirements.
Members of the client’s operators and maintenance staff
were given detailed training on the operation and maintenance
of both pump types. Also present during these sessions were WOMBAT,
SPP’s service partner responsible for service back-up during
the warranty period.
WOMBAT have extensive knowledge of the Autoprime range and this
coupled with their enthusiasm and ability to speak the Czech
language made these training sessions a great success.
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