ROTTERDAM NH3 TERMINAL - INDUSTRIAL
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Name: Rotterdam NH3 Terminal
Project Type: Industrial Cooling Water Pumps
Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Pumps/pump package used: x4 horizontally mounted BS20AL pumps fitted to 450kW 8p 11kV motors
BACKGROUND
Our client and their partners signed a joint development agreement to create a new import terminal in Rotterdam. This terminal was planned in response to increasing demand for green energy solutions to meet climate objectives. The terminal was required to deliver green hydrogen to the Netherlands in 2026.
OBJECTIVE
SPP selected a solution from our LLC range of split case pumps. This pump range is trusted in highly critical applications world wide where efficiency, reliability and ease of maintenance is of upmost importance.
Our client understandably had in depth specifications, specific requirements and contractual demands outlining the pump set design and supply needs. SPP’s solution had to adhere to these to ensure that its was fully compliant in the overall supply to the specifications within the agreed timeframe.
Although the base LLC pump design was mostly compliant with the client specification demands, various features and consideration had to be included. This included certain pump duty selection criteria, material considerations, special mechanical seal and bearing isolator designs along with additional auxiliary items. Each pump had to be capable of delivering 2608 m3/hr at a head of 45.6 m.
SPP worked with a trusted (and client approved) motor supplier to ensure included an 11kV motor solution suitable for the application that fully covered the in-depth driver specifications. Collaborations with both mechanical seal and coupling suppliers also had to follow this route. A special coupling design was required to ensure the rotating element of the driver on a sleeved design did not impart any unwanted axial loading to the pump bearings.
Our in-house design team created a robust bespoke baseplate solution to suit the application needs. This was a highly engineered solution with special lifting elements, a drip pan feature and suitable for the overall package weight which was above 13 tonnes.
The pump set supply process and client requirements also showcased SPP’s ability to comply fully and deliver very complex and demanding documentation packages to meet the project needs.
SOLUTION
Renewable energy opportunities, such as solar power are generous in certain regions of the world. Energy from these sources is not easily transported worldwide without high-cost cable networks over long distances. The energy can be converted to green ammonia for shipping long distances and then converted to green hydrogen at its destination for use as an energy source.
As part of the shipping terminal design at the European destination, our client was tasked with the design of an industrial process solution to allow the conversion of the arriving green ammonia to usable green hydrogen. During this complex process, cooling water is required for the plant in relatively large amounts. The cooling system is critical and without it the facility would not be able to function at all without risking overheating of complex, high-cost plant systems. Unnecessary downtime of the terminal processes would have huge cost implications to the client and their partners.
