Pumps
Powerful pump
set tested
KSB Pumps and Valves recently tested an impressive pump set at the SABS.
Here the team lower the diesel engine into position on installed baseplate for alignment with gearbox and pump
W
ith 1350Kw of raw power produced by a massive
V16 diesel motor, the SABS in conjunction with
KSB Pumps and Valves has tested one of the most
impressive pump sets to be assembled on South African soil
in recent times. ably pumping high volumes on a
continual basis. Well known for
their reliable operation, they were
deemed as the ideal pump for this
critical operation.
Due to the critical nature of the
application to suppress toxic
gases in an emergency situation,
engineers took the unusual step of
pre-testing the complete pump set
to ensure the unit performs exactly
as required. In this instance, even
KSB’s own world-class testing facili-
ties in Germiston were deemed too
small to deal with the sheer size
and power of the set. This neces-
sitated the use of the SABS’ larger
facilities in Pretoria. “We have a long relationship
with both parties and proven
service levels across our large
installed base in Sasol and similar
operations across the continent,”
Geoff concludes
KSB contract manager, Geoff
Havenga, explains the set,
comprising a heavyweight KSB
a RDLO 400-935A pump, V16
Quad-Turbo Mitsubishi motor
and David Brown-manufactured
gearbox, is part of Sasol’s Natref
Hydrofluoric Acid Cloud Mitigation
project and is required to rapidly
produce a spray water to “knock
down” any gas cloud that may form
in an emergency spill situation.
As a result, the pump set needs
to be ultra-reliable and ready to
spark in to action in an instant to
pump approximately 770 litres
of water per second at a head
pressure of 13 Bar.
sive that we have facilities in
South Africa where our customers
can witness the performance of
the equipment that they have
purchased, in this instance by
Worley Consulting Engineers on
France and the gearbox by David behalf of Sasol.”
Brown here in Benoni. Due to the
nature of the project, further tests “The kind of pump used is widely
were then required of the entire unit operated in high volume applica-
including capacity, head, power, tions in raw and potable water
efficiency and net positive suction industries and is capable of reli-
of the pump to ensure further
conformity with specifications.
“KSB usually performs these tests
on our own standard equipment,
but this time the size of the motor
was a limiting factor and required
us to use the SABS facility. Here,
testing was done under the
supervision of the customers, KSB
and SABS personnel and ran for
four hours before being deemed
to meet all specifications and
requirements,” says KSB’s test field
manager, Norman Taylor
“These kinds of string tests are
done to ensure the entire units
work correctly considering that the
diesel motor requires to produce a
staggering 1015Kw of power just to
handle the required absorb-power
needed to produce the 2800
m³ of water needed per hour.
Also, the forces at play when you
consider this power is generated at
1500RPM and reduced through a
Impressive scale
reduction gearbox to 1000 which
is the optimum range of the KSB a
“The test is unusual as components RDLO 400-935A pump.”
are usually tested individually and
again on commissioning. This time, Trusted type
however, the units were tested
separately - the pump in Germany Geoff continues, “With the unit
pre-delivery to South Africa, the weighing in at an impressive
diesel engine by Mitsubishi in 32-tons it is particularly impres-
SABI | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019
37