Fresh products
Large-scale pumps for Gauteng’s water needs
K
SB Pumps and Valves is supplying
eight ultra-efficient pump sets for
Rand Water’s Palmiet Pumping
station near Alberton to help boost
potable water supply to the Gauteng
region.
The large diameter pumps are to be
installed in tandem on four pumping lines,
each delivering 200Ml/day at a head of
206m. This is achieved with the use of
four slow speed suction pumps to keep
NPSH requirements down, these pump
directly into the four booster pumps which
boost the pressure to the required 20
bar. The pumps are driven by two motor
sizes, 2080kw for the suction pumps and
4130Kw for the boosters.
“When tested at our factory’s modern test
facility in Halle Germany, the new pump
sets surpassed the expected performance
and reinforced the contractor’s decision
to specify the KSB pumps. In addition to
the high performance, our pumps were
chosen due to the company’s high levels
of customer service which has been proven
over many decades of sales, support and
service of pumps supplied to the water
utility,” says Dale.
New projects
He expands that in addition to the Palmiet
Pump Station, KSB is also in the process of
supplying similar pumps for Rand Water’s
Vereeniging Pump Station as well as for
similar water projects throughout South
Africa and the SADC region.
“We currently maintain many of the
country’s water pumps and have recently
signed a contract to refurbish old KSB
Pumps from a pump station where they
were originally installed in the 1960s.
“This just goes to show that while our pumps
are able to meet the highest specifications
for output and efficiency, they are also
able to last for many decades and ensure
a constant supply of water to our economy
and to households throughout the country,”
concludes Dale.
Dale Croker, KSB Fluid Systems manager,
says the pumps are large by any standards
with a 800mm diameter suction, discharge
diameter of 700mm and an impeller larger
than one metre in diameter. Each of the
eight pumps weighs 8.9 tons with individual
sets (pump and motor) weighingup to 20
tons each.
High efficiencies
“These are among the largest split-case
water pumps sold in South Africa in recent
times and upon installation will go a long
way to take pressure off the existing system.
Despite the massive pumping power of the
pump sets, the overall average efficiency
of 92% exceeds the original quoted
efficiencies by a considerable margin and
will result in a significant saving of electricity
consumption, considering current power
shortages, this is a valuable benefit.
Telemetry applications
Help ensure Pest-free Crops
A
ccurate and reliable pesticide applications have been developed in
the fight against invertebrate pests. These measures are necessary to
ensure consistent, even crop spraying, negating the effect that invading
invertebrates have on harvest profitability.
To aid farmers eradicate pests on the crops
by ensuring even crop spray and identifying
un-sprayed areas, South African based
wireless data communications company
Skygistics, has introduced a tailored
telemetry application managed from a
easy to use software platform. It allows
farmers to remotely track a spray-tractor’s
progress via live or intermittent tracking,
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SABI | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
and to ascertain the time, location and
manner the pesticide was applied. It also
monitors tractor speed and operation; and
records both engine hours and power takeoff, all of which contribute to effective crop
spraying.
Since introduction, the application been
successfully implemented at a number of
commercial farms, many in the tomato and
citrus industry.
“The feedback we have received to date
is extremely positive,” says Henry Smith,
executive sales & marketing, Skygistics.
“Our aim is to extend the application’s
reach to all agricultural sectors.”