BBA Pumps environmentally friendly pump.
Boskalis Nederland has expanded from being a local dredging contractor to one which is involved in the construction and maintenance of harbors, land reclamation and the offshore energy sectors.
The firm’s internal rental company, Boskalis Technical Service Nederland, manages several mobile pump units with high and ultra-high flows and as well as specific technical requirements, the company has a strict environmental policy which heavily influences its purchasing of new equipment.
Each pump must:
- Have a minimum capacity of 5000 m3/hr and a pressure in excess of three bar.
- Possess excellent suction capabilities (NPSHr curve) and be suitable for use as a dewatering pump.
- Achieve high fuel efficiency combined with the lowest exhaust emissions.
- Fit into a 20 ft. container for easy transport.
- Be a maximum weight of no more than 12,000 kilograms.
With Stage IV/Tier4 Final diesel engine.
Boskalis has a number of widely divergent projects around the globe. This makes multi-functionality and ease of logistics handling important factors in the purchase of new equipment, particularly when it comes to issues such as weight. “A pumpset of 11 to 12 tons is usually the maximum permissible due to limitations in handling on site. Also, the soil layers can be substantially compacted and cannot always carry the weight,” said Bas van den Brand, a technical superintendent with Boskalis Nederland.
Early in October 2014, Boskalis Nederland officially commissioned the delivery of a BBA high flow pump unit, BA-C500S11 D711 which promised an attractive efficiency of 86%. The auto prime pump provides a capacity of 5500 m3/hour (24000 US GPM) and a maximum head of 37mwk (120 ft).
Silent and lightweight
The pump is driven by a modern Stage IV Volvo Penta diesel engine - the TAD1374VE. This provides 375kW of power and delivers the lowest specific fuel consumption in its class (207 g/kWh). Exhaust gas is treated using AdBlue to help minimize emissions. It is fully equipped with the newly developed, extremely silent and lightweight canopy and its dimensions ensure that it fits into a 20 ft container without any problems. The total weight of the pump unit is just 10.800 kg.
The new BA-C500S11 has now been deployed in a first project in Muiden. The A1 highway is being widened and partially rerouted. The Boskalis Nederland employees on site are impressed with the pumping performance, especially with regards to the low noise emissions.
“This pump unit only has to work half throttle to do the job – at 1250 rpm it provides as much capacity as the old one at 2000 rpm,” said one operator responding to a request for feedback.
“The former pump unit regularly clogged up due to solid materials as a result of the vertical drainage hose we use here – fortunately the BA-C500S11 can just pump it”.
BBA Pumps has now decided to include this pump unit in its standard product range.
“We can’t ignore this any longer - this is a pump unit for the future,” said Henno Schothorst, BBA Pumps’ product manager.
