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In 2012, with the imminent closure of Didcot A power station in Oxfordshire UK, engineers from RWE NPower were tasked with enhancing the cooling water make up system to match the reduction in demand for cooling water at the remaining Didcot B plant.
Engineers from KSB were invited to survey the existing pumping station with a remit to replace the old units with more efficient pumps matched to the new requirements. After detailed analysis KSB proposed two pumps from the Omega pump range. These pumps were delivered to site on time and are now fully operational.
KSB Energy projects team selected two pumps from the KSB Omega pump range to replace the old units in the CWMU pump house at Didcot Power Station in Oxfordshire. The original pumps were rated to supply 4248m³/hr of screened river water to Didcot A (which closed in March 2013) and Didcot B power station. After the closure of ‘A’ Station demand for make-up water reduced to 1947m³/hr. This presented RWE with a clear case for energy savings and a reduction in the carbon footprint, by replacing the existing pumps with more efficient Omega pumps matched exactly to the new system requirements.
The KSB Omega V350-430A vertical pump units were delivered to site along with replacement drive shafts and motors in May 2013. Installation, carried out by RWE Technical Support Group, was phased to ensure the operation of the power plant remained uninterrupted. One of the key challenges KSB faced with this project was the limited space available within the dry well. For operational reasons the existing valves and pipe work could not be removed, thus the replacement pump had to be capable of being installed between the valve faces. The compact design of the Omega pump made it an ideal choice for this application.
Pump specification, design layout and the supply of new motor stools, carbon fibre drive-shafts, and ancillary items, was carried out in the UK by the Energy Projects team at KSB Ltd. Manufacturing of the pumps along with performance and hydrostatic testing was completed at the KSB factory works in Halle, Germany. The performance tests were carried out in the presence of RWE Engineers, Dave Evans, Mechanical Engineer for RWE Npower later commented, ‘’KSB have been cooperative and efficient in their communications and completion of milestones throughout the duration of the contract, including arranging meetings with RWE and subcontractors to discuss technical and commercial issues.’’
RWE acknowledged the trouble-free operation, safety and reliability of KSB’s pumps and valves on the 11th November 2013, when KSB AG received the annual RWE Supplier Award in the category ‘’Quality Global’’. KSB received the award for the quality of its products and the excellent price-performance ratio in a global context. The award ceremony took place at the conference centre in Essen, Germany, where the prestigious selection was made from among approximately 15,000 suppliers of the RWE Group.
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