Sludge facility gets pump upgrade
10 Feb 2014
seepex smart conveying technology (SCT) is designed to reduce opex at United Utilities Shell Green site at Warrington, Chesire.
seepex has supplied eight pumps fitted with SCT to United Utilities (UU) as part of continuous cost saving initiatives.
The Shell Green sludge processing site takes sludge for processing at a centralised facility where it is dewatered before being used to generate energy.
UU asked seepex to look at the pump systems feeding the dewatering centrifuges to reduce operating costs.
After a full diagnostic check of the system by seepex and UU engineers, seepex proposed a trial with a pump of a smaller size.
During the trial, stator life was extended compared to the existing pumps by adjustment of the retaining segments which hold the two-part stator in place.
The smaller pump, fitted with SCT alternative, ran for 30% longer before the stator was replaced and this, combined with lower stator costs for the SCT design and for a smaller pump, has generated 70% savings in spares parts costs.
In addition to increased operating uptime, maintenance downtime is reduced by 85% as rotors and stators can be changed without dismantling pipework.
Dues to the trial’s success, eight centrifuge feed pumps have now been replaced by seepex SCT pumps with projected savings on operating costs in the region of £50,000 per year.
