Chemical pump solution keeps environment on the radar
14 Dec 2021
As a leading chemical process plant operator, INEOS is conscious of the importance of heeding environmental factors when updating equipment and sought help from Bedford Pumps...
INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd, is part of INEOS, Europe’s leading producer of vinyls and manufactures in eight countries across Europe. The subsidiary’s Runcorn site focuses on the production of chlorine, caustic soda and chlorinated derivatives, produces chemicals for a wide variety of industrial applications across many sectors.
The company was keen to replace its existing old power station cooling water pump, ensuring the most efficient industrial process but also ensuring that it more than met its environmental responsibilities.
These commitments included ensuring local rivers that supplied the water necessary for the dilution of off-cast brine in the chemical process were not compromised. Also, to safeguard local wildlife from danger, in particular the fish species that occur locally.
As a renowned manufacturer of robust, high-capacity pumping plant, Bedford’s pumps are designed for the most arduous and demanding applications and emphasise efficiency, reliability and longevity. Duties cover from 500 l/s to 15,000 l/s.
Bedford was commissioned INOVYN to provide two of their fish friendly pumps to aid in the chemical process.
The 700mm axial flow fish friendly pumpsets supplied by Bedford Pumps will be used at the Runcorn plant to extract river water for the dilution of the brine from the plant processes.
These new canister mounted pumps will take water from the Manchester Ship Canal and pump it into the Weaver navigation on a variable speed philosophy to meet a dilution ratio such that the brine, the production rate of which is perpetually changing, is always diluted to a set level. Each of the pumps is capable of generating a flow of 695 litres per second at a 1m head but close control of the flow rates is an essential part of the process.
Bedford Pumps’ scope of supply included the two axial flow submersible pumps, a multi-section canister with a cruciform inlet, fish friendly siphon breaker valves, a pump condition monitor, as well as removal of the previous pump, installation and commissioning. The restricted height on site bought its own challenges to the installation process but Bedford Pumps overcame this by installing and removing the pumps in the top section of the canister.
INOVYN project manager Andrew Whitfield commernted aftrer installation:
“Bedford Pumps have supported this project from its conception through to commissioning and have always provided an excellent service throughout.
“The design phase was managed very well with good communications with INOVYN and the pumping station design team at Engenda. Bedford were very flexible with the delivery and installation of the pumps. The installation and commissioning was completed in a safe and professional manner.”
