Pump industry News

RECORD BOILER SALES SHOW HOW DECARBONISATION COULD WORK

Mike Foster, Chief Executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), believes that decarbonising home heating should be done using gas central heating.

While reporting a record year for annual gas boiler sales, Mike added that: “The UK saw a record number of gas boilers being sold in 2019; 1.67 million, an increase of 1.8% on 2018 figures.”

The number of homes with central heating is also increasing; today, around 22 million households in the UK have gas central heating, compared to 20 years ago when it was about 17 million homes.

“The sheer scale demands that we use these systems to decarbonise, not plan to scrap them,” continued Mike.

The EUA believes that clean gases, such as biomethane and hydrogen, offer the solution to decarbonisation of UK heat demand. The industry has developed hydrogen-ready appliances, which can still be used with natural gas, ready for the Government to give the go-ahead.

Hydrogen gas can use the existing underground gas pipes already installed in the UK, offering minimum disruption and

expense compared to other low carbon alternatives. In addition, homeowners won’t be required to buy new appliances, merely convert those they already own, similar to the switch from town gas in the 1960s. This means heat can be decarbonised relatively simply.

STUART TURNER ON THE ACQUISITION TRAIL

STUART TURNER HAS ANNOUNCED ITS ACQUISITION OF Fluid Water Solutions (FWS).

The Yorkshire based manufacturer produces a wide range of water boosting products which will both complement and support Stuart Turner’s existing Aquaboost range. FWS also has extensive experience supplying products to the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors which will help Stuart Turner to deliver growth in these markets.

Commenting on the acquisition, Richard Harden, CEO of Stuart Turner, said: “FWS has a great name in the industry for being able to supply water boosting solutions, particularly when a bespoke build is required. We have been working hard to continue the success of our buy and build strategy, and with the acquisition of FWS it continues to strengthen our position, helping to boost our growth and presenting us as a serious player in the residential and commercial boosting market.”

BIM4WATER ADDS TO STEERING GROUP

BIM4Water, the organisation looking to lead the digital transformation of the water sector, has announced that Karen Alford, Flood and Coastal Risk Manager at The Environment Agency, has agreed to join the BIM4Water Steering Group as a “Nominated Member”. This honorary position is in recognition of Karen’s continuing work in the adoption of digital delivery in the UK Water Industry.

BIM4Water Chair, Jamie Mills of Xylem Water Solutions UK, said of the announcement: “I’m delighted that Karen is joining the steering group as our Nominated Member. Her experience and guidance will be invaluable to the water industry, especially now, as we move into AMP 7 and make significant strides in our digital transformation journey”.

Karen will join the Steering Group with immediate effect. She said: “I am honoured to be joining the BIM4 Water steering group. Seven years of practical experience implementing BIM across the whole asset life has given me insight into the challenges and opportunities it can bring to the water sector”.

NEW MD AT GRUNDFOS

Grundfos Pumps Ltd has announced the appointment of Glynn Williams as its new Managing Director. He takes over this position from Peter Reynolds who, after nearly 30 years with Grundfos, recently announced his plans to retire.

Glynn whose most recent role was as Sales Director for Commercial Building Services, has worked for Grundfos for over 20 years.

When asked for comment, Glynn said: “I am very much looking forward to the new challenges that this role will present both for me and to the business as a whole. We are at the start of a decade that will offer many opportunities for agile businesses with the right product portfolio and great colleagues, and I am very excited to be part of our future vision.”

ARMSTRONG NAMES TODD RIEF CEO

S. A. Armstrong Ltd has announced that Todd Rief has joined the organisation as Chief Executive Officer.

Todd has over 25 years experience in both small and large organisations. In his most recent role, he worked with Honeywell International Inc., where he served as Chief Commercial Officer for the Homes and Buildings Technologies division. In 12 years with Honeywell, he served in a variety of positions including President and General Manager of the Environmental and Energy Solutions Group and President and General Manager of the Life Safety and Security group.

In the role of CEO, Todd will report directly to Charles Armstrong, the Executive Chairman of S. A. Armstrong Ltd. “Todd’s knowledge and passion for technology, his superior strategic capabilities and his proven track record in business organisational performance improvement will be instrumental in the continuing execution of Armstrong’s growth in existing and new markets,” said Charles.

THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL BOILER FEED PUMP

A BOILER FEED PUMP WITH THE largest drive rating worldwide was dispatched by the KSB Group in December last year. It will be used in the coal-fired power plant, Pingshan II, that is currently being built in Huaibei, China. The supercritical power station employs a new technology that is said to reach an efficiency of almost 50% at a unit output of 1350mW.

The developers designed the CHTD 11 boiler feed pump especially for a maximum inlet temperature of 270°C and a maximum pressure of 520bar. Two steam turbines drive the pump set. When the pump takes up operation, it will reach an efficiency above 88%, which is a significant increase compared with previous models.

Two booster pumps of the type YNK supply the boiler feed pump with the required inlet pressure. At the KSB site in Shanghai, baseplates, couplings and gear units will be fitted to complete the pump sets.

DIGITAL TOOL HELPS UTILITIES OVERCOME SLUDGE PUMPING CHALLENGES

Software developed by BHR Group is helping water utilities analyse their sludge pumping systems and reduce costs.

Legislative changes and restrictions around sludge disposal to land has changed the nature of the sludge being processed by waste water treatment plants – with sludges becoming ever thicker and the volumes growing at most sites. Novel sludge types are also emerging from new processes, such as thermal hydrolysis, and their rheological profile cannot be predicted using existing data.

To meet these multiple challenges, SLOT 2.0 – short for System LOsses Tool – has been developed to help utilities know their sludge better. Users can predict sludge rheology based on type, temperature and the proportion of dry solids.

The software, which is underpinned by BHR’s sludge rheology database, can calculate sludge flow properties and behaviours, frictional pipe pressure losses and system curves. The software can also identify the most effective pumps to use on a given system – selecting the optimal size, type, quantity and configuration, right down to the manufacturer.

Users can quickly compare results for different rheological properties and possible combinations of pipework, pumps and components; plotting system curves against pump curves to determine optimum pump-operating points.

SLOT 2.0 can be used to make calculations for newly designed systems and for existing systems that require upgrading. Investment decisions can be made based on analysis of whole-life costs and combined capital and operational expenditure, including carbon impact measurement.

Mick Dawson, Consultancy Director at BHR Group, said: “Water companies are being challenged to optimise their existing facilities in the next asset management period, AMP7, which starts on 1 April 2020. Whether users are moving sludge within a treatment facility or between sites, SLOT 2.0 can help calculate how much energy is required, which pipes and pumps offer the greatest efficiency and whether a system has the capacity and resilience to manage changing sludge properties.”