Installed in the same footprint as the original equipment, the new pumps, supplied by ECS Engineering Services, are expected to double the site's capacity.
Anticipated results include a reduced risk of flooding, and increased efficiency and reliability as well as reduced maintenance at the site. The new plant will also help to meet Northern Ireland Environment Agency standards for water quality.
Jamie Wesley, commercial manager for the Water Control Division at ECS, explains that the existing screw pumps at Luke's Point had reached the end of their design life. The screws themselves were heavily worn and the drive system needed improvements.
"The new installation will use direct drive gearboxes, powered by 45kW motors, to turn the new Archimedes screws, which are housed in steel liners," comments Wesley.
"Increasing the capacity of the pumping station while remaining within the original footprint required some innovative engineering," he continues.
The key aspect was to increase the diameter of the screws, which required the removal of the original concrete dividing wall – releasing sufficient space to install the larger screws, housed in steel troughs.
The new installation includes the Landustrie ECO-Friendly stainless steel lower bearings, which are sealed for life and require no annual maintenance, he says.
The design of the bearing allows for three-dimensional self alignment, which absorbs the expansion and contraction of the screw in changing temperatures.
"The new screw pump installation has been designed by Landustrie, specifically for this project and it will deliver significant savings in both energy costs and maintenance costs for the client," states Wesley.