Skellyton reports efficiency up on Archimedes pump refurb 31 October 2014

Scottish Water is reporting efficiency improvements following refurbishment of a pair of Archimedes screw pumps at its Skellyton site, near Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.

The task of replacing the bottom bearings and re-screeding the concrete trough was completed by ECS Engineering Services, supported by pump manufacturer Landustrie.

Jamie Wesley, commercial manager for ECS's Water Control Division, explains that engineers used the OEM drawings for the bottom bearing to specify new stainless steel, eco-friendly, sealed-for-life bearings.

The choice of bearing design allows for three-dimensional self alignment, which absorbs expansion and contraction movements of the screw in changing temperatures.

The project required a mobile crane to lift out the screws and allow the existing troughs to be broken out and 5mm tolerance bars welded temporarily onto the full length of the screw flights.

That enabled the original bearings to be removed and replaced with the Eco bearings before the screw was replaced in the trough and connected to a screeding drive motor.

Fresh screed was then hand formed to create the basis of the new trough, using the screeding drives to turn the screw very slowly.

The temporary screeding bars shaped the concrete to form a perfect fit for each screw.

"This type of project requires special skills," states Wesley.

"It is very important to maintain the efficiency and reliability of Archimedes screw pumps."

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
ECS Engineering Services Ltd
Scottish Water

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