Water Extraction

Along with a number of other water extraction pumps, KSB Aktiengesellschaft (Germany) will be presenting a typical UPA 250C submersible borehole pump at this year's IFAT held from 7 to 11 May. The UPA type series is intended for use in general water supply, irrigation, mining, groundwater drawdown and management, fire-fighting and pressure boosting applications.

The maximum discharge head of UPA 250C is 460 metres, and its maximum flow rate is 330 cubic metres per hour. Depending on the motor selected, fluid temperatures up to 50 °C can be handled. These pump sets are so robust, that they can be used for pumping water with solids contents of up to 50 grammes per cubic metre. A patented sand separator protects the pump against abrasive wear. The pump's encapsulated bearings are maintenance-free.

A check valve with anti-blockage valve disc increases the pump set's operating reliability, and its integrated spring prevents waterhammer thanks to the minimum closing time. Indeed, this protects the entire well system and all of its components. A wear-resistant mechanical seal keeps the pumped fluid from mixing with the fluid in the motor space, thus enhancing the motor's availability.

The motor thrust bearing is water-lubricated and fitted with self-aligning tilting pads. Requiring no maintenance, it easily copes with the stresses and strains of continuous operation thanks to the material combination of stainless steel and hard carbon. On starting, the pump set's counter thrust bearing absorbs the axial thrust generated by the pump's hydraulic system and, in doing so, keeps the impellers from rubbing on the stage casings. This ensures high operating reliability and enables the kind of long-term operation that is expected of water extraction pumps. The pump sets are available in different material variants, depending on the intended application.