Xylem Inc. has reduced the energy consumption at Heathrow Airport?s cargo centre pump station by 50 per cent.
According to a comparison study conducted by Heathrow Airport?s Water Services Department, Xylem?s Flygt Experior wastewater pumping system including Flygt N-technology and SmartRun intelligent pump controller have also eliminated the need for maintenance call-outs to the pump station since being installed in January 2013.
Heathrow Airport Water Services Department commissioned Xylem to evaluate the airport?s wastewater pumping system in the cargo centre area of the airport which hosts heavy volumes of traffic and non-stop activity on a daily basis. Following the evaluation, the Xylem team was charged with developing and implementing a reliable and energy saving wastewater pumping solution.
Ian Jolly, of Heathrow Airport?s Water Services Department said, ?With operations running so regularly it is critical to ensure that systems are run in the most efficient way possible. As one of the world?s largest and busiest airports, with almost 70 million people travelling through our terminals during 2012, Heathrow Airport is committed to working with innovative, reliable technology to cater for this consistently high footfall of passengers.?
Xylem installed two Experior pumps featuring non-clog technology and two SmartRun intelligent pump controllers in the sewage wet well of the cargo area. Three complementary functions - hydraulics, motors and controls - distinguish the fully-integrated Flygt Experior system from traditional pump systems. Xylem?s Flygt Adaptive N-Pump was recognised as ?Most Innovative Product of 2011? by the Water Environment Federation. The Adaptive N-hydraulics improves upon the proven clog-free impeller of the original Flygt N-pump by allowing the impeller to move axially upward long enough for bulky materials or other debris to pass through even more smoothly. This significantly reduces stress on the shaft, seals and bearings during these intrusions.
The two SmartRun intelligent pump controllers monitor the specific energy use of the pumps and continually adjust the pump speed to ensure that the minimum amount of energy is being used for all pump cycles without the need for a site visit and recalibration of the system.
Since installation the pumps in the cargo holding area have settled into running at 33-37Hz, reducing the energy consumption of the pump station by approximately half. Maintenance call-out incidents have also been eliminated.
Tony Price, Market Development Manager for Xylem in the UK, commented: ?Heathrow Airport is globally renowned as a gateway for millions of people each year. To cater for the system demands associated with dealing with such a high volume of traffic, its pump facilities are constantly under pressure to deliver day in, day out.?
