High efficiency cutter special pumps. A new series of dredge pumps specifically designed for use on heavy duty cutters.
Type:
Presented during:
CEDA Dredging Days 2005 - Dredging: The Extremes, Rotterdam
Authors:
Berg C.H. van den, Bugdayci H.H., Vercruijsse P.M., Toet V., Boor M.O. and Grinwis H.
Abstract: Dredging conditions encountered on a cutter dredge can vary extremely. This holds especially true for heavy duty cutters working in soil types ranging from clay and fine sands to gravel and hard rock. The challenge is to design a pump capable of working efficiently in the full range of soils, the most demanding being rock. When dredging rock the transported material includes very large size particles. Contrary to typical sand water mixtures these large size particles are transported whilst sliding and bouncing along the bottom of the pipeline and enter the pump’s impeller with a large impact. Withstanding this large impact is a challenge for the dredge pump designer. Another challenge is to maximize the passage of the pump. This larger passage pump can than be matched by enlarging the passage of the cutter head. The result is a system with a larger overall passage, thus less downtime due to blockage of the cutter head or pump.
The wide range of conditions and subsequent challenges prompted us to formulate the following requirements for heavy duty cutter pumps: A large sphere passage, a construction suitable to withstand large impact forces, good suction capabilities and ease of maintenance. These requirements were incorporated in the design of the new type dredge pump and bearing assembly: the high efficiency cutter special pump and accompanying heavy duty bearing block.
This paper describes the characteristics of the new high efficiency cutter special pump and compares the new type pump with IHC’s existing range of pumps. Finally the output of cutter dredgers furnished with existing types of pumps will be compared with the output of cutter dredgers furnished with the new high efficiency cutter special pump.
Keywords: dredge pump , ball passage , operational constraints, efficiency, NPSHR