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The constant evolution of water & wastewater
32
Feature
WORLD PUMPS
October 2016
BPMA 75th Anniversary
The constant evolution of water & wastewater T
he water and wastewater industry has come a long way over the last 75 years, as have our water consumption habits. Population growth, technological developments and our throw-away culture have all influenced the industry. Here, Xylem highlights some of the major milestones and achievements, and the part the BPMA has played.
At the launch of the British Pump Manufacturers’ Association (BPMA) in 1941, the water networks and sewerage disposal systems were already in place and fell under the Public Health Act 1936. In the following year on 1 October 1937 all existing sewers became public.
As the industry flourished and the economy grew, the demand on water continued to rise and with it came droughts, but flooding wasn’t far behind either. Through adversity came a step change for industry, highlighting the need for joined up thinking and approaches to how our water networks operate and, how they could be governed. Since the formation of the Water Resources Act, industry and our waterways have seen a huge amount of change, with discharge permits and much greater control exercised over what can be pumped into our waterways – the principles of which still exist today.
Developing technologies
The development of Flygt wastewater pumps over the years.
www.worldpumps.com
Regarding the wastewater network, perhaps one of the biggest changes for the pump
sector was in 1947, with the launch of the world’s first electric submersible drainage pump. This was followed in 1956 by the launch of the first submersible wastewater pump, saving customers space, build, costs and of course, the system was less visually intrusive for those living near to them. In the early years of the BPMA, the theory for wastewater pumps was the bigger the free passage through the pump impeller, the more solids it could handle. This perception continued until well into the 1990s, when the increase in disposable non-degradable waste in the wastewater network system exposed the fact that stringy objects which make up the majority of domestic wastewater solids would build up in the impeller even if the throughlet size was large, resulting in reduced efficiency and many pump blockages, which proved that the initial throughlet size theory was flawed. Throughout the BPMA’s first three decades most pumping stations would have featured an inlet screen, which limited the amount of solids reaching 0262 1762/16 © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
WORLD PUMPS
Feature October 2016
further advanced than wastewater with the use of variable speed drives being a fairly standard addition on clean water, but remain less accepted for most wastewater applications.
1947 - The world’s first electric submersible pump from Flygt.
the pump. However screens require high maintenance and so, over time, these have been removed and pumps are now expected to handle a much higher percentage of solids than in the past.
For the building services market, data is king and can help businesses to increase efficiencies but also offer greater transparency of an operation and where faults may occur. The same is true of computer design. Through the application of technology (i.e. evolution of CAD and CFD), the pumping industry has been able to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. Improved manufacturing practices and use of materials such as stainless steel technology in the 1960s and 1970s, has not only resulted in much higher corrosion-resistance for pumps, but can also help to raise performance levels and increase the life expectancy of kit. In truth, pump technology hasn’t changed dramatically over the last 75 years, but it has been improved. Systems are now value engineered, they have been refined, and as technology continues to evolve, so too does the product development – it’s a constant evolution.
The next big step forward in impeller technology to address the changing nature of wastewater was the introduction of self-cleaning. Featuring backswept leading edges and a relief groove, it has proven to be the answer to most clogging problems, meaning solids can pass freely through the pump shaft rather than getting caught up in the impeller. This was a particularly crucial development in today’s society as modern wastewater contains a high amount of synthetic cloth and artificial fibres such as throwaway wipes, nappies and other items thrown down toilets and into waterways such as fats, oils and greases (FOG). It has taken nearly 40 years to get to this point, proving what an innovative marketplace we are in, even to this day.
Through increases in motor efficiency, greater access to materials and manufacturing practices such as laser technology, better product designs will continue to help improve the flow of fluids and therefore result in even greater efficiencies.
The future – intelligent pumping In a modern age with an estimated 76% of the population owning a smart phone, according to research from Deloitte, it is no surprise that pumping technologies are also moving with the times. Software that is built-in to the pumps provides greater functionality, control and ultimately performance. It is a constant evolution. Ultimately industry will continue to work in partnership with the BPMA; developing new market solutions that have the potential to revolutionise the industry once more. The greatest change will be through automation and the ability for systems to think for themselves and operate in the leanest way possible. For many years the pump has worked in isolation yet when seen as part of a system, it has the potential to improve reliability and increase efficiencies even further. This will be the next step for industry – a fully automated pumping system that has the ability to think for itself. The water industry will continue to have challenges around energy reduction and reliability of assets and while there is room for improvement, we will continue to innovate.
•
1997 - Launch of N-Technology from Flygt
www.xylem.com
Our industry is more reliant now than ever before on remote monitoring and while the workforce has reduced dramatically since the launch of the BPMA, pump systems have developed extensively in efficiency terms. There is however a big difference in pump technology and solutions across the wastewater and clean water industries. In the quest for efficiencies for example, the clean water sector is much
2016 – Launch of the world’s first wastewater pumping system with integrated intelligence.
www.worldpumps.com
33
Feature
WORLD PUMPS
October 2016
BPMA 75th Anniversary
The constant evolution of water & wastewater T
he water and wastewater industry has come a long way over the last 75 years, as have our water consumption habits. Population growth, technological developments and our throw-away culture have all influenced the industry. Here, Xylem highlights some of the major milestones and achievements, and the part the BPMA has played.
At the launch of the British Pump Manufacturers’ Association (BPMA) in 1941, the water networks and sewerage disposal systems were already in place and fell under the Public Health Act 1936. In the following year on 1 October 1937 all existing sewers became public.
As the industry flourished and the economy grew, the demand on water continued to rise and with it came droughts, but flooding wasn’t far behind either. Through adversity came a step change for industry, highlighting the need for joined up thinking and approaches to how our water networks operate and, how they could be governed. Since the formation of the Water Resources Act, industry and our waterways have seen a huge amount of change, with discharge permits and much greater control exercised over what can be pumped into our waterways – the principles of which still exist today.
Developing technologies
The development of Flygt wastewater pumps over the years.
www.worldpumps.com
Regarding the wastewater network, perhaps one of the biggest changes for the pump
sector was in 1947, with the launch of the world’s first electric submersible drainage pump. This was followed in 1956 by the launch of the first submersible wastewater pump, saving customers space, build, costs and of course, the system was less visually intrusive for those living near to them. In the early years of the BPMA, the theory for wastewater pumps was the bigger the free passage through the pump impeller, the more solids it could handle. This perception continued until well into the 1990s, when the increase in disposable non-degradable waste in the wastewater network system exposed the fact that stringy objects which make up the majority of domestic wastewater solids would build up in the impeller even if the throughlet size was large, resulting in reduced efficiency and many pump blockages, which proved that the initial throughlet size theory was flawed. Throughout the BPMA’s first three decades most pumping stations would have featured an inlet screen, which limited the amount of solids reaching 0262 1762/16 © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
WORLD PUMPS
Feature October 2016
further advanced than wastewater with the use of variable speed drives being a fairly standard addition on clean water, but remain less accepted for most wastewater applications.
1947 - The world’s first electric submersible pump from Flygt.
the pump. However screens require high maintenance and so, over time, these have been removed and pumps are now expected to handle a much higher percentage of solids than in the past.
For the building services market, data is king and can help businesses to increase efficiencies but also offer greater transparency of an operation and where faults may occur. The same is true of computer design. Through the application of technology (i.e. evolution of CAD and CFD), the pumping industry has been able to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. Improved manufacturing practices and use of materials such as stainless steel technology in the 1960s and 1970s, has not only resulted in much higher corrosion-resistance for pumps, but can also help to raise performance levels and increase the life expectancy of kit. In truth, pump technology hasn’t changed dramatically over the last 75 years, but it has been improved. Systems are now value engineered, they have been refined, and as technology continues to evolve, so too does the product development – it’s a constant evolution.
The next big step forward in impeller technology to address the changing nature of wastewater was the introduction of self-cleaning. Featuring backswept leading edges and a relief groove, it has proven to be the answer to most clogging problems, meaning solids can pass freely through the pump shaft rather than getting caught up in the impeller. This was a particularly crucial development in today’s society as modern wastewater contains a high amount of synthetic cloth and artificial fibres such as throwaway wipes, nappies and other items thrown down toilets and into waterways such as fats, oils and greases (FOG). It has taken nearly 40 years to get to this point, proving what an innovative marketplace we are in, even to this day.
Through increases in motor efficiency, greater access to materials and manufacturing practices such as laser technology, better product designs will continue to help improve the flow of fluids and therefore result in even greater efficiencies.
The future – intelligent pumping In a modern age with an estimated 76% of the population owning a smart phone, according to research from Deloitte, it is no surprise that pumping technologies are also moving with the times. Software that is built-in to the pumps provides greater functionality, control and ultimately performance. It is a constant evolution. Ultimately industry will continue to work in partnership with the BPMA; developing new market solutions that have the potential to revolutionise the industry once more. The greatest change will be through automation and the ability for systems to think for themselves and operate in the leanest way possible. For many years the pump has worked in isolation yet when seen as part of a system, it has the potential to improve reliability and increase efficiencies even further. This will be the next step for industry – a fully automated pumping system that has the ability to think for itself. The water industry will continue to have challenges around energy reduction and reliability of assets and while there is room for improvement, we will continue to innovate.
•
1997 - Launch of N-Technology from Flygt
www.xylem.com
Our industry is more reliant now than ever before on remote monitoring and while the workforce has reduced dramatically since the launch of the BPMA, pump systems have developed extensively in efficiency terms. There is however a big difference in pump technology and solutions across the wastewater and clean water industries. In the quest for efficiencies for example, the clean water sector is much
2016 – Launch of the world’s first wastewater pumping system with integrated intelligence.
www.worldpumps.com
33