On 28 September KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Frankenthal, tested the largest feed pump ever built since the foundation of the company 125 years ago. The full load pump weighing around 40 tonnes is intended for the new 1000 MW block of a lignite-fired power station in Niederaussem near Cologne.

The power station block is scheduled to start operation in late 2002. Designed to serve as full load feed pump, the unit will feed boiler feed water with a temperature of 200 °C into the steam generator, producing an operating pressure of 360 bar. Under full load conditions, the power input to the pump unit including booster pump is 30 MW; the maximum power input is 42 MW.

Since such input power is only available in power stations, the test was carried out at reduced speed and power, using cold water. The test run revealed that flow rate and head as well as the suction behaviour complied with the projected values. Verification of the full load pump's guaranteed performance and efficiency data will take place in the power station under operating conditions at a later date.