Pumps for Algerian Fertiliser Factory
Beginning of 2008, KSB Aktiengesellschaft, received an order worth several million euros for the supply of five large vertical tubular casing pumps, five large water transport pumps and five large butterfly valves with hydraulic actuators to a fertiliser factory in Algeria.
This vertical tubular casing pump type SEZ is similar to the ones that will be installed in Arzew, the site of Algeria’s largest fertiliser factory
Delivery of the order will be complete at the end of 2009.
The SEZ pumps fitted with mixed flow impellers will supply the new factory in Arzew on the west coast of Algeria near the city of Oran with the cool seawater required for the production process.
The three largest pump units have a drive rating of 4,200 kW. The discharge head is around 32 metres and the maximum flow rate per pump is in excess of 10,000 litres per second.
Taking into account the fact that the seawater is extremely aggressive because of the high salt content and temperature of the water, the pumps will be manufactured from super duplex steel.
With a capacity of 1.1 million tonnes of ammonia urea and 770,000 tonnes of ammonia per year, the factory, upon completion, will be Algeria’s largest fertiliser factory.
Since the customer has to achieve the highest degree of plant reliability possible, the pumping installation will feature the so-called ‘covered intake chamber’ developed by KSB which has been proving its worth in numerous other applications for many years. It ensures a vortex-free intake of water.
KSB won the order, among others, on account of the advisory support it was able to offer the customer during the design stages of pumping station and intake structure. Another reason for placing the order with KSB was the positive experience the customer had made earlier with the Safco IV project.
Source: KSB SE & Co. KGaA
