Boiler Feed Pump Takes “Long Distance Runner” Award

An SPX ClydeUnion Pumps brand Advanced Class Boiler Feed Pump, model FK3C44, has run for more than 14 years without an overhaul, making it the longest running boiler feed pump across all Eskom’s power stations in South Africa

ClydeUnion Pumps (CUP), an SPX brand, has a long heritage in the supply of pumps to the power industry. The brand is renowned for its expert engineering, robust designs and reliable solutions and CUP is delighted to have received the “Long Distance Runner” Award from Eskom in South Africa for one of its Boiler Feed Pumps. The Matimba power plant was commissioned in 1987 and the boiler feed pump (BFP) in question has run for an impressive 124,671 running hours without requiring overhaul – the equivalent of 14 years, and 2 months.

Eighteen of this Advanced class of boiler feed pumps were manufactured and supplied from the now SPX CUP facility in Glasgow to Matimba Power Station, the first dry-cooling, coal-fired power station in South Africa. Installed as six sets of three 50% duty pump sets per unit, they supply feed water to each of six 665MW boiler-turbine units in the plant, and were commissioned between 1987 and 1991. Running at approximately 6000 rpm, the award-winning pump delivers 1330 m3/hr of feedwater at 170°C at 2700m head.

In the 1970s the Central Electricity Board (CEGB) in the UK commissioned what is now CUP to look into how to make pumps more reliable in this application. The Advanced Class BFP was created with features designed and engineered to ensure a minimum of five years between overhaul periods. It can withstand power plant conditions including the high thermal shock the pump undergoes on start-up and severe transient conditions including complete loss of water on the suction side of the pump.

The pump is designed to provide maximum sustainable efficiency with precise and robust engineering ensuring the critical clearances are maintained even under harsh conditions through the use of a short and stiff shaft design. This reliable pump is engineered with high critical speed margins and can accommodate system thermal transients including the ability to run completely dry for up to 15 minutes. The installation at Matimba shows the impressive design and engineering CUP can deliver. CUP’s Authorised Service Provider, Pump Repair Services (PRS) will be refurbishing the boiler feed pump cartridges at Eskom Majuba and Matimba at the moment

As power station technology and output develops, SPX CUP continues to be a leading supplier of pumps for this and many other applications with a principal reputation for engineering excellence and pump reliability. The long heritage and proven expertise in the supply of pumps for power generation applications make them a leading product of choice for the industry.