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sludge basin at tunnel entry
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Tsurumi pumps pass
endurance test
Düsseldorf,
29.07.2008
A wear and tear report on pump use in the Katzenberg tunnel project
has revealed that opting for a range of Tsurumi pumps was an investment
that has certainly paid off. Despite 60 contractor pumps being in
constant use over the course of four years, the spare parts bill came in
at only €25K.
This remarkably low spare
parts figure was recently released by Tsurumi, the chosen pump supplier
for the Katzenberg tunnel project, run as a joint venture comprising
operating companies Wayss & Freytag, Züblin, Marti and Jäger. The
Japanese manufacturer supplied pumps from its KTZ, KTV and KRS ranges –
multi-purpose and heavy sludge pumps, ideal for use in tough operating
environments.
The parts needing to be replaced mostly consisted of the impellers
located at the pumps’ suction openings. These are the parts that come
into direct contact with the sediment in the water, which is an action
that leads to unavoidable wear and tear since no material is capable of
withstanding this level of torture for any length of time. That the
pumps have been able to survive four years of non-stop operation is down
to Tsurumi’s unique design.
The pumps are certainly distinct from other models in terms of their
design. One clear difference is Tsurumi’s oil lifter, which uses
centrifugal force to ensure constant lubrication of the pump shaft.
Proven effective over a number of years, this patented system is now
installed in every Tsurumi pump. Competitor manufacturers have only
recently begun to offer continual lubrication as an option, which means
they are thus far unproven for long term operation.
Besides the oil lifter technology, Tsurumi also knows how to impress
with other well thought out design features, such as the single isolated
cable phases, which physically prevent short-circuits from happening.
This proves once again how Tsurumi’s advanced technology ensures that
pumps are always insulated against overheating, even in long term
operating situations.
The Katzenberg tunnel, which measures almost nine kilometres in length,
is a building project commissioned by the Deutsche Bahn (German National
Railway) to construct a rail tunnel between Karlsruhe in Germany and
Basel in Switzerland. One of the most noteworthy geological aspects of
the project is the presence of tectonic faults with scattered stratified
layers. Considering the tunnel depth, which was only 25m below ground
level at certain points, significant demands had to be placed on the
dewatering system: the whole construction site lies below the water
table. The project is scheduled for completion in 2011 and it is
expected that all pumps will remain on site until then.
Tsurumi will be attending the IUT trade fair in Sargans, Switzerland on
17th and 18th September 2008 – The IUT is a global trade fair dedicated
to Underground Innovation in the tunnelling industry. This is the fifth
time that the show will have taken place and Tsurumi will have a range
of their contractor pumps and new technologies on display on their stand
– P06 in the Pink Area.
Ends.
For printable pictures
in high resolution, please right-click on the picture and save to your
local disk. The pictures are already in suitable printing quality.
For further
information please contact:
Stefan Hörnschemeyer
Marketing Manager
Tsurumi (Europe) GmbH
Heltorfer Str. 14
40472 Düsseldorf
Germany
Tel: +49 211 417 9373
Fax: +49 211 479 1429
e-mail:
sales@tsurumi-europe.com
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