APPLICATION NOTE: Pump Drive Train for World’s Largest Wastewater Treatment Plant

Jan. 24, 2013

GE’s Power Conversion business has won a contact of more than $10 million to supply eight pump drive trains, as well as process automation for the largest wastewater treatment plant in the world.

Amy Richardson

GE’s Power Conversion business has won a contact of more than $10 million to supply eight pump drive trains, as well as process automation for the largest wastewater treatment plant in the world. It will be located just outside of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and will provide water for local agricultural needs.

This pumping station project is part of the Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Program (STEP), a 40-kilometer long wastewater tunnel intended to address rapidly growing needs for the collection and transport of used water generated by the growth of Abu Dhabi. It is a key element of the government initiative to provide local agriculture with improved access to good quality water.

When fully operational in 2030, the plant, featuring wastewater pumps powered by GE’s drive trains, will be able to treat up to 70,000 cubic meters of wastewater every hour. The pumps will be driven by GE’s vertical variable-speed motors, a highly specialized application for vertical motors working at low speed (500 revolutions per minute at rated speed).

“STEP has chosen a proven GE technology, which already has a solid track record in the hydro segment,” said Keiran Coulton, industry vertical leader, GE’s Power Conversion business, in an official announcement. “This unusual project requires that the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor work closely with the suppliers of the pumps and drives to provide an optimal overall resolution. The piping arrangement in this project creates an impressive series of vertical water columns, and the motor has been designed to manage the large amounts of water that may flow backward through the system when the pumps are shut down.”

In all, GE will provide design studies and deliver eight pump drive trains (motors, variable-speed drives and transformers), each with a power of 6.38 megawatts, together with pump process automation. GE will deliver the first equipment in the second half of 2013 for product validation.

GE also provided a preliminary harmonic study to help the customer on the overall plant grid study. Its integrated automation solution has been designed to enhance the control of the pump and the motor.