Hafslund Kraft-New Drainage System with Submersible Pumps at Solbergfoss
Four submersible pumps provided an improved solution for drainage and maintenance
At the Solbergfoss hydropower plant, Hafslund Kraft needed an efficient and reliable solution for its drainage system.
Fuglesangs was commissioned to design, supply and install four high-efficiency submersible pumps, along with prefabricated piping and flanges.
An important part of the project was not only to remove water from the facility. The solution also needed to provide safer and more efficient pump maintenance.
Project overview
Customer: Hafslund Kraft
Facility: Solbergfoss hydropower plant
System: Drainage system
Supply: Four submersible pumps
Additional supply : Prefabricated piping and flanges
Fuglesangs’ role: Design, supply and installation
The challenge: A drainage system must work when it is needed
A drainage system performs an important function in a hydropower plant. Water must be removed from areas where it should not be present, whether due to water ingress, leakage, maintenance activities or other conditions.
For Hafslund Kraft, it was therefore important to have a pumping system capable of handling drainage efficiently.
However, a drainage system needs to be evaluated on more than pumping capacity alone.
When pumps need to be inspected, maintained or replaced, the design of the entire installation affects how easily and safely this work can be carried out.
The solution: Four submersible pumps with prefabricated piping
Fuglesangs designed, supplied and installed four high-efficiency submersible pumps for the drainage system.
The scope of supply also included prefabricated piping and flanges.
By considering the pumps, piping and installation as one integrated solution, the system could be adapted to the specific conditions at the hydropower plant.
This is particularly beneficial in projects where space is limited and existing infrastructure needs to be incorporated into the new solution.
Health and safety were an important part of the solution
A key element of the project was improving the conditions for pump maintenance.
In cooperation with Hafslund Kraft, a solution was developed that provided improved health and safety conditions during pump maintenance.
This illustrates an important principle in pump system design:
A good pump installation is not only about moving the required amount of water through the system.
It must also take into account how the equipment will be:
- inspected
- maintained
- dismantled
- lifted
- replaced
- returned to service
When these factors are considered during the design phase, the need for difficult work operations later can be reduced.
Why submersible pumps?
Submersible pumps can be an efficient solution for drainage systems and other applications where the pump operates directly in the water.
Placing the pump in the medium allows the system to be designed according to the available space, water level and required capacity.
However, pump selection must always be based on the actual operating conditions.
Flow rate, head, available space, water quality, solids content, operating hours and maintenance requirements are among the factors that should be considered when sizing and selecting the pumps.
From design to completed installation
Fuglesangs was responsible for more than the pumps themselves.
The scope of supply included:
Design → pumps → prefabricated piping → flanges → installation
This type of integrated delivery can be particularly valuable in existing hydropower plants, where new pumping equipment needs to be integrated with existing infrastructure.
Prefabricating piping and flanges makes it possible to prepare parts of the installation before work begins on site. This can contribute to a more controlled installation process and reduce the need for on-site modifications.
The result
The drainage system at Solbergfoss was equipped with four high-efficiency submersible pumps, together with prefabricated piping and flanges.
Fuglesangs was responsible for the design, supply and installation.
In cooperation with Hafslund Kraft, a solution was also developed that improved health and safety conditions during pump maintenance.
The project demonstrates how the right pump selection, prefabrication and well-planned installation can be combined to meet both operational and maintenance requirements at a hydropower plant.
What can other hydropower plants learn from the project?
When upgrading or installing a drainage system, it is easy to focus primarily on pump capacity.
However, a well-designed pumping system should be considered as a whole.
Before selecting a pump, several questions should be addressed:
- How much water needs to be pumped?
- What head is required?
- Where should the pumps be installed?
- Are submersible pumps the right solution?
- Under what conditions will the pumps operate?
- How should the piping and flanges be designed?
- How will the pumps be maintained?
- How can maintenance work be carried out safely?
- How will the pumps be dismantled and lifted out?
These questions should be considered from the very beginning of the design phase.
Fuglesangs – Pump Solutions for Hydropower Plants
Fuglesangs supplies pumping solutions to the power and energy sector and provides pumps, complete pumping systems, installation, testing, service and maintenance.
The Solbergfoss project demonstrates how Fuglesangs can contribute throughout the entire delivery – from design and pump sizing to completed installation.
For an existing hydropower plant, this can be particularly valuable when a pumping system needs to be upgraded without making more extensive changes to the existing infrastructure than necessary.
Planning to upgrade a drainage system?
Do you need new pumps for a hydropower plant, pumping station or another facility requiring drainage?
Fuglesangs can assist with pump selection, system design, prefabricated piping, installation and ongoing service.
Contact Fuglesangs to discuss your project.
