DRAIN WATER PUMPS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5068, 22 December 1926, Page 4

DRAIN WATER PUMPS.

REPORT BY ENGiINEIER. SUITABLE TYPE SELECTED. The question of utilising electrically driven pumps ¥oil draining swamp and low-lying lands, such as the Haur.aki PWns, has. received considerable, attention during ,the last few months, and the engineers of the Thames Valley Pojvejr Board have become very interested. The following communication has been received from Mr W. P. Gauvain, consulting engineer to the Power Board through; Mr W. E. G. Willy, the Hauraki Plains member of the board : “In view, of the fact, that the quastion of the. draining of portions of the Hauraki Plains by me’a<ns of electrically driven pumps has been receiving considerable attention during the past few months. I forwarded specifications to England of the type of equipment which I considered would be the most suitable for this purpose. I stipulated that the pump and motor should be'of the vertical spindle type, direct-coupled, and arranged in such a manner that the plaint would be supported by beams slung across the drains and could easily be moved to various portions of the drainage area. The discharge was also to be arranged to flow over the stop-bank through a curved pipe ®jhd, if necessary, the question of any syphoning action could be taken full advantage of. “I have now received particulars of a pump which I consider would be quite suitable for the purpose. The tracing enclosed shows the general arrangement. It will be noted that the pump casing and impeller ®ire of bronze and the pump spindly c '£ stainless steel. This will be of great advantage, as the pump will no doubt be lying idle for months at a time.” The detailed specifications showed that the plant would have .a vertical spindle, with ah electric motor directcoupled the top and the impeller at the bottom. The pump would be submerged in the drain Water, and would have specially large passages .to render it vertically unchokeable and particularly suitable for shifting dirty or gritty water. The specifications provided for a capacity of 3625 gallons of water per minute against a total head I of 12ft, and 510'0 gallons of water per minute against a hoad of Sft, when running at a speed of approximately 1440 revolutions per minute on 3phase 50 period 400-volt circuit. The characteristic of this pump is such that, as the head falls off the power also falls, and thereby renders same incapable df overloading the driving unit. 'The motor would be 25 h.p. Full details' were given in the specifications' of constructional matters. The price at which the whole piajnt, including motor and switch gear, etc., could be landed at Auckland was well under £2OO.