The Alexandria Lakes Area Sanitary District (ALASD) operates the wastewater treatment plant serving Alexandria and the surrounding area. The influent station was previously equipped with aging line-shafted centrifugal pumps that posed operational challenges, including frequent clogging, high maintenance demands, and inefficiencies.
Alexandria Lakes Area Sanitary District
Energy Efficiency and Reliability Restored with Flygt Pump Retrofit at ALASD
Problem
The existing line-shafted centrifugal pumps were prone to clogging dueto debris and solids in the incoming wastewater. This led to regular operational downtime and increased maintenance costs. Additionally, the complexity of maintaining these pumps made it difficult for staff to ensure optimal performance, resulting in higher energy consumption and reduced reliability.
Solution
To address these issues, ALASD replaced the old line-shafted centrifugal pumps with Flygt pumps featuring the “N” impeller and an innovative horizontal “Z” configuration. This upgrade provided several key advantages:
1. Elimination of Clogging: The Flygt “N” impeller is specifically designedto handle solids and debris more effectively, significantly reducingclogging incidents and ensuring smoother operations.
2. Simplified Maintenance: The pumps horizontal configuration is easierto maintain, allowing staff to perform routine inspections andservicing without the complications associated with the previoussystem.
3. Enhanced Efficiency: Flygt pumps operate with greater energy efficiency compared to the old pumps, resulting in lower operational costs and improved performance.
Conclusion
The transition from line-shafted centrifugal pumps to Flygt pumps with“N” impellors in the Z configuration at the Alexandria Lakes Area SanitaryDistrict resulted in enhanced operational performance, reducedmaintenance burdens, and improved energy efficiency. This upgradenot only resolved existing challenges but also positioned ALASD forfuture success in wastewater management.
