Johannesburg-based dewatering pump specialist IPR (Integrated Pump Rental) has again extended its reach into Africa, supplying equipment to a global customer in the oil and gas sector who is operating off the Southern African coastline.

According to Ruaan Venter, IPR’s Business Development Manager, the company has supplied two Atlas Copco R150DP dry prime pumps – to be located on the deck of an ocean-going vessel.

“This is certainly quite an unusual application but is one that is critical for the safe operation of the vessel, and for which our Atlas Copco dry prime pumps are ideally suited,” says Venter. “The pumps will be used to maintain the ballast on the vessel, by pumping water efficiently into or out of the vessel as conditions require.”

In this application, he says, there is a need for high flow to ensure rapid filling and emptying of ballast as well as high suction lifts to move water from the ocean level into the vessel. The Atlas Copco R150DP unit is capable of easily achieving a suction lift of up to 10 metres at sea level.

"The primary feature of the dry prime pump in this application is its capability to efficiently remove air from the system and initiate water flow. Dry prime, or priming-assisted, pumps achieve this through a dedicated priming mechanism, such as a vacuum pump, which evacuates air from the pump casing and suction line."

Venter explains that this allows these Atlas Copco pumps to be used in applications where they can be run intermittently, being turned on and off frequently without affecting the health or performance of the units. Maintaining the ballast is a critical function to keep the vessel safely afloat and upright as changing cargo loads, fuel consumption and other factors affect the vessel’s balance.

“For this reason, the customer needed pumps with proven reliability, and chose Atlas Copco,” says Venter. IPR, part of Atlas Copco's Specialty Rental Division, provides pump and dewatering solutions across a range of industries and applications.

He highlights that the Atlas Copco R150DP pumps also boast a high Best Efficiency Point (BEP) of 77%, underpinning the performance of these robust pumps. The semi-open impeller allows solids handling up to 76 mm, which in this application mitigates against the risk of inlet blockages from sea life or ocean pollution.

The pumps’ stainless steel internals ensure high resistance to abrasive liquids and turbid sandy waters. To ensure no contamination of the environment, they are fitted with rotary vane vacuum pumps that are lubricated with oil recovery systems and coalescing filters. Venter highlights the critical role of IPR’s specialist dewatering pump experience and expertise in understanding each customer’s requirement and specifying the most appropriate solution.

“With our knowledge of pumping applications and technology, and our inventory of Atlas Copco dewatering pump solutions, we responded rapidly to this customer and provided equipment they can rely on to meet their needs – with peace of mind and the necessary high performance,” he concludes.