Custom-tailored pump solutions for various industries.
From South to North
ANDRITZ delivers engineered pumps for water supply for subsurface station.
China faces the challenge of supplying 20% of the world’s population with just over 7% of the global water resources. This challenge is intensified by the uneven distribution of water and agricultural land. While 80% of the country’s water resources are located in the south, 64% of the agricultural land is in the north, where more than 50% of the population lives.
To address this challenge, China launched a major water supply project in 2002. The South-North Water Transfer Project is based on three main routes – eastern, central and western. It will transport 44.8 billion m³ of water from the wet south to the dry north of the country every year from 2050 onwards.
The Yellow River derives its name from the yellow mud and sediments that it picks up in the Shaanxi Loess plateau.
Alongside the Yangtze River, the Yellow River plays a significant role in feeding these canals. Its name comes from the yellow mud and sediments it picks up in the Shaanxi Loess Plateau. The river supplies water to 155 million people and irrigates 18 million hectares of agricultural land in China.
One sub-project on the central route is the Shanxi Xiaolangdi Yellow River Diversion Project. Water from the Yellow River is transported through a six-kilometer tunnel to a subsurface pumping station. The project includes two reservoirs, several tunnels, subsurface channels, pumping stations, pipelines and aqueducts. It is designed to divert 247 million m³ of water annually. Irrigation accounts for 116 million m³, industrial and urban water demand for another 116 million m³, and 15 million m³ is used for ecological purposes. The pumping station is equipped with four hydraulic machines that pump water over a distance of 60 km to an artificial lake in Shanxi Province.
ANDRITZ engineered metal volute pump during assembly at our workshop in Austria.
The infrastructure expert
As the strongest candidate in the tender assessment process, ANDRITZ was awarded the contract to supply the pumps for the subsurface station. The decision was based on compliance with the project requirements and detailed technical proof. ANDRITZ has also contributed to other sub-projects within the South-North Water Transfer Project. At the Hui Nan Zhuang station, for example, eight ANDRITZ horizontal double-suction split-case pumps supply drinking water to Beijing, 60 kilometers away.
At the Hui Nan Zhuang station, eight ANDRITZ horizontal, double-suction split-case pumps supply drinking water to the Chinese capital of Beijing, 60 kilometers away.
Customized for performance and efficiency
The four two-stage vertical volute pumps for the Shanxi Xiaolangdi Yellow River Diversion Project are customized to meet the project requirements. Each pump achieves a flow rate of 5 m³/s over a head of 236 meters and delivers an output of 13 MW. The pumps achieve an efficiency of more than 91%. Because the Yellow River carries large quantities of sand, the pumps are equipped with a special abrasion-resistant coating.
ANDRITZ metal volute pump impeller assembly at our workshop in Austria.
The hydraulic dimensioning and design of the volute casing depend on the required output characteristics. Its individual shape ensures optimum flow conditions and contributes to the high efficiency of the pump. High-precision adjustments to the required duty points can be made by varying the trailing edge.
The volute casing is designed as a metal volute. It is a welded structure consisting of several segments and can optionally be embedded in concrete. For the Shanxi Xiaolangdi Yellow River Diversion Project, a metal volute is the ideal solution because the project requires high delivery heads that cannot be achieved with a concrete volute due to strength limitations.
ANDRITZ two-stage vertical volute pump for the Shanxi Xiaolangdi Yellow River Diversion Project
The guide vane mechanism serves as an emergency closing system if problems occur with the electric power supply. It can also be closed during start-up when synchronous motors are used, helping to keep power consumption to a minimum. In addition, the pump can be started with a full pressure pipe by closing the guide vane mechanism. This ensures a short start-up time and minimum power input.
The ANDRITZ pumps are in operation and contribute to a reliable and sustainable water supply in northern China. We are proud to be part of this important project and to contribute our expertise to a long-term solution for one of the country’s key water management challenges. Through reliable pumping technology, ANDRITZ supports the efficient transfer of water where it is needed most.
