Local pump manufacturer Denorco has developed a pump application designed to overcome the problem of fluctuating water levels in Lake Malawi.
“We have installed and commissioned a number of our Tsunami axial flow pumps at the Illovo Dwangwa sugar mill, in Malawi. “These pumps are specifically engineered to lift large volumes of water from rivers and irrigation channels,” says Denorco export manager Richard Rudling.
The company had installed its Tsunami axial flow pump at the Illovo sugar mill in Dwangwa, Malawi, where fluctuating water levels had an adverse affect on the operation of the axial pump.
“At Dwangwa, water is sourced from Lake Malawi which has seasonal fluctuating water levels. “This was proving to be a problem as our pumps need to have a reasonably high net positive suction head (NPSH) available to operate effectively,” explains Rudling.
Kwembi Consulting’s Barado Farfan conceptualised the idea of floating the pumps on a barge on top of the lake’s surface to overcome the obstacle of fluctuating water levels that hamper the effective operation of the axial pump.
Farfan had followed the same procedure and work model at a previous sugar operation project, in Mozambique.
“With the pump moving up and down with the barge, it means that the available NPSH is always ideal for our pumps to operate,” says Rudling.
“In fact, the application has been so successful that we have used it at various other sites in Africa,” adds Rudling.
“Over 40 of the Tsunami axial pumps have been sold to the Sugar Company of Malawi, which is owned by Illovo Sugar.
Says Illovo Sugar’s Andy Stew-art, says, “We have commissioned the new system, but not really run it for an extended period. “We have had excellent cooperation from both Denorco and its distributors here in Malawi, Stewarts & Lloyds.”
Tsunami axial flow pumps are commonly used in aquaculture and sport, backwash water from filters, water transfer from rivers, effluent recycling within sewage works and water harvesting. The axial pump is popular for its ability to move large volumes of water at relatively low heads and requires no major civil construction work for installation.
Axial flow pumps are manufactured with a flow rate of up to 2,6 m3/s. The head capabilities of the pump range from 100 m for the smaller pumps through to 40 m for the 600-mm pumps and 25 m for the 900-mm-diameter model.
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