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Sulzer Pumps, Burnaby, British Columbia

Andritz Automation has been involved in the design of several pump test facilities for Sulzer. This included the design of a 69 kV substation and 15,000 hp pump and motor test facility for the testing of large pump motors of various voltages and frequencies.

Due to the temporary nature of pump testing for a broad range of customers with different electrical supply requirements, Sulzer needed a flexible, low cost system capable of matching various voltage, horsepower and frequency needs for two test facilities.

A combination of motor generator sets, variable speed drives and auto-transformers were used to provide the flexible conditions. A circuit beaker served double duty as protection and motor starting to save cost and maintain system simplicity.

Cabling and conductors were sized to reflect the variable usage of a test facility as opposed to the continuous duty requirements typically experienced by industrial plants operating 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

Special permission from inspection authorities was necessary to implement this type of system and there were additional considerations in making the design appropriate for testing purposes.