Plant production halted.
By-pass pumping system mobilized.
Water inlet unblocked.
140 foot long suction hoses and freezing cold
At 3:26 AM, the call was placed to RMS Enviro Solv Inc to see whether they could respond to this emergency situation. The “pen stock” inlet piping was blocked with ice and debris, resulting in critical plant water supply slowing down to a trickle. Production was halted. A sister plant had rented and purchased Godwin Dri-Prime pumping equipment months earlier and highly recommended RMS service and Godwin pumps.
This fine paper plant requires 10,000 usgpm of process water, 24 hours a day. RMS was given the parameters, and within 30 minutes it was confirmed that they were able to immediately mobilize diesel driven self-priming centrifugal pumps, suction and discharge hose and Bauer quick disconnect piping. The order was given before the sun rose.
RMS personnel were mobilized, three flatbed trucks were immediately dispatched, equipment was loaded and delivered that same evening. An RMS service representative was onsite to supervise the installation and to train personnel in operation and maintenance procedures.
Within 48 hours of the original call, a temporary 10,000 usgpm critical plant water supply system was installed some 500 kilometers away. It operated continuously for five weeks under demanding conditions while the situation was rectified. The shortest way to bypass the “pen stock” was to draw raw water directly from the river and tap into the existing 24 inch 316L stainless steel pipeline, just before the filter system. Conditions were extreme with wind and 29 below zero temperatures. Pumps were initially installed at the top of the riverbank, with a 15 foot suction lift and a remarkable 140 foot lengths of suction hose per pump. Subsequently, pumps were repositioned on the river ice with 60 foot lengths of suction hose.
A temporary hole was made in the plant wall. Discharge hose and Q-D piping system were installed from the pumps, winding through the building and connected to a custom pipe manifold system. Bauer galvanized steel quick disconnect piping was chosen as it proved to be quick and simple to install, especially over the difficult terrain and in the freezing weather. Rubber suction hoses were supplied with the same Bauer Q-D coupling system, providing a positive vacuum seal and facilitating hose coupling articulation to 30 degrees.
Comments from plant personnel were extremely positive: "very impressed with the professional and responsive service to this emergency, the reliability of the pumping system, the ease and speed of installation of pumps and piping, and the onsite service support."
