Atlas Copco is expanding its range of WEDA electric submersible pumps in response to increased requirements on dewatering pump wear resistance and autonomous operation. The four new models feature Atlas Copco's patented Wear Deflector Technology, which draws on the company's engineering design expertise combined with modern modelling and manufacturing techniques to deliver superior pump reliability and longer service life in extremely arduous operating environments. 

"Dewatering is a demanding and safety-critical operation, but there has been a lack of investment in developing better pumping solutions fit for the challenges of the 21st century," Bart Duijvelaar, product marketing manager – Submersible pumps at Atlas Copco's Power and Flow division, said. "Atlas Copco is the only company to have redesigned its dewatering pumps in the last decade using modern computational modelling and advanced manufacturing techniques. The result is the WEDA range of pumps, which offer improved reliability and durability, are easy to deploy and maintain, and will work for longer with minimal supervision."

WEDA pumps are designed to operate reliably over extended periods in harsh environments where water is likely to contain high levels of sand and stones. This makes them ideal for water removal in mining, tunnelling, and construction applications, as well as emergency flood relief scenarios. The four new models – WEDA D80SH, WEDA D81, WEDA D91 and WEDA D95SH – are rated 20-20-26-37kW (50Hz, 60Hz: 31-31-40-58hp) and can reliably pump solids-laden water with a specific gravity up to 1.1 and handle stones up to 12mm (0.47in).

The new pumps also incorporate Atlas Copco's Wear Deflector Technology, which was first introduced on the WEDA D70 pump in 2021. The patented technology is the result of paradigm-shifting design and manufacturing methods that were unattainable until recently. State-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics software is used to predict performance and eliminate potential hot spots for premature wear before a pump even enters the prototype stage.

New 3D printing techniques are used for fast prototyping and enabling the casting of geometries that were impossible historically.

For end-users, the result is a highly reliable dewatering pump that is easy to deploy, will run for more extended periods of time with minimal intervention, and can be readjusted to as-new performance to extend service life.

Dry-running capability is provided by carefully sized motors that do not require cooling by the pumped liquid.

Moreover, the pumps are designed for ease of on-site inspection and maintenance, which means that preventive maintenance is more likely to take place. Repairability is also built in at the design stage to minimise downtime. All new WEDA models feature a cartridge-type double mechanical seal in a stainless-steel housing, instead of many parts prone to misalignment and dirt. 

Mining and construction sites face tough challenges, and the last thing they need is a pump failure that could result in machinery damage or loss of life. Our WEDA pumps' wear-resistance and autonomy in pumping operations can keep operations flowing smoothly and provide the reliability and durability that modern dewatering applications require," Bart Duijvelaar concluded.