SHOAIBA plant water intake pumping station (Saudi Arabia)

Optimization of the pumping station hydraulic design

Client: DAELIM - Model scale: 1:17.5

Context

In the framework of a project to increase the production capacity of Shoaiba thermal power plant, Daelim appointed ARTELIA to conduct scale model tests on a sea water pumping station.

Description of the physical scale model

The scale model represented the geometry of the station comprising four screening channels, four pumps and their respective bays.

Aims of the physical scale model

The aim of this model was to confirm or optimise the internal configuration of the pumping station by checking flow conditions:

• in the station (screens, distribution chambers);
• on the suction side of the pumps (pre-rotation, swirl, vortices, air entrainment).