MOBILE PUMP SYSTEM PROVIDED WITH COUPLED MOTOR DRIVE FOR PUMPING WATER AND METHOD THEREFOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile pump system for pumping water and/or extinguishing agent and an associated method therefor. The mobile pump system comprises:

a frame for housing the pump system;

a booster pump arranged in the frame;

one or more submersible pumps arranged in the frame;

a booster pump motor drive configured to drive the booster pump;

a hydraulics motor drive configured to drive the one or more submersible pumps and wherein the hydraulics motor drive is configured to function as auxiliary drive for the booster pump; and

a coupling for coupling the booster pump to the hydraulics motor drive such that the hydraulics motor drive can function as auxiliary drive for the booster pump.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A mobile pump system for pumping water and/or extinguishing agent, comprising: a frame for housing the pump system; a booster pump arranged in the frame; one or more submersible pumps arranged in the frame; a booster pump motor drive configured to drive the booster pump; a hydraulics motor drive configured to drive the one or more submersible pumps, wherein the hydraulics motor drive is configured to function as auxiliary drive for the booster pump; and a coupling for coupling the booster pump to the hydraulics motor drive such that the hydraulics motor drive can function as auxiliary drive for the booster pump.

16. The mobile pump system according to claim 15, wherein the coupling comprises a hydraulic drive driveable by the hydraulics motor drive.

17. The mobile pump system according to claim 15, further comprising a controller for controlling the booster pump and the hydraulics motor drive.

18. The mobile pump system according to claim 17, wherein the pump system is provided with one or more sensors operatively connected to the controller for controlling the booster pump and hydraulics motor drive.

19. The mobile pump system according to claim 15, further comprising a control panel for operating and/or setting the pump system.

20. The mobile pump system according to claim 19, wherein the control panel is provided on an outer side of the frame.

21. The mobile pump system according to claim 15, wherein the booster pump motor drive is provided with a water cooling.

22. The mobile pump system according to claim 15, wherein the hydraulics motor drive is provided with a radiator cooling.

23. The mobile pump system according to claim 15, further comprising a metering pump.

24. The mobile pump system according to claim 23, wherein the metering pump is provided with a displaceable metering pump frame.

25. The mobile pump system according to claim 15, wherein the one or more submersible pumps are provided with a displaceable submersible pump frame.

26. A method for pumping water for extinguishing and/or excess water, comprising the steps of: providing a mobile pump system for pumping water and/or extinguishing agent, comprising: a frame for housing the pump system; a booster pump arranged in the frame; one or more submersible pumps arranged in the frame; a booster pump motor drive configured to drive the booster pump; a hydraulics motor drive configured to drive the one or more submersible pumps and wherein the hydraulics motor drive is configured to function as auxiliary drive for the booster pump; and a coupling for coupling the booster pump to the hydraulics motor drive such that the hydraulics motor drive can function as auxiliary drive for the booster pump; placing the mobile pump system; activating the mobile pump system; and pumping water for extinguishing and/or excess water.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising activating the hydraulics motor drive as an auxiliary drive for driving the booster pump through a hydraulic driving of the coupling.

28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising of autonomously controlling the mobile pump system.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising of autonomously controlling the mobile pump system.

30. The mobile pump system according to claim 16, further comprising a controller for controlling the booster pump and the hydraulics motor drive.

31. The mobile pump system according to claim 30, wherein the pump system is provided with one or more sensors operatively connected to the controller for controlling the booster pump and hydraulics motor drive.

32. A mobile pump system for pumping water and/or extinguishing agent, comprising: a frame for housing the pump system; a booster pump arranged in the frame; one or more submersible pumps arranged in the frame; a booster pump motor drive configured to drive the booster pump; a hydraulics motor drive configured to drive the one or more submersible pumps, wherein the hydraulics motor drive is configured to function as auxiliary drive for the booster pump; a coupling for coupling the booster pump to the hydraulics motor drive such that the hydraulics motor drive can function as auxiliary drive for the booster pump; a controller for controlling the booster pump and hydraulics motor drive; and a control panel for operating and/or setting the pump system.

33. The mobile pump system according to claim 32, wherein the pump system is provided with one or more sensors operatively connected to the controller for controlling the booster pump and hydraulics motor drive.

34. The mobile pump system according to claim 33, wherein the one or more submersible pumps are provided with a displaceable submersible pump frame.

Description

[0038] Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a view of a mobile pump system according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 2 is a further view of the pump system of FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the pump system of FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 4 is a side view of the pump system according to FIG. 1;

[0043] FIG. 5 is a top view of pump system 1;

[0044] FIG. 6 is a view of the pump system in a situation of use while combating a source of fire; and

[0045] FIG. 7 is a view of the pump system in a situation of use with the addition of an additive.

[0046] Mobile pump system 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided with container 4 as a frame in which booster pump (diesel) motor drive 6 is arranged for the purpose of pumping the water. Also arranged in container 4 is hydraulics motor drive 8 for other components, including submersible pumps 10, 12, metering pump or foam pump 14, booster pump 24 and ventilation. In the shown embodiment mobile pump system 2 is further provided with two hydraulic submersible pumps 10, 12 for supplying water. A removable foam pump 14 is also arranged. Submersible pumps 10, 12 and foam pump 14 are provided with respective reel sets 16, 18 and 20. Control panel 22 is further arranged on the outer side of container 4.

[0047] In a currently preferred embodiment the user opts to start drive 6, after which hydraulics drive 8 is started at a desired moment by controlling control panel 22.

[0048] Booster pump motor drive 6 (FIG. 3) is used to drive booster pump 24. In the shown embodiment coupling 26 is operatively connected to hydraulic drive 28, which is powered by hydraulics motor drive 8. Hydraulics motor drive 8 is provided with radiator 30 for cooling.

[0049] Outlet 32 (FIGS. 4, 5) of pump system 2 is preferably operatively connected to an extinguishing conduit or discharge. Inlet/feed 34 (FIGS. 1, 5) is further operatively connected during use to a feed conduit for supply of, among other things, water for extinguishing.

[0050] During use (FIG. 6) pump system 2 with container 4 is placed close to waterway W or another water supply. Conduits 36 then run between container 4 and submersible pump 10 which is placed in water W. Extinguishing conduits 38 form a connection via inlet/feed 34 and outlet 32 in/on container 4 to spray nozzles 40, 42 for the purpose of combating a source of fire.

[0051] In a possible application mobile pump system 2 with container 4 is utilized to combat for instance (oil well) fires. Foam can here be applied as extinguishing agent. Applied for this purpose is foam pump 14 with displaceable frame 44 and provided with a double coupling 46 with connections 48, 50 which are provided with shut-off valves/(ball) valves 52,54 (FIG. 7). Foam pump 14 can hereby be connected to containers/IBCs 56, 58 for the purpose of supplying foaming agent. Foaming agent is hereby transported further from containers 56, 58 and conduits 60 in the direction of container 4, and there added to for instance the water for extinguishing in order to realize the desired foaming.

[0052] In the case of an emergency situation, such as a fire or flood, mobile pump system 2 is placed close to a waterway W. One or more submersible pumps 10, 12 are placed in waterway W. Foam pump 14 is optionally placed close to the foaming agent which is for instance supplied in containers 56, 58. Owing to the double coupling 46 to valves 52, 54, switching from an almost empty container to a new container is greatly simplified without interfering with the combating of the emergency situation. When starting up the operation, the user preferably switches on hydraulics drive 8. Booster pump motor drive 6 is preferably started automatically by the controller of the control panel. Drives 6, 8 are hereby utilized at the most optimal operating point possible. A user can optionally also control booster pump and/or hydraulics motor drives 6, 8 manually.

[0053] In a currently preferred embodiment use is made of two substantially identical 588 kW motor drives, wherein hydraulics motor drive 8 can be utilized partially for inter alia hydraulic submersion pumps 10, 12 and partially for booster pump 24. In a comparative test mobile pump system 2 was compared to a conventional pump system provided with an 800 kW booster pump and a 240 kW hydraulic submersible pump. In this conventional system use is made here of a motor drive for the booster pump made suitable specifically therefor. The comparison shows that emission is considerably greater in such conventional systems as compared to pump system 2 according to the invention, or the costs are at least considerably higher. It has been found that in mobile pump system 2 according to the invention two drives 6,8, which are preferably provided with the same power, bring about a significant reduction in emissions. This is the case for both exhaust emission and noise emission. It has been found that such a preferred embodiment results in wide utility, lower costs and greatly reduced exhaust emission and noise emission.

[0054] The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.