The new pump has a big “mouth” and enough power to manage solids.
KSB Imvubu pump in final production. All images supplied by KSB Pumps and Valves
KSB has officially launched the KSB ELN-150 Imvubu, a new self-priming wastewater pump developed and built in South Africa, specifically for African operating conditions.
Named after the Imvubu, which is the Zulu word for ‘hippopotamus’, the name carries a double meaning referring to its distinctive top-mounted lifting “ears” that mimic its profile in water, while its large free-pass mouth and strength mirror the solids-handling ability that swallows-up oversized waste.
KSB Pumps and Valves product manager for wastewater, Hugo du Plessis, says the KSB Imvubu is the result of years of development which measured the strengths and limitations of earlier self-priming pumps used in municipal wastewater networks across southern Africa. During this time, the KSB Pumps and Valves engineering team worked closely with municipalities and industry operators to understand the realities they face daily including clogging, solids carry-over, complex maintenance, pump failures in remote areas, and the need for equipment that is easy to service in places where skills are often scarce and uptime is critical to prevent spills.
“We live in South Africa and can see the challenges of dealing with sewerage and waste water. We also listened to the market where customers told us exactly where the problems lie in terms of pump clogging, difficult seal replacement, thin casings that wear quickly and designs that simply do not stand up to raw, unscreened sewage. This culminated in the development of the KSB Imvubu pump, which is our answer to the market’s needs” says du Plessis.
The new KSB ELN-150 is also known as the Imvubu or hippo pump due to its unique lifting “ears” which give it a resemblance to the animal.
The pump is environmentally cleaner, safer to maintain and significantly simpler to service. The pump body is also cast with thick, heavy-duty volute walls to resist erosion and extend operating life, while its smart design includes an inspection hatch that allows blockages to be cleared without removing the suction cover.
“We have made this pump for Africa and that is why we made it to be maintained using basic tools and why it can be speed-adjusted using simple pulley changes. The pump can even be mounted on diesel skids for remote pumping or flood emergency use,” says Hugo.
Applications extend beyond municipal wastewater to mining sumps, industrial effluent, pulp and paper, agricultural waste dams, river abstraction and portable dewatering units. The pump has already proven itself during extended testing at the Drakenstein Wastewater Treatment Works in the Western Cape where it has operated continuously.
Because the KSB Imvubu pump is 100% locally manufactured, it aligns strongly with the Department of Trade and Industry’s localisation incentives supporting South African industry and local employment. It also positions KSB Pumps and Valves as a major contributor in the export of high value engineered products into sub-Saharan Africa and other regions where similarly robust and versatile pumps are required.
Operating characteristics:
The new, locally designed and manufactured KSB ELN-150 Imvubu pump.
- Maximum flow: 429.4m³/h
- Maximum head: 47.6m
- Suction size: 150NB (6”)
- Discharge size: 150NB (6”)
- Solids handling: 77.3mm
- BEP flow: 305m³/h
- BEP head: 33m
- BEP ŋ: 65%
- Temperature: up to 80°C
Source: Supplied by KSB Pumps and Valves
