Pumps for Spanish particle accelerator
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The Spanish KSB Group company KSB ITUR was awarded a contract for the supply of 57 cooling pumps to be used in a particle accelerator known as “Synchrotron Alba” which is currently under construction.
The pumps are process pumps designed for flow rates of up to 646 cubic metres and a maximum discharge head of 134 metres, and the pump motors have a total power of 1,600 kilowatts. The pump sets transport primarily treated water for cooling electric components.
The particle accelerator, which is 20 km away from Barcelona, is the most important medical, scientific and industrial research facility of its kind in Southern Europe. Underneath the impressive exterior, electrons race at speeds approaching that of light in a circular tunnel with a circumference of 270 metres.
Scientists view “Synchrotron Alba” as a means with which to investigate the internal molecular structures of certain materials. In the last few years, particle accelerators helped provide the information that was needed to develop better medicines for fighting diseases such as AIDS and to engineer more effective filters for reducing CO2 emissions of motor vehicles.
Although the project was settled back in 1994, actual construction work did not begin until 2003. The facility will operate at full capacity from mid-2011. The 200 million euro investment required for construction was financed in equal shares by the governments of Catalonia and Spain. The CELLS consortium operates the facility.
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