Global water technology company Xylem unveiled Flygt Bibo Alpha – a breakthrough dewatering pump with built-in intelligence for the United States market. As the latest addition to Xylem’s portfolio of smart solutions, Flygt Bibo Alpha is set to revolutionize drainage in mining and construction operations and pioneer the next generation of smart pumps by bringing innovation and new capabilities to traditional dewatering practices.
Utilizing Decision Intelligence, Flygt Bibo Alpha automatically adapts to its environment and only operates when needed, delivering energy savings of up to 60% when compared to traditional dewatering pumps.
Operational wear and tear is also reduced by up to 70% as instances of snoring and dry running are minimized, leading to as much as a 50% reduction in repair and maintenance costs. Additionally, due to its unique, compact and stable design, Bibo Alpha breaks the mold of traditional dewatering pumps with 30% fewer components, reducing the amount of inventory needed.
Commenting on the launch, Tyler Elkins, senior global product manager, submersible dewatering products at Xylem, said, “At Xylem, we work with customers and communities across the world to bring solutions to the water sector that can revolutionize business processes to create more efficient and sustainable operations. Our latest addition, Flygt Bibo Alpha is set to transform dewatering practices across the mining and construction industries.
“The pump’s plug-and-play capability means no configuration is needed – the pump can easily slot into existing basic control systems. Additionally, by adapting its speed and performance, the pump optimizes our customer asset management. The pump intelligence together with the robust design will allow our customers to enjoy uninterrupted pumping so that they can focus on their key operations,” Elkins said.
Flygt Bibo Alpha has cutting-edge capabilities, designed to run based on the application and operating environment. Adaptive mode is typically used when there is a requirement to maintain a constant low water level in the sump – the pump will never stop running, though it will regulate its speed after inflow. If snoring is detected, the pump will slow down to reduce wear, but when water re-enters the sump the pump will increase its speed until the water level is low again.
By letting the pump run continuously, there is no need for any additional sensor. The incoming water triggers the pump to run, so it will always be ready to respond to changeable conditions in the field.
The new Flygt Bibo Alpha automatically adapts to the speed and performance in a field instead of a static curve, meaning that the compact 10-hp (8-kW) pump can deliver QH-performance that spans the range of a 3-hp (2-kW) standard pump, right up to a 14-hp (10-kW) standard pump. As one of the most robust and reliable pumps now on the market, Flygt Bibo Alpha has a life-span that is up to four times longer than traditional dewatering pumps.
The launch of Flygt Bibo Alpha follows rigorous field testing at the Renström mine in Sweden, one of Europe’s deepest mines. After three years of continuous collaboration and testing with mine operator New Boliden, Flygt Bibo Alpha delivered product and repair savings of 40%, and New Boliden reduced the cost of its dewatering processes by almost 3%.
Commenting on the partnership, Mats Isaksson, senior development engineer at New Boliden, said, “Xylem’s Flygt Bibo Alpha has provided New Boliden with access to a pumping system that can automatically adapt to its environment, accommodating in real-time as conditions change in the field. This new approach to dewatering has transformed our operations, allowing our mining processes to continue without interruption.
“Having worked with New Boliden for more than 30 years, I have watched the mining network evolve into one of the world’s busiest mining operations. The move towards becoming fully autonomous is no mean feat, but with trusted partners like Xylem who bring innovative solutions to the table, we are well positioned to reach our goal of becoming the world’s first autonomous mine,” Boliden concluded.
Flygt Bibo Alpha is now available for purchase in the United States.
Xylem, www.xylem.com