Lowara's water pumps have made their mark in prominent projects across the world. The wide distribution network of Ahmed Ramadhan Juma Est has established this technology in the Middle East.
The Emirates Towers provides a dramatic backdrop to Dubai's skyline. With 56 floors and 400 rooms, the hotel is the third tallest in the world. It includes a 10 floor lower atrium and 31 floor upper atrium, five panoramic lifts, eight other lifts, a swimming pool and a health club. Also, with 54 floors, the office building is the tallest in the Middle East and Europe, and the ninth tallest in the world. Linking the two towers is the Emirates Towers Shopping Boulevard with sky-lit courtyards, exclusive shops, theme restaurants and coffee shops.
To keep such an enterprise running smoothly, you need a lot of water! The water storage tank capacities for the two towers have a combined capacity of 400 m3. However, unexpected problems surfaced in the water supply system. The water coming out of the taps was almost coffee-coloured. The consultants brought in to solve the problem discovered galvanic action between the pump sets and the system pipe-work. The problem affected both towers; the 305 m 400-room hotel and the adjacent 350 m office block. But a solution was found: the installation of a new cold water and drinking water pumping system using Lowara Technology.
The Emirates solutionThe consultants associated with the project called for completely new bespoke pumping systems, with all wetted components in 316 stainless steel, including separate, dedicated pump sets to serve the high level draw-off points. Lowara, part of ITT Industries, was the natural choice.
Six pump sets, which are high efficiency, vertical multi-stage units, power the cold water and drinking water service - there are four three-pump and two four-pump sets. Four booster sets are assigned to the hotel and two for the office block. All of them are installed in low level plant rooms. DPS units serve the very high pressure systems and SVS units serve the lower pressure systems.
One pump in each of the booster sets operates on a continuously running lead pump basis to meet the normal off-peak demand. The support pumps are sequenced in and out according to system demand under pressure switch and timer control. The sets serving high level outlets operate at 28 bar of head. And as a precaution, all equipment was tested at up to 50 bar.
Ready to play
Lowara's influence reaches far and wide. It even helped Athens build the infrastructure for the 2004 Olympic Games. At the games, the biggest race of all was to complete all the facilities in time for D Day. As the world watched, the city of Athens put on a late rush to renovate existing sports facilities, install roofs on new stadiums and repave the marathon route.
It was a massive undertaking, akin to building a small city-within-a-city, and the city surprised sceptics and lived up to the promise of its Mayor Dora Bakoyanni who said: "In Greece, we are like the Sirtaki dance. We start very slowly, and then we speed up. And then at the end, you cannot even follow how quickly it goes." Lowara danced step to step with the city, providing products, people and expertise to help Athens meets targets and deadlines.
Lowara is helping to provide fresh water to the Olympic complex; its variable-speed water booster sets are helping to pump water under the streets to the stadiums and buildings in the Olympic village. Lowara's Hydrovar technology allows the pump speeds to change with the system requirements, thereby saving energy. This, in fact, is the second Summer Games in a row to use Lowara's multi-stage pumps and Hydrovar variable speed devices to provide water to the tidal wave of visitors. In addition, Lowara's pumps are being used in the design of the many municipal foundations installed throughout Athens.
On the right track
One of the most prestigious projects in Bahrain turned into reality in the first quarter of 2004 when the Kingdom signed a long-term agreement with FIA Formula One World Championships to host Formula 1 racing. The scope of the work included installation of a pumping system for the stands, racetrack, nine-storey VIP tower, a technical resource centre, a media centre for 500 journalists and dedicated buildings for participating teams.
The pump system selected was the Lowara multi-stage for pressure booster sets regulated with variable speed drives using Hydrovar drives. In addition, pump packages included the mains water, fire hose reel and sprinkler sets, and sewage pump lifting stations.
Bahrain needn't worry. Lowara has ensured a smooth road ahead for the race track project. Lowara's expertise is now an open secret; the world knows it and the word is out.
Lowara avails of the expertise and experience of the fluid technology division of Ahmed Ramadhan Juma Est (ARJ) to provide clients comprehensive solutions to their water movement problems. The wide distribution network of ARJ helps distribute Lowara products in the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia markets.
Since its inception, ARJ's focus has been on providing solutions, not just selling products, by providing the right products for the suitable application. This has helped establish its reputation as a reliable and trustworthy business house with a strong presence all over the GCC states. Projects and technical sales consultants offer semi-project design and complete turnkey solutions for diverse applications in agriculture, building services, industrial units, and the construction and garage industries.
© Construction World 2004
