Page 18 - Industrial Terchnology EXTA 22nd March 2021

COUPLINGS...

Coupling proves its reliability

with 86 years of service

An 86-Year old Bibby grid coupling has demonstrated its reliability credentials
by providing decades of service life at the historic Twyford Waterworks

riginally built in 1898 and expanded utilizes electric submersible pumps to extract 5
over the next 30 years, the Twyford million gallons of water per day from the boreholes.
Waterworks continues to supply water to The facility’s positive displacement pumps were
Othe city of Southampton and originally powered by large steam engines which
surrounding areas in Southern England. With all the were replaced by three diesel engines driving
original Edwardian-era buildings and most of the centrifugal pumps in 1934. Gearboxes are installed
original equipment still intact, the historic pumping between the diesel engines and the pumps to
station was named a Scheduled Ancient Monument increase the engine speed to meet the pump speed
in 1973. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, the for optimal efficiency.
restored site is currently open to visitors during “There is a Bibby grid coupling on one of the
selected dates throughout the year. plant’s diesel engine drivetrains that was installed
In 1985, the non-profit Twyford Waterworks back in 1934,” said Paul Fairbrother, of the facility’s
Trust was established to run the facility. The site is Internal Combustion Team. “The coupling connects
currently owned by Southern Water Services who the three-cylinder diesel engine output shaft to the

March 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p18