AUMA supports Qatar mega water reservoirs project

AUMA has supplied around 500 electric actuators to the Water Security Mega Reservoirs Project in Qatar. This ambitious scheme was initiated by Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA). The actuators represent the first batch of a total of approximately 2000 actuators ordered for the first phase of the project.

 

This first phase will provide Qatar with enough water storage capacity to meet seven days’ demand at the consumption rate forecast for 2026. 24 concrete reservoirs, grouped into five sites, will store up to 2,300 million gallons (10.4 million m3) of water. The reservoirs, each measuring 300 x 150 x 12 m, are said to be the largest of their type in the world. 480 km of buried ductile iron pipe in diameters up to 1600 mm, with associated pumping stations, connects the reservoirs with desalination plants near the capital Doha and in the north of the country.

 

The first batch of 500 AUMA actuators was delivered during 2015 and 2016. Thanks to their modular design and a wide range of available sizes, the same actuator types are used to automate the different kinds of gate, butterfly and flow control valves deployed throughout the water storage and pumping station sites. This means that all the interfaces, documentation, and operations are virtually identical for all actuators within the plant. This homogeneous operational concept provides advantages across all the implementation phases of the project, from planning, installation, commissioning and operation to maintenance and spare parts storage. All actuators are equipped with intelligent AC actuator controls and HART interface.

 

Before installation and commissioning, AUMA experts provided comprehensive training to project engineering staff. AUMA won the order based on its previous good relationship with KAHRAMAA, says Manjunath Rao of AUMA Middle East. “The customer also appreciates the many advantages that the modular design of AUMA actuators brings to this extremely complex and challenging project,” Rao says.

 

A second stage of the project, to be started after 2020, will add up to 16 new reservoirs at the existing sites. This will increase capacity to 3,800 million gallons (17.2 million m3) to meet the extra demand projected for 2036 and beyond.