Canada’s Thordon Bearings is playing a vital role in providing water to arid regions, with the installation of axial shaft seals and filtration systems to the world’s largest irrigation project in India.
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) in Telangana, India, has been constructed in a region characterised by water scarcity, aiming to efficiently utilise available water resources for agriculture.
As the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, it runs for about 500km (310 miles) through 13 districts and is connected to a 1,770 km (1,100 mile) canal network incorporating 20 reservoirs and extensive underground tunnels.
A crucial component of the large pumps used in projects like this is the shaft seal, which prevents water leakage from lift pump shafts and flooding of the plant. The Francis-type inward-flow turbine pumps at Kaleshwaram work using a combination of radial and axial flow, requiring a reliable and robust seal design.
Thordon and its authorized distributor in India, Soneji Engineering (SEPL), won a tender to supply 24 large diameter axial shaft seal assemblies, along with a water filtration system, for the project’s turbine pumps.
“The agreement is for the supply of all components,” said Axel Swanson, business development manager, hydro and industrial, Thordon Bearings.
“This includes complete assembly, testing, installation, and commissioning on site.”
Thordon has designed the seal assembly and supplied its proprietary SXL material to SEPL, which was responsible for manufacturing all other components, as well as testing, installation, and commissioning on site. The work undertaken by SEPL was commissioned by Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL).
By December 2023, SEPL had supplied all 24 Thordon seals to BHEL, eight of which have now been installed.
“This is a significant milestone for the project, and we are proud of our team’s efforts,” said Jaideep Singh, head of department – hydro, Soneji Engineering.
“This gigantic feat of engineering could not have been achieved without the close working relationship between Thordon and Soneji Engineering.”
Irrigation project to benefit from Thordon’s shaft seal expertise
