IDE buys Flowserve pumps for Carlsbad desalination

IDE Technologies has purchased three large vertical seawater intake pumps from Flowserve Corporation for the Carlsbad seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant in Carlsbad, California.

This order was booked in the third quarter of 2013.

IDE was selected to design and subsequently operate the 189,250 m³/d Carlsbad plant. With an expected completion date during the fourth quarter of 2015, this plant is projected to be the largest desalination plant in North America.

The Flowserve pumps are constructed in super duplex stainless steel to supply the highly corrosive raw seawater to the plant. Additionally, eight large vertical double-suction twin-volute pumps constructed in 316L stainless steel were specified and purchased to transfer the potable water from the SWRO plant into the San Diego County Water Authority distribution system.

“We are pleased that IDE Technologies continues to work with Flowserve on projects of this importance and magnitude,” said Jim Quain, president, Flowserve Sales Organization. “Because IDE will operate the SWRO plant for the next 30 years, proven reliability was a key factor in the award of this contract.”