The WIMES Project & Exhaust Fans for the Water Industry
Reliability is one of the critical factors within water industry procurement, so for those specifying industrial fans within the water treatment industry, it is important to understand the WIMES project. WIMES stands for Water Industry Mechanical and Electrical Specifications and is the standard set by pump centre who are an independent organisation associated with the UK water industry.
The WIMES project provides mechanical and electrical specifications suitable for water treatment facilities and aims to support a simple and cost-effective procurement for manufacturers, contractors, and installers in the industry. Most major UK water companies are now in collaboration with the initiative as members of the pump centre organisation. The project enables manufacturers and suppliers to work to the same specifications which promotes a fair industry in terms of product quality, initial costs, and profits. Whilst following the WIMES specifications, water companies are assured to buy the correct equipment whilst being able to easily compare the market for the most competitive prices. The WIMES project has a full set of guidelines on many aspects of the design and maintenance of water treatment facilities.
WIMES Specifications for Fans and Motors
The following specifications are particularly important when specifying fans for water treatment:
- WIMES 8.05 for odour control
- WIMES 3.03 for motor efficiency
We’ll explore these is more detail below. It’s important to note that although WIMES isn't governed by law, it’s widely used to ensure reliable, efficient, and safe equipment selection, across the water and wastewater treatment sectors.
We've worked with many contractors and installers to provide the effective fan solutions for water treatment facilities. The high quality of build and the proven robustness of our polypropylene chemical resistant fans makes them ideally suited to the water and wastewater industry.
WIMES 8.05: Odour control in Water Treatment Plants
The WIMES 8.05 standard sets out the specifications of odour control equipment including guidelines for ambient temperature, maximum noise levels and equipment service life. A frequent problem that sewage treatment plants face is the production of strong, foul smelling odours during processes. The build-up of hydrogen sulphide, which is commonly known as sewer gas, can be unpleasant for plant operators and may escape to the outer environment if the correct ventilation is not in place. Treatment plants must adhere to environmental regulations, keeping odour and noise pollution to a minimal to avoid becoming a nuisance to the community. The correct odour control equipment, including fans, must be installed to effectively remove odours and keep them below the standard discharge limits.
WIMES 3.03: Enhancing Sustainability & Energy Efficiency with EC Motors
In terms of energy efficiency, The WIMES 3.03 specification lays down minimum efficiencies for 2, 4 and 6 pole electric motors. Motors within the 0.75kW to 1000kW range must meet IE3 efficiency as a minimum, while motors between 75kW and 200kW must meet IE4 efficiency. While IE3 is the current minimum standard for many motors purchased for the water industry, IE4 and IE5 offer greater energy savings and should be considered, particularly when replacing failed motors or for new installations.
For those projects with a focus on sustainability and environmental impact, EC fume extraction fans can reduce energy consumption by up to 20% without affecting performance because of their ultra-premium efficiency IE5 motors. All motors are designed using high quality seals to protect bearings from water and solids, have high quality finishes that comply with regulations, and have thermistors fitted to prevent thermal protection against overloading. All fans provided to our customers include a nameplate so that the product can be identified and sourced back to the original origin should there be any issues with the product in the future.
Managing Wet & Humid Environments in the Water Industry
Water treatment facilities are wet and dirty places by nature, so they immediately pose a rust and corrosion problem for any equipment used. Our S and ST ranges of corrosion resistant polypropylene fans are the most popular choice for this type of application due to their ability to withstand and resist these typically harsh conditions. This is where WIMES fits in, by specifying characteristics of equipment suitable for the water industry, specifiers can make an informed choice. Polypropylene fans are light weight and a cost-effective option with over 10 sizes available, including ATEX zone 2 versions. They are often requested for harsh environments due to the high corrosion resistance to many aggressive chemicals. Inverter drives used alongside large polypropylene fans, can give significant energy savings by reducing the speed of the motor to ensure the fan operates within its required performance duty point. A 10% speed reduction can save 30% in a reduction in energy.
Get in touch for more information or support with fan selections.
