When operational security is paramount, failures in key equipment can have significant consequences. A failure of the hot water pump is not only a technical problem but can also lead to pipes freezing, resulting in a loss of hot water and significant social and financial damage.
Á Conference on Heat/Water and Wastewater, taking place in Reykjanesbær on 7-8 May, HD Industrial and Technical Services will focus on the condition assessment of deep-well systems, as an important management tool in the operation and risk management of district heating companies.
Since 1995, HD has been involved in the design, construction and operation of around 130 deep-well pumps in Iceland, which play a key role in the country's geothermal heating and energy production. The company has also completed numerous international projects where pumps have been installed at depths of up to 350 metres and operated at temperatures of up to 170°C. This experience is based on real-world operation in challenging conditions, where safety and reliability are paramount.
HD does not operate solely as a conventional supplier of equipment, but also as a technical partner for district heating companies in their long-term operations. The company's expertise spans the entire value chain; from bespoke design for Icelandic geothermal conditions to installation, commissioning and long-term maintenance. The company places a special emphasis on standardised designs and solutions that reduce operational risk and simplify maintenance.
At the conference, HD is presenting an increased focus on targeted condition assessment, using measurements and data analysis that utilises artificial intelligence. The aim is not to add more technology but, first and foremost, to strengthen operational control. By detecting deviations in a timely manner, maintenance can be shifted from being reactive to condition-based, reducing unexpected operational disruptions and increasing the predictability of financial planning.
The question HD poses to district heating operators is simple: What is the cost of losing a pump in the middle of a cold snap?
„The cost is not just measured in repairs or spare parts,“says Lýður Skúlason, Head of the Energy Department at HD.„It consists of service disruption, increased operational pressure, societal impact, and the risk of losing control of the situation. Experience teaches us that what matters most is spotting the deviations before they become failures. Therein lies the real savings and operational security..“
The main programme of the conference will feature a presentation by Simon Þór Hansen, Technical Advisor at the HD Equipment Division, in which he will discuss the differences between shaft pumps and integrated deep-well pumps (ESP). The presentation will cover the design, operating conditions, installation and maintenance of the solutions, along with a comparison of capital and operating costs. Special emphasis will be placed on Icelandic conditions, where temperature, chemistry and depth place additional demands on equipment and operational safety.
The aim of this presentation is to support informed decision-making when selecting pumping systems and to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each solution.
HD – Condition monitoring as a control tool in operation and maintenance
„The cost is not just measured in repairs or spare parts.“says Lýður Skúlason, Head of the Energy Department at HD.
