CSP World

Flowserve Corporation, a leading provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, announced a new order for 307 Limitorque MX10 actuators to support the Kaxu project that is building a Concentrated Solar Power plant in Pofadder, Northern Cape, South Africa.

The Kaxu project will deliver the first parabolic trough solar plant in South Africa. Once operational, the plant will utilize a heat transfer fluid and molten salt energy storage design that can produce power for up to three hours after sunset.

The Limitorque MX actuator features a redundant absolute encoder that doesn't require battery back-up and includes a Built-In Self-Test (B.I.S.T.) design for self-diagnosis. The Safety Integrity Level 3 capable certified MX is equipped with LimiGard circuitry, which safeguards the actuator from spurious electro-magnetic interference. Finally, the MX torque sensing feature can support torque output up to 2304 Nm (1700 ft- lbs) and is available in a wide variety of configurations.

"The MX actuator continues the rich Limitorque legacy of innovative and reliable electric actuation solutions for the most severe and critical applications," said Lynn White, general manager, Flowserve Limitorque. "Since most concentrated solar plants use molten salt that can reach temperatures of 350 degrees Celsius (662 degrees Fahrenheit) as a result of solar heat, the use of the MX actuator - previously in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) applications - ensures it can exceed this 100 MW solar plant's most challenging conditions."

Earlier this year, Flowserve won the contract for all the project's critical pump services, including the boiler feeds, condensates, main and auxiliary heat transfer fluids, and molten salt. The contract also includes equipping the pumps with Flowserve mechanical seals.

The Kaxu Solar One plant, owned by Abengoa and Industrial Development Corporation, was awarded in the first round of the renewable energy program launched by South African Government.