Danfoss PAHT pumps help regulate temperature and humidity in massive Russian greenhouse

And be so sure of high-pressure pump reliability that you can count on them even if they are installed more than 2,500 km away.

Building a dependable misting unit capable of regulating heat and humidity across seven hectares under glass is no easy task. Average temperatures in the St. Petersburg area vary from -10°C in winter to 23°C in summer. Furthermore, the mister had to have separate controls for six large sections of up to a hectare each as well as two smaller nursery sections.

According to Paul van den Bos, the project engineer for Van der Ende Pompen, the main criteria for selecting components for the system were reliability and predictably low maintenance procedures and costs. Van der Ende Pompen supplied the high-pressure pumps, calculated the duty point for pump and motor sets, and built the pump support system for the installation. “Together with the installer we tested the entire pump system in the Netherlands before installing it in Russia.

Since high-pressure pumps are the heart of the misting system, they had to be the most reliable available in order to prevent a lot of service visits to a location so far from home.”

After a search of the high-pressure pump market and in consultation with the installer, Van der Ende Pompen’s engineers opted for five Danfoss PAHT 90 pumps to provide the pressure for the misting system.

Each pump is capable of delivering up to 120 l per minute at a maximum pressure of 129 barg, and all are connected to the header that feeds mist to the entire greenhouse. The entire misting system has a maximum capacity of 581 l per minute.

In order to provide constant pressure and also allow differentiated misting for the eight greenhouse sections, the PAHT pumps are pressure controlled in cascade by Danfoss frequency converters. Danfoss pressure valves are connected directly to the header, and Danfoss directional valves were also installed in each section.

Construction of the massive greenhouse and installation of the custom-made misting unit was completed during Q3 2013, and the first crops of tomatoes and cucumbers are already on their way.

While still too early to test the limits of Danfoss’ 8,000-hour warranty, Van den Bos is happy with the process thus far. “Since we know Danfoss PAHT pumps from many other projects in the Netherlands – and we had tested the entire misting unit here prior to shipment and installation in Russia – we are confident that the Danfoss pumps will perform according to our expectations. Commissioning of the system went off without a hitch, and the pumps have performed perfectly thus far.”