Hayward Tyler, a leading manufacturer of pumps and motors for the power and oil and gas industries, is celebrating 100 years since designing the first submersible electric motor. In 1908, the company patented the first unit of this type, which was designed for marine salvage operations.
Early designs consisted of a squirrel-cage motor with rubber-insulated stator windings. The pump was a single-stage unit, having a medium output against a comparatively low head. The pump had a six-inch discharge branch and was capable of an output of 200 tonnes of seawater per hour against a head of 75ft. The motor was rated at 20bhp and operated on 220V, three-phase, 50Hz at 1460rpm.
The celebrations coincide with the successful testing earlier in 2008 of the first of three of the largest ever subsea motors built by Hayward Tyler for its customer Aker Solutions. The qualified Hayward Tyler design for the 2500kW variable-speed, super-synchronous motor, will operate at speeds ranging from 2500-4000rpm.
Mark Wood, Group Sales and Marketing Director at Hayward Tyler, comments: "2008 is a milestone celebration for Hayward Tyler. The company already has an enviable heritage, being almost 200 years old. To consolidate and grow the business for this length of time, and still remain a leader in submersible motor technology, is an outstanding achievement. We look forward to further developing our product technology to even larger sizes in order to meet the challenging operating conditions of the subsea market."
To celebrate the centenary of the submersible motor, the company is giving away prizes via its website, including an iPod touch and a Nintendo Wii games console. Simply go to www.haywardtyler.com and click on the '100 years' logo to enter the competition.