Pump Solutions aid Military Training
The United States Navy is near completion of their newest $82.5
million project known as Battle Stations 21, which is a 210-foot
replica of a guided-missile destroyer that trains Navy recruits
to deal with real-life war scenarios, while making them feel as
if they’re actually at sea.
Battle Stations 21, located at the Navy Recruit Training Command in
Great Lakes, Ill, serves as the culmination of all training
received at the Navy’s only boot camp. A grueling 12-hour test
of a Recruit’s skills on Battle Stations 21 marks the final rite
of passage before becoming a Sailor.
Entering a 157,000 square-foot building, recruits find themselves
on a pier, gazing at a 210-foot-long replica of a guided-missile
destroyer. The pier is complete with a façade that replicates
the actual pier in Norfolk, Va. Realism is added thanks to
special effects lighting, sea and diesel scents, surround audio
and 90,000 gallons of water sloshing between the pier and the
ship. USS Trayer will also feel, smell, sound and look like the
real thing, with the incorporation of the latest in virtual
reality, entertainment technology and modern construction
techniques. Once they are in this immersive environment,
recruits will proceed through 17 different shipboard scenarios
that will test problem-solving, communications and other
essential skills, with realistic consequences for their actions.
Metropolitan Industries Inc., of Romeoville, Ill, along with the
installing contractor Aspen Plumbing of Streamwood, Illinois,
was instrumental in designing many of the pump systems that add
the realism and dramatics to each training scenario.
The Flood-Room pump located in a mechanical room adjacent to the
ship helps the Navy to simulate wartime scenarios, such as
torpedo or shell attacks, which have caused large amounts of
seawater to pour into the compartments, forcing recruits to
repair and seal the compartments in mere moments. This
Metropolitan system utilizes two large centrifugal pumps,
capable of flooding the compartments at a maximum flow-rate of
4000-gallons per minute. This system operates through a
Metro-Tech Econo-Plex Variable-Speed control system, which
allows the pumps to operate at various flow-rates, depending
upon the number of compartments being flooded. The system
continually monitors the “ocean” water level, as well as the
flood room water pressure levels simultaneously, and
automatically adjusts the operation of the large pumps
accordingly.
The fire room pump system also utilizes two large
centrifugal pumps, capable of providing the “Fire Fighters” with
a maximum flow-rate of 400-gallons per minute at high-pressure.
This system also helps the Navy to simulate potentially
devastating situations, such as galley or machine-room fires.
When these situations occur, recruits must double-time to
extinguish the blazing inferno. This system is also operated
through a Metro-Tech Econo-Plex Variable-Speed control system,
which allows the pumps to operate at various flow-rates,
depending upon the number of compartments, on-fire. The system
also continually monitors the ocean water level, as well as the
fire room water pressure levels simultaneously, and
automatically adjusts the operation of the large pumps
accordingly.
The ocean-fill pump system utilizes two large submersible pumps,
with 6-inch discharge connections, capable of filling the
90,000-gallon “ocean” at a maximum flow-rate of 2000-gallons per
minute. This system is operated through a Metro-Tech Econo-Plex
Variable-Speed control system, which allows the pumps to operate
at various flow-rates, while reacting to various reservoir
inflow-rates. This system is fed with water, which drains from
the Flood Rooms and Fire Rooms described above. The Econo-Plex
continually monitors the “ocean” water level, as well as the
Lift Reservoir water level simultaneously, and then
automatically adjusts the operation of the large pumps
accordingly. The designers were careful to avoid situations,
which would cause other types of pump systems to experience
harmful cavitations and short cycling.
Metropolitan also designed and manufactured other critical
equipment for the facility, such as the Filter Pumps, which help
the Navy reclaim the water from the various scenarios, and
recycle it back into the “ocean” for re-use during training
sessions.
There were also many domestic systems provided by Metropolitan for
use by the Navy personnel, such as two Semi-Instantaneous
steam-fired water heaters; a Titan Plus duplex Variable-Speed
domestic water pressure booster system, as well as two sets of
Metro-Prime duplex sewage ejector and sump pump systems with
Quick-Clean-Out suction-casings.
Four divisions of 88 recruits—352 recruits, along with their
facilitators—will be able to move through the facility at once,
every night of the year. Multiple events can occur in various
spaces simultaneously, many of which must be reset several times
within a night so that all participants can experience each
event.
Battle Stations 21 addresses a changing war-fighting environment.
As the Department of Defense’s most cutting-edge trainer, Battle
Stations 21 will send a better trained Sailor to the Fleet. Its
realistic training will save lives and ships. Battle Stations 21
balances workforce environments within an increasingly
constrained fiscal reality.
Full use for recruits is scheduled to begin in June 2007 with
testing of the facility taking place February through June.
