Overview
Tsurumi Pumps were recently used at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to power Japan’s first artificial canoe slalom course. In total, there were 19 submersible pumps being used to pump the water and create turbulence for the event. They created strong and steady currents for professional canoe racing.
Tsurumi's Approach
The SSP-1350GS stands 5.4 m tall and weighing approximately 10 tonne; 4 of these gigantic submersible pumps created the challenging current needed for competitions by discharging 240m³ of water per minute. That is enough capacity to fill a 25m swimming pool in about 1 minute. These pumps simulated the power of river rapids, agitating and thrusting the water forward and upwards, which resembles lifelike river rapids.
15 TO300BG pumps were employed to generate and maintain the steady and gentle current of the warm-up course. These units were fitted with guide rail fitting devices, enabling easy lifting and hoisting of the pumps on the piping system. Each BG series pump can discharge up to 12,000 litres of water per minute.
Results & Benefits
Tsurumi pumps relies on electrodes to measure the water level. This approach is potentially much more fail-safe because it does not require mechanics. Electrodes also react faster and are usually more accurate.
The pump choices and layout was designed so the volume of the water and intensity can be adjusted. This allows the facility to be used not just by the Olympic competitors but also by the local public, making the facility available for all people to use.
Conclusion
Tsurumi has been instrumental in creating the world-class sporting facility. It is divided into two sub-courses: a warm-up course and a competition course. With the ability to generate currents both fast and slow, the facility can host professional canoe slalom athletes and offer them a tailored, cutting-edge training experience.
advocating canoeing
Established in 1938, the Japan Canoe Federation represents and governs canoeing sports in Japan. In addition to strengthening and expanding competitive canoeing, the federation is also tasked with promoting canoeing as a life-long sport that improves health and fosters a healthy body and mind. As a proud sponsor of Japan Canoe Federation, Tsurumi also shares this mission and seeks to make canoeing sports accessible to all.
Tsurumi became an official sponsor of the Japan Canoe Federation after inking an agreement on July 1, 2018.
Besides providing a push to competitive canoeing, the Japan Canoe Federation promotes canoeing as a life-long sport that improves health and fosters a healthy body and mind, and is behind activities that make canoe sports accessible to all, because of its water environment conservation policy through which it promotes the beauty of the natural environment and its clean water campaign. As a company that prides itself on “Being water- and people-friendly”, Tsurumi is happy to support efforts to promote canoe sports.
