Screw Pumps
Aquatic Control Engineering (ACE) supplies high-performance screw pumps from our partner Fishflow Innovations, designed for efficient and reliable low-head water movement. These pumps provide smooth, gentle water transfer with minimal turbulence, making them ideal for drainage, flood defence, water-level management and environmentally sensitive sites. ACE delivers complete turnkey support — from specification and design to installation, retrofitting and ongoing maintenance.
Friendly Fish Passage
Fish-friendly screw pumps have a specially designed impeller that allows fish to enter and exit the pump system without harm.
Environmental Conservation
By facilitating fish passage without injury, fish-friendly screw pumps help enhance aquatic biodiversity by contributing to the conservation of fish population.
Enhanced Pump Efficiency
When used in conjunction with variable speed drives, these pumps can operate at optimal efficiency, reducing energy consumption and ensuring low running speeds.
Reduced Noise, Vibration & Maintenance
The efficient design of fish friendly pumps reduces maintenance requirements, minimises noise and vibration during operation and results in lower maintenance costs and increased operational reliability.
About Screw Pumps
Screw pumps are an excellent solution for low-head pumping where high efficiency, reliability and gentle water handling are essential. Their open trough or enclosed design enables the transfer of water containing debris, vegetation and suspended solids with minimal blockages — a key advantage over submerged pump types.
These pumps are widely used for land drainage, flood-defence schemes, surface-water management, environmental water-level control and long-duty operational sites.
Why Choose Fish Friendly Screw Pumps
01
Unrivaled Fish Friendliness
The Archimedean screw pump, developed by Fishflow Innovations, prioritises the safe passage of fish through the pump system. A specifically designed leading edge reduces splash, turbulence, and direct strikes, ensuring the smooth entry of fish and preventing collisions. The pump also features a reverse facility that allows aquatic life to escape before the pump comes to a stop.
02
Simple Installation
Installation of Screw Pumps is straightforward and time-efficient. Unlike traditional screw pumps that require complicated concrete half-pipes, these pumps only require a horizontal apron and a vertical wall for installation.
03
Simple Construction For Reduced Cost
The tubular construction of the fish pass allows for additional advantages, such as the ability to support longer lengths without sagging and pumping into a head of water. The increased efficiency of these pumps also allows for smaller overall station construction. Variable speed drives further optimise energy consumption, reducing the need for multiple pumps.
04
Customisable Specifications
Fish Friendly Screw Pumps can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of each application. By considering factors such as site conditions and desired flow rates, the pumps can be optimised for maximum effectiveness. For further information or to discuss your specific needs, please refer to our recent projects or contact us directly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The ACE Archimedes Screw Pumps have been designed to be fish friendly. When compared to conventional trough screw pumps they have numerous benefits. Firstly, due to the enclosed drum there is no leakage path. Meaning every drop that enters the pumps gets to the top. Secondly, the unique leading-edge design ensures fish are not struck upon entering the pump. Finally, there are no pinch points on the pump for fish to get caught in.
No, the ACE screw pumps are virtually maintenance free. Requiring only occasional greasing.
ACE screw pumps are more efficient than conventional trough type of pumps. With no leakage path there is no water slip that leads to inefficiencies. This means the pumps can be run at a lower more efficient speeds.
Yes. We consult to get the best solution for you requirements.
Related Projects
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More About Screw Pumps
Screw pumps — sometimes known as Archimedean screw pumps — are among the most effective solutions for low-head, high-flow water movement. Their gentle hydraulic characteristics make them ideal for environmentally sensitive installations, including wetlands, nature reserves, SSSIs, fish-migration routes and habitat-management projects. ACE frequently supplies fish friendly screw-pump configurations, designed to allow safe passage for eels and fish by ensuring low shear forces, low turbulence, slow rotational speeds and smooth water flow along the screw flight.
Their ability to operate efficiently at low rotational speeds provides excellent energy performance and reduces mechanical wear, making them a preferred choice for sites that require constant or long-duty operation such as land-drainage stations, flood-defence schemes, stormwater attenuation systems and surface-water management installations. Screw pumps also accommodate significant variations in water level without the need for complex control systems, making them particularly reliable during storm events or prolonged wet periods.
Thanks to their high solids-handling capacity, screw pumps can transport water containing silt, vegetation, and suspended matter without blockages, improving operational resilience compared with traditional submersible or axial-flow pumps. Their open/trough-based design makes maintenance straightforward and minimises downtime.
Typical Technical Specifications
– Open or enclosed screw configurations
– Steel, stainless steel or composite trough options
– Flow rates from 100 L/s to several m³/s depending on screw diameter
– Typical head range: 0.5–8 metres
– Suitable for freshwater, surface water and screened wastewater
– Available with variable-speed drives for optimised efficiency
