How to Select the Right Pump
Unless brand-new pumps are being designed, users may replace their equipment because of persistent reliability issues, wear, or age.
A plant engineer spend time to ensure a pump works, water flows well, and environmental issues don’t develop.
When pumps fail, they need to be replaced with ones without much discussion or analysis. But choosing the right pump for replacement is daunting. This is why you should consider the following tips to choose the right pump.
1. Consider the Fluid
Fuels and chemicals may easily destroy your pump. This is especially true with pumps, which haven’t been built for such.
Experts at Pumpbiz recommend that you choose pumps designed to deal with the consistency and corrosiveness of fluid. This ensures your pumps are not clogged or degraded by debris or slurry.
Similarly, consider knowing the fluid’s viscosity so you can make sure your pump has sufficient power to transmit the fluid through.
2. Look at the Environment
If your pumps are working outside, special installation or construction considerations should be made for colder temperatures.
You may require special motor features if the pump’s environment is dangerous or contains dust and explosive vapors.
3. Prioritize Efficiency
This is often expressed as the percentage. And according to experts, it is simply the ratio between the total output power produced by the pump’s motor compared to the input power that your pumps supply. Losses due to internal friction, noise, distortion, and heat must be considered to determine efficiency.
The efficiency of a pump also depends on the volute designs and impellent and may indicate a point when turbulence has been encountered.
4. Determine Reliability and Maintenance
More mechanical complexity translates to effective pumping systems. In some situations, well-selected multistage pumps can as well be more dependable than poorly matched single-stage pumps.
But greater complexity and increased stages mean there is potential for failure. Factors that may impact reliability are:
- Short shaft spans
- Sensible running clearances
- Reduced complexity
5. Check the Performance Curve
Charts come with an individual pump to show its working range and could help determine the size of a pump.
These charts also display a graph showing the amount of liquid that will flow at a discharge rate. This is often measured in GPM (gallons per minute).
Normally, you would want the fluid to flow faster at the required discharge for the installation. That is why it is important to determine the distance of the vertical rise from your pump to the highest point.
6. Determine the Seal
You may ask when safety and environmental regulations don’t need the use of seals, why not consider packing? Besides, packing is easy to use and cheap.
But well-tightened packing usually draws five times the power of mechanical seals. Proper tightening needs experience and a light feel of hand.
Plus, properly operated, installed, and selected seals can last until they wear out. This may save you a lot of money.
Final Take!
To successfully choose the right pumping system or pump, you need to look at the whole picture. This should include your overall goals, design requirements, and piping system.