Pumps & Systems, April 2008

Q. We are operating a centrifugal pump, and a recent change in the system has resulted in a deficiency of about 5 to 10 percent in the rate of flow. Can anything be done to the pump to increase the flow to meet our needs?

Pumps & Systems, April 2008

Many pump couplings are designed to be a fuse that fails before major damage occurs to expensive pump systems. Premature wear or failure is typically the first symptom of a problem.

Pumps & Systems, October 2007

When the capabilities of membrane technologies are combined with the economies of activated sludge processes, there is the real potential for having "the best of both worlds" relative to wastewater treatment. 

Pumps & Systems, October 2007

The service department of a variable frequency drives manufacturer frequently sees the following scenario: A frustrated user calls with what he perceives to be a defective piece of equipment. As the technician begins probing for information, the user's frustration boils over, often with an exclamation along the lines of "what a piece of junk!" As the service technician asks the pertinent questions, the exasperated user relays the details of a drive that is continually tripping on a fault until the user is at the end of his rope, not knowing what to do.

Pumps & Systems, October 2007

The next generation solution for variable speed pumping applications are variable frequency drives (VFDs) with integrated advanced pumping software that solves various control applications without the need for a PLC or separate controller.

Pumps & Systems, October 2007

Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent every year repairing and replacing pumps well before they have reached their design life. The meantime between failures (MTBF) for this equipment is abysmal when compared against more complex production machinery!

Pumps & Systems, October 2007

Back in the early seventies, when I was in grad school, our government pledged to convert the U.S. measurement system to the metric system. A popular cartoon at the time showed a lab technician with a box of amputated human feet standing at the door of the supply room. The supply clerk was also holding a box, but his was full of volt meters. The caption was "Trading Feet for Meters." That was almost 37 years ago, and we still have most of those feet! I guess that I could say that we are still "inching" into the metric system.

Pumps & Systems, October 2007

In my August column ("Tricks to Taking Flow Measurements in the Field"), I compared the pros and cons of one of several techniques that can be used to estimate pump flow when troubleshooting pump operations under less-than-desirable conditions: directly measuring it with a flowmeter.

Pumps & Systems, October 2007

A technology was introduced late last year to continuously monitor vibration levels of AC induction motor-pump machine trains along with automated analysis of each measurement. This technology provides operating personnel with frequent information for those situations when maintaining pump operation was critical to process integrity.

Pumps & Systems, November 2007 

Q. We need to increase flow through our system and plan on adding a second pump in parallel to the existing pump. Are there any pitfalls in doing this and how can they be avoided?