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Soils with high concentrations of clay and silt can wreak havoc on construction sites, drain pipes, sewers and pumps. Users working with soils might want to consider geotextiles as a preventive maintenance alternative.
This past summer I received a suggestion from a Pumps & Systems reader to discuss siphons and their effect on pump head and pipeline flow. If you are like me, your first experience with one of these devices probably led to your first - and hopefully last - taste of gasoline. The siphon is an example of a natural and extremely simple machine that we take advantage of daily.
With continuously increasing energy costs, pump manufacturers must provide energy efficient solutions for fluid transfer. Besides hydraulically optimizing current technology, manufacturers are launching a number of new, highly efficient electrical drives and powerful control systems.
Polyurethane coating technology is commonly chosen for demanding exterior applications such as bridges, stadiums and other large structures. When maintenance was required inside the Hammond Water Filtration Plant in Hammond, Ind., a moisture-cured polyurethane system proved the only way to coat more than 35,000- sq ft of piping and valves.
How many gallons per minute are REALLY flowing out of that pump?
Reducing the causes of friction and choosing the proper pump will increase efficiency and cost-savings.
Today's pipe stress analysis software provides engineers with a tool for designing complete piping systems and performing structural analysis in compliance with ASME and other well-known piping codes. The typical PC-based software is easy to use with spreadsheet inputs and quick reporting. It has facilitated the design to analyze iteration cycle and enabled the engineers to quickly create better and more reliable piping systems.
Infrastructure is in the headlines again thanks to the Obama Administration and its strategy to help create jobs by rebuilding the nation's roads, bridges and water systems. In fact, renewed interest in infrastructure is so high the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) moved up the release of its Report Card for America's Infrastructure. Unfortunately, the news was not good.
Consider a typical ANSI-dimensioned 1x1.5-6 pump, as discussed in the P&S August article. The performance curve showed the BEP flow at around 100 gpm. The ANSI designation 1x1.5 means that the discharge flange is 1 in and suction 1.5 in. Why and how do manufacturers select such dimensions for a particular flow rating? Why did they not select and base their performance coverage charts on a 3x4-8 size for the 100 gpm?
Latest Piping Articles
With continuously increasing energy costs, pump manufacturers must provide energy efficient solutions for fluid transfer. Besides hydraulically optimizing current technology, manufacturers are launching a number of new, highly efficient electrical drives and powerful control systems.
How many gallons per minute are REALLY flowing out of that pump?
Today's pipe stress analysis software provides engineers with a tool for designing complete piping systems and performing structural analysis in compliance with ASME and other well-known piping codes. The typical PC-based software is easy to use with spreadsheet inputs and quick reporting. It has facilitated the design to analyze iteration cycle and enabled the engineers to quickly create better and more reliable piping systems.
Consider a typical ANSI-dimensioned 1x1.5-6 pump, as discussed in the P&S August article. The performance curve showed the BEP flow at around 100 gpm. The ANSI designation 1x1.5 means that the discharge flange is 1 in and suction 1.5 in. Why and how do manufacturers select such dimensions for a particular flow rating? Why did they not select and base their performance coverage charts on a 3x4-8 size for the 100 gpm?
If any silver linings exist for the economic crisis that has gripped the United States since last summer, one is the heightened public and governmental awareness about the nation's need for infrastructure improvements-a situation that American industry had watched grow without proper attention in recent years.
Have you ever wondered why the pressure exerted by a column of liquid has absolutely nothing to do with its volume or, for that matter, the geometric shape of its container?
Two decades ago, EST Associates, Inc. started operations in Needham, Mass., to provide the New England area with environmental sampling and related monitoring services.
Last month, we discussed applications of low head axial flow pumps ("Field Testing: Theory vs. Reality," Pumping Prescriptions, May 2007). Knowing your system is very important for these types of units. For example, consider a recent application where neglecting the system caused problems.
Columns and Blogs
In this multi-part series, we will investigate several aspects of centrifugal pump efficiency.
First of Five Parts
Since the original publication of this draft standard in the January 2008 issue of Pumps & Systems, I have received feedback, encouragement, numerous questions and criticism. The draft listed three basic levels of repair.
The McGraw-Hill scientific dictionary [5] states that a volute is "a spiral casing for a centrifugal pump... designed so that speed will be converted to pressure."
