Pumps

Problem:


Effect of pressure change on scaling in pump and valve

1. The solubility of CaCO3 decreases as pressure decreases.

   
   
   

2. At the tip of vane in a pump, the local pressure significantly drops due to high rotating velocity (i.e., Bernoulli equation), resulting in uncontrolled precipitation.

   
   
   

Solution:

• Electronic Descaling 2000 System installed in inlet pipe
• Controlled Precipitation will Prevent Impeller Fouling

Problem:


A Peerless pump transporting quarry water used for service water (cooling) and process water (slurry) in a cement plant fouled every 10 - 30 days and required an acid wash each time. The pump was mounted on a floating platform located in the quarry. The pump had a 8" intake pipe and a 12" output pipe transporting the water one half mile. The CaCO₃ of the quarry water was 400 ppm. The pump fouled every ten days in the winter months and every thirty days during the summer months. A crane was required at each of these shutdowns to remove and acid wash the pump. The cost for this process was $1,000 per cleaning or $24,000 per year.

Solution:


The Electronic Descaling 2000 unit was installed on the pump intake. Since the intake pipe was under water, a ceramic coated coil was used for the protection from high pH water.

• The pump now operates continuously at maximum efficiency (56 psi).
• The elimination of the acid wash has significantly reduced maintenance costs.
• The expected life of the pump has been extended.