- 19 August 2008 -

Tiny pumps drive portable medical devices

The performance and cost effectiveness of many portable medical devices can be enhanced by tailoring miniature diaphragm pumps and solenoid valves to meet system requirements. Dan Schimelman of Hargraves Technology examines the issues together with recent advances in fluidic components.

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- 5 August 2008 -

Energy savings in pump systems

In this third in a series of articles on energy savings in pumps, Hans Vogelesang of PumpSupport considers the factors that should be borne in mind when designing piping systems. Many issues should be examined to ensure that a system will operate in an energy-efficient manner, both at design capacity and at partial load.

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- 24 July 2008 -

Changing the habits of a lifetime

One of the major drivers in saving energy is changing the habits of users in the way they purchase and operate pumps. Brian Huxley, director, British Pump Manufacturers' Association explains the efforts to develop a cohesive energy saving strategy and how the BPMA's guide to Better Pumping Practices initiative is playing a major part.

 

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- 7 July 2008 -

The future of air operated double diaphragm pumps

To be successful, production companies must develop all business segments. Areas that are crucial include reductions in energy consumption, downtime and maintenance, simplification of production and extension of the lifetime of parts. These issues were the starting point for Albin Pump's development of an air operated double diaphragm pump. Managing director Christian Söderholm provides the details.

 

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- 24 June 2008 -

Using active front end drives - substance or spin?

AC drives are increasingly common in pumping applications. However, their operation produces harmonic currents, which can have a number of detrimental effects on system performance. Ian C Evans of Harmonic Solutions considers the role of active front end drives in harmonic mitigation.

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- 10 June 2008 -

Fluid handling in remote locations

In the oil and gas industry, reliable pumps can mean the difference between a fully operating, efficient gas compression station and a bottleneck on the pipeline. Natural gas pipelines are often remote, and powering a pump and performing maintenance can be difficult. Oakley Roberts of Ingersoll Rand, explains the company's innovative solution.

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- 27 May 2008 -
The systems approach to reducing carbon emissions
While most people agree that the European pump industry has a responsibility to reduce carbon emissions, the approach is not straightforward. Here, Bob Went, ITT WWW Group consultant and vice chairman of the Europump Systems Working Group presents the arguments why a systems approach will ultimately bring a greater reduction in carbon emissions than those achievable via a product approach.

- 29 April 2008 -
Portable pumps: Automatic pump controls - tackling emissions regulations
With global warming and climate change warnings making daily news, pump users around the world are facing new regulations that limit total emissions. More customers are considering automatic controls for pump sets. Stephanie Morgan of Godwin Pumps reports.

- 11 April 2008 -
Material differences and gasket efficiency in low load conditions
Many factors affect the performance of the ubiquitous gaskets that provide critical seals between pipe segments and ensure the satisfactory operation of a broad range of industrial equipment. But no factor is more important than compressive load. Jim Drago from Garlock Sealing Technologies looks at how different gasket materials can cope in low load conditions.

- 31 March 2008 -
System monitoring: LonWorks - open communication
Grundfos senior network engineer Niels Jørgen Strøm looks at one of the better-established such open network systems, the LonWorks technology, describing how it works, the benefits, and how Grundfos uses it in its Commercial Building Services products.

- 05 March 2008 -
Preventive maintenance for heat transfer systems
Today's heat transfer fluids are designed to operate over a long period with high production efficiency - if the fluid and system are maintained properly. Gaston Arseneault of Petro-Canada shares some of the industry's best practices for keeping heat transfer systems in top shape.

- 13 February 2008 -
Flow meters for the environment
Water is an ever-more precious and increasingly expensive commodity, and demand to reduce the quantities used in industrial processes has never been greater. John Crane Safematic's commercial manager Jussi Sorvoja examines how today's advanced seal water monitoring and control equipment can help cut your plant's water usage and looks at some of the points to consider when choosing the correct meter for your application.

- 30 January 2008 -
Thrust monitoring of boiler feed pump equipment
One of the challenges facing plant instrumentation engineers is the effective and reliable monitoring of thrust bearing wear in critical pump applications. Russell King, managing director of Sensonics Ltd, explains how to use predictive maintenance to avoid costly downtime.

- 16 January 2008 -
Ebara seawater pumps for multi-stage flash evaporation
Throughout the Middle East and Arabian Gulf, multi-stage flash evaporation desalination is very much the preferred technology for the production of potable water. Several factors contribute to this, the key ones being the abundance of waste heat and the corrosive nature of the region's seawater. Bryan Orchard looks at how one company, Japan's Ebara, has addressed the issue of seawater intake pumping.

- 3 January 2008 -
Determining the real cost of powering a pump
The cost of buying a pump is much higher than the price on the tag or in the catalogue. Understanding all the components that make up the total cost of ownership - initial costs, mechanical costs, miscellaneous costs and energy costs (the biggest category) is crucial to choosing the right pump for the job. Pete Noll, manager of learning and development for Peerless Pump Company, gives the specifics on calculating the real cost of a pump.

- 17 December 2007 -
Pump monitoring and communications
Improving the utilization of plant assets involves careful monitoring and control of plant and equipment so that action can be taken to prevent any unplanned outages and to ensure that optimum efficiency is attained. This means more and better-automated monitoring and communication of data in a form easy for engineers and managers to assimilate at any location. Bryan Orchard looks at a cross-section of product and equipment offerings coming onto the market.

- 5 December 2007 -
What the future holds for magnetic drive pumps
The push for cleaner air was the catalyst to a magnetic drive revolution in the United States pumping industry, but cleaner air is not all these pumps have to offer. Keith Thompson of Sundyne Corporation explains how the magnetic drive pump gained a strong foothold in the process industries and what's next on the cards for this environmentally sensitive machine.

- 5 December 2007 -
Pump Industry Awards: the 2007 winners
This year's Pump Industry Awards ceremony, which took place on 16 October, brought together the pump industry in a celebration of the companies, innovations and people that are achieving high standards and driving the dynamic industry forward. Here is a complete list of the winners.

- 21 November 2007 -
Ceramics and diaphragm pumps - a good match?
Diaphragm pumps work in some of the toughest process conditions in manufacturing, and they have to be up to the task. The gases and fluids that they move are often dangerous and a leak or a spill can cause major damage to the environment or plant personnel. Richard Aerts and Manfred Gut of KNF examine how using ceramics can make diaphragm pumps safer and more environmentally sound.

- 7 November 2007 -
Will sustainability end up costing the earth?
One way to cut down on energy use is to ensure that the pump is being worked as efficiently as possible and that means adjusting the speed of the pump to the actual need. Here, Linda Dingley looks at the approach by Grundfos with its E-pump technology.

- 25 October 2007 -
Improving efficiency through system-based changes
Almost half of all energy consumed by pumps is through systems installed in domestic and commercial buildings. Leading on from the UK government's new targets to reduce energy consumption, John Veness, a consultant with the BPMA, explains how system-based changes could dramatically improve the energy-efficiency of closed and open loop pump systems used in HVAC and pressure boosting applications.

- 10 October 2007 -
Specification mistakes and wrongly supplied equipment
Specifying and procuring pumps or their spare parts may seem to be an easy job but appearances can be deceptive. Sometimes those in charge are not as painstaking as they should be and make simple mistakes, leading to useless spare parts or unnecessary equipment being acquired, as mechanical engineers Rafael Ocampo and Braudilio Ruiz show.

- 26 September 2007 -
High pressure pumps for energy-efficient desal
As a favourite tourist destination, Cyprus faces its greatest demands for water when supplies are at their lowest. With energy efficiency central to the operation of the recent 17 million refurbishment of the Dhekelia desalination plant, KSB Aktiengesellschaft has been able to show how its radially split HGM-RO multistage high pressure feed pumps can help. Bryan Orchard reports on a project where the emphasis is on energy efficiency and maintenance costs rather than the overall price of the plant refurbishment.

- 12 September 2007 -
Tackling soaring energy costs in North America
European industry is fighting the battle against high energy costs for process industries. The same price crunch is happening in North America, and some companies are finding innovative new ways to save energy and money. Consultant Gunnar Hovstadius, PhD, explains.

- 29 August 2007 -
Playing safe with dangerous and corrosive liquids
Pumping aggressive liquids such as sulphuric acids, nitric acids, solvents and fuels requires extra care and attention, since some chemicals can crystallize or ignite if they are released into the atmosphere. Håkan Ekstrand of Tapflo AB explains how its recently developed air-powered diaphragm pump handles this situation.

- 16 August 2007 -
Putting smart flow conditioning practices to work
Measuring and conditioning the flow of your product through your system's pipes can save money and enable you to free up valuable floor space. Installing a flow meter is not enough. Don Lundberg, senior engineer at Fluid Components International, explains why flow conditioning is also critical.

- 18 July 2007 -
Materials technology for seawater pumps
Corrosion is the greatest problem encountered in stainless steel structures widely used in seawater pumps - even specialised brine pumps such as those used in desalination, oil & gas, chemical, thermal and nuclear power plants. Here, M Miyasaka and H Yakuwa of Ebara discuss the solutions currently on offer for surmounting crevice corrosion and take a look at the latest advances in this field.

- 4 July 2007 -
Life cycle energy cost savings through careful system design and pump selection
Much of a pump's initial cost is not through the initial purchase, but in the energy it uses throughout its life. However, proven steps can be taken to reduce these costs considerably when designing a pump system. Here Jukka Tolvanen, product manager from ABB's low-voltage AC drives factory in Helsinki, explains why it is important that all aspects of ownership cost are explored, not just initial purchase and installation.

- 20 June 2007 -
Advanced design software for pumps
Design software based on the inverse design approach offers a number of advantages for the hydrodynamic design of pump components such as impellers. M. Zangeneh, founding director of UK-based Advanced Design Technology (ADT) and professor of thermofluids at University College London, discusses and illustrates the capabilities of this inverse approach as embodied in ADT's TURBOdesign-1 software.

- 6 June 2007 -
Perpetual motion - the lift station that refuses
to stop
Although some pump systems are forever giving trouble from the day they are installed, others seem to go on for ever. One such example was the Gorman-Rupp company's first ever lift station. Bearing the serial number 'A-001', and constructed of fiberglass reinforced polyester, this station has only required minimal maintenance and updating in its 40-year career - and is still going strong today.

- 23 May 2007 -
How green desal pumps could solve Australia's
water problem
The Water Corporation of Western Australia turned on the country's largest seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant back in November 2006, starting the delivery of a planned 45 gigalitres of drinking water a year into the Perth public supply system. Bryan Orchard looks at the technologies involved.

- 9 May 2007 -
Is the additional cost of original spare pump parts worthwhile?
The decision regarding the purchase and use of original spare parts or cheaper parts from replica manufacturers is one that all pump operators face at one time or another. For one user in Germany , the operator of a sewage treatment plant, the decision is clear cut, as Jörg Gertz reports.

- 25 April 2007 -
A quantum leap in energy efficiency for house heating
For decades it has been common practice to use circulation pumps in household central heating systems. The advantages are simple: a low noise level, an efficient wet runner motor and a maintenance-free design. Dr. Holger Krasmann, General Manager of the WILO Pump Group in Germany, explains the development of the technology and predicts its dramatic effects on energy consumption.

- 11 April 2007 -
Optimizing energy efficiency in parallel pump installations
Saving energy in systems with parallel pumps is complex. To assist with this task, ABB Oy in Finland has developed intelligent pump control software for its low voltage AC industrial drives. Jukka Tolvanen and Heikki Kervinen present the features of the new software and explain how it can be used to improve the energy efficiency of pumping systems without the need for an external programmable logic controller.

- 29 March 2007 -
Developments in biofuel processing technologies
Demand for biofuels is surging worldwide, providing new and growing opportunities for manufacturers of pumps and other processing equipment. Bryan Orchard discusses the processes involved in producing biofuels, the special problems encountered and the solutions that have been developed by equipment manufacturers.

- 14 March 2007 -
Finding a comprehensive lubricant solution for pumps
Choosing the wrong pump lubricant can result in costly repairs and part replacement. So how can pump engineers ensure they make the right choice? By looking at the whole picture and considering all requirements when choosing a lubricant solution, says Shell's industrial and aviation lubricants specialist, Steve Greenall.

- 28 February 2007 -
Engineering plastics in hot water applications
If your system runs hot (water, that is) then plastic components may be the best choice for long-term performance. Frank Heessels, Global Technology Manager of GE Plastics explains the science that goes into creating materials that can take the heat.

- 9 February 2007 -
Pump toolmaking goes high-tech
Pumps users don't often get a peek at how the components for their pumps are made. One factory opened its doors to World Pumps and explained its high-tech, wire-erosion process for machining the equipment you use every day.

- 12 January 2007 -
The crucial role of inverter drives in the energy-efficient building
As our energy reserves dwindle, as the spectre of climate change looms ever larger and as energy cost continue to rise, it becomes ever more imperative to take action on energy savings.

- 30 January 2006 -
AC induction motor specifications for larger AC motors
Increasing plant capacity can also increase headaches, and motors present their own particular minefield. This article discusses specifying larger AC types.

- 06 January 2006 -
Seal selection for rotary plant
For many the choice of seal is between a packed gland or mechanical seal. Here we present an overview of sealing options for centrifugal pumps.

- 13 December 2005 -
Taming vibration demons with flexible couplings
This article examines the problems of torsional vibration and highlights the advantages of rubber-in-compression couplings in providing a solution.

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