Month: June 2017

When it comes to pumps, it’s best, to begin with learning the terminology so you can accurately talk with an industry representative about your needs when you’re ready to make a purchase. Additionally, knowing the lingo will provide you with the knowledge you’ll need going forward to maintain that system and to help diagnose any potential problems.

Here is a list of the most commonly used pump terminology.

Air Bound. Occurs when the centrifugal pump body fills with air and the pump loses prime and a vacuum can’t be formed. When trying to re-prime the pump there must be a way for the trapped air to escape and allow fluid to fill the pump casing.

Cavitation. This happens when vapor bubbles implode. Cavitation can cause catastrophic pump failure if allowed to continue over a period of time. Cavitation usually occurs in applications where there is a high suction lift.

Friction Loss. This is the term used to refer to any reductions in pressure that are caused by turbulence such as when water flows through the hoses, pipes, fittings, and elbows.

Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH). Is the head (pressure) that allows water to flow into the suction opening of the pump. The NPSH-Available is a function of where and how the pump is installed (suction lift, suction friction losses, water temperature, elevation relative to sea level, etc). The NPSH-Required is a function of the pump manufacturer’s design of the pump itself. The NPSHA must always be greater than the NPSHR for the pump to function properly.

Performance Curves. A performance curve charts the total dynamic head (TDH) or pressure as it relates to flow rate.

Static. A term used for acting by weight and not by motion. This is the opposite of dynamic.

Strain Relief Protector. This is the support that keeps any given electrical cord used in a submersible pump from being pulled out of place accidentally.

Thermal Overload Sensors. These sensors are built-in to most small horsepower (3HP or less) single phase pump motors. These sensors will shut the pump down if the operating temperature gets too high.

Volute. The volute is also called the pump casing. The volute is where the impeller rotates and pressure is developed.

Water Hammer. When a sudden stoppage in the flow of water from the pump occurs, the water hammer is the energy that’s transmitted due to that stoppage.

The Bottom Line

This is just a brief overview of pump terminology. We encourage you to take a few minutes to learn as much pump terminology as you can. Going forward, this will help you make more informed decisions about your equipment and how it all works.
If you would like more information about pumps or any other type of water service equipment, please don’t hesitate to Contact W.P. Law, Incorporated. We have been the Southeast’s leading supplier of fluid handling equipment since 1970 and we’d love to show you just how cost-effective using the proper equipment can be.

If you have an irrigation system, or if you’re thinking about installing one, you should also think about the best ways to make it more efficient. This will help conserve water and help save money on your water bill as well.

Here are five ways that will help maximize the efficiency of your irrigation system.

1. Use Irrigation Controllers

Irrigation controllers allow you to control your watering by day and time. Most automatic irrigation systems are divided into zones. The irrigation control turns on each zone at a specified day and time and allows it to run for a set period of time. Automated irrigation systems use much less water than manually controlled irrigation systems.

2. Install a Smart Irrigation Controller

A smart irrigation controller will adjust the water supply based on your particular landscaping need while taking into account how much rain you’ve had. Smart controllers also allow you to take into account the type of plant material that you are watering as well as your soil type. These can be installed new or retrofitted.

3. Purchase a Rain Sensor.

A rain sensor will automatically turn off your irrigation system while it’s raining.

4. Use High-Efficiency Sprinkler Heads

Replace your old sprinkler heads with new high-efficiency nozzles. This will minimize wind drift and ensure that the water is applied evenly across your landscaping.

5. Water at the Right Time and at the Right Intervals

It’s best to water your landscaping in the early morning to help avoid mildew and evaporation. Additionally, watering in a way that supplies your plants with water when they can best use it is key. It’s better to water your landscaping deeply less frequently rather than more often with shorter watering times. This encourages deep root growth which will provide you with a healthier landscape.

The Bottom Line

Maximizing the efficiency of your irrigation system doesn’t have to be hard or time-consuming. But you do need to learn about what to look for and how to make the necessary corrections when problems are discovered if you want your system to function efficiently and effectively at all times.
W.P. Law Incorporated was founded in 1970 and has a stellar reputation in the industry. We offer top quality products and economical solutions for all our customers’ needs. Therefore, if you have any questions, or want to deal with a company who truly knows how to best address your situation properly, please contact the experts at W.P. Law Incorporated today.

It would be nice if we could simply install our pumps then let them do their thing, without us having to continually monitor and maintain them. But unfortunately, that’s not how things work. That means it’s your responsibility to implement a maintenance and monitoring schedule for all your equipment, especially your pumps if you want them to give you the best, most efficient performance possible. Not to mention lengthen their life expectancy. 

Why You Should Monitor and Maintain Your Pumps

In an industrial plant, all processes are fluid. That means formulations change and the different production rates will vary. But their supporting pumps, unfortunately, don’t change with them. Therefore, you are going to need an extremely vigorous maintenance and monitoring program if you want to maintain your pumps reliability and efficiency. This will allow you to make any adjustments necessary to keep your pumps in peak operating condition at all times.

The Four Basic Facets of a Pump Maintenance Program

There are four basic facets of a pump maintenance program and they are as follows:

1. The pump’s performance monitoring and system analysis.
2. The pump’s vibration monitoring.
3. The pump’s bearing temperature.
4. The pump’s visual inspections.

Each of these maintenance items are indicators on their own. But collectively, they provide you with the big picture of the actual condition of your pump.

The Six Basic Facets of a Pump Monitoring Program

There are six components you should be monitoring if you want to understand how your pump is performing. And they are:

• Suction Lift (vacuum)
• Discharge pressure
• Flow
• Pump speed
• Pump power

The Bottom Line

It’s crucial to the performance, effectiveness and life expectancy of your equipment to implement a pump maintenance and monitoring schedule. Not to mention reducing the chances of having to pay for extensive repairs. Take some time to learn the industry best practices for maintaining and monitoring your pump equipment. Any time you spend doing this will pay you back in time and expense going forward.
If you would like more information about setting up a monitoring and maintenance schedule for your pumps, or any of your other fluid handling systems, please Contact Us today. W.P. Law Incorporated has been an industry leader since 1970. We look forward to showing you just how powerful an effective pump monitoring and maintenance program can be.