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Pumps and Pumping Systems

Fluid Handling Pumps can be defined as mechanical devices that add energy to fluids to increase the flow rate and static pressure. Fluid pumping systems have a wide range of applications varying from circulating water and pumping chemicals to maintaining pressure.

Fluid Handling Pumps can be defined as mechanical devices that add energy to fluids to increase the flow rate and static pressure. All fluid pumps are classified as either positive displacement (Hydraulic) pumps or dynamic pumps and are used to accomplish this process. The fluid properties and equipment performance drive the hydraulic power required by the pump to satisfy system requirements. So, in essence, in any pumping system, the role of the pump is to apply pressure to move fluids through a system. Fluid pumps are all pumps designed to handle industrial fluid elements. The capability of fluid pumps is influenced by flow rate, pressure, power, head, and efficiency. To select the right pump, two types of data are required: Product/fluid data, and performance data.

Fluid pumping systems have a wide range of applications varying from circulating water and pumping chemicals to maintaining pressure. Fluid pumping systems usually consist of multiple centrifugal pumps in a sequence. Variable speed pumps are utilized to pump variable flow rates. To overcome system resistance or “head”, the pressure needs to be high enough. Static head occurs when there’s a difference in height, while friction head exists when there is resistance to flow in a pumping system. In order to transfer a fluid from one point to another, a pump must transmit energy. The energy required by the pump is based on the pump altitude, head, length, and diameter of the pipes.

The function of a pump

A pump is a device that moves fluids by mechanical action. Pumps can be classified into three major groups: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps. The function of a pump is not to generate pressure, it produces liquid movement or flow. Pumps produce the flow necessary for the creation of pressure, a function of resistance to fluid flow within a system. Mechanical pumps can be utilized in a variety of applications such as pumping water from wells, water cooling, pumping oil, and heating and cooling objects or systems. Hydraulic pumps are components of hydraulic systems that take mechanical energy and convert it into fluid energy. The main function of a pump is to transfer energy, this is often achieved by transporting fluid by converting different types of energy. The performance of a pump is measured by the function of the total head and the weight of the liquid pumped over a period of time.

There are many types of pump designs, but most pump types can be classified under centrifugal and positive displacement pumps.

Centrifugal pump

Centrifugal pumps use impellers, curved blades that accelerate fluids when rotating. Centrifugal pumps can be classified into three sub-types: axial flow pumps, radial flow pumps, and mixed flow pumps. Centrifugal pumps are the most common type of pump because they’re easy to manufacture and are cheaper because they often are mass-produced.

Positive displacement pump

Positive displacement pumps use the regular interval to move a fixed amount of fluid. Displacement pumps can be reciprocating or rotary, depending on the required application. Reciprocating pumps have internal cavities that fill up to be discharged with higher pressure. Rotary pumps use rotors to trap water in cavities and to later discharge them.

The chances of buying exactly the right pump for your flow requirements without some research are minimal. The flow rate of your system depends on the physical characteristics of the system, such as friction, static head, as well as fluid viscosity if the fluid is different from water. Different fluids have their own characteristics and are usually pumped under varying conditions, therefore, it’s important to know all relevant product and performance data of a pump before selecting the right one.

In order to select the right pump, some steps need to be considered. First, the flow rate should be determined. In industrial settings, the flow rate depends on the production level of the plant. Careful analysis of the interaction between processes is required to determine the exact flow rate required. Second, the static head and friction head should be determined. The static head can be determined by measuring the different heights levels, friction head depends on the flow rate, pipe size, and pipe length. Third, the total head should be calculated by summing the static head and friction head. Finally, you are ready to select the right pump depending on your required flow rate, static head, and friction head.

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Experts for Pumps and Pumping Systems

Expert Listing: Having completed a Mechanical and production Engineering apprenticeship with GKN, Bryan joined Kecol in May 1986 as a general machinist and progressed to become Works Manager 1991. Bryan supported the UK sales team as well as Kecol’s overseas distributors alongside Stewart Johnson, Kecol’s Sales Manager. Bryan has been responsible for the product development and design of all Kecol equipment since 1995 including all the bespoke systems, of which there have been many. Bryan has an in depth knowledge of all aspects of pumping viscous materials and what is required to build a reliable, efficient system to transfer viscous materials within the food, pharma and general industry sectors.
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Hello, my name is Lee Sandry and I am a Sector Training Manager at Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions. My role primarily involves training sales colleagues to provide customers the best fluid handling solutions in industrial sectors, including water treatment, mining, chemical and construction applications. Being from Cornwall and surrounded by the mining industry, with a father who worked underground, my local environment was always about engineering and mineral processing. My apprenticeship when I left school was with the large mining machinery manufacturer, which has led me onto greater things. My background at Watson-Marlow started in 1996 when I was involved in the production of hundreds of parts that go into the manufacture of our pumps. This was followed with becoming a Technical Support Engineer, working directly with colleagues and customers globally. Site visits and constant customer-facing support at Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions, gave me the opportunity to experience many aspects of installation and operation of our peristaltic and sinusoidal pumps range. My aim is to enable sales teams around the world to provide robust solutions for demanding pumping applications, helping customers improve the efficiency and safety of their manufacturing process. Choosing the right pump can overcome problems that cause other pump types to fail. With no rotors to wear, or seals and glands to flush, peristaltic hose pumps handle abrasive fluids without the maintenance costs of other pumps. Whilst the extremely low shear and high suction sinusoidal pumps reduce product damage and cut waste in high viscosity fluid transfer duties.
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Jens Enggaard Thuesen

Jens Enggaard Thuesen, Product Manager at DESMI, has more than 35 years of experience with hydraulic- and transmissions systems. Over the past 17 years Jens has worked in different positions at DESMI’s R&D department. When pumping a liquid – Jens is the expert that is analyzing possible options, difficulties and troubleshooting. He takes great pride in bringing a pump solution that matches the need of the customer. By the end of 1984, Jens completed his Bachelor of Technology Management in the field of hydraulic and transmissions. Afterward, he completed an engineering education and, he gained broad knowledge by combining practice and theory. Through years of experience and gained knowledge & years of experience, product development became a natural part of his work. As he says himself: “The best solutions come up; when practice and theory come together”. 
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A pump is more than just rotary equipment. It is the promise to solve a pumping task safely and reliably. In his function as a product and application manager at HERMETIC-Pumpen GmbH, Dominik Hegen takes care of transparently presenting the knowledge about pump technology and the selection of the pump to the customer. After an apprenticeship as a mold mechanic for high injection tools, Dominik graduated as an industrial engineer and specialized in the field of product management and has 9 years of professional experience in this field in different positions. At HERMETIC – Pumpen GmbH he is responsible for standardized canned motor pumps which are used in chemistry, Petrochemistry and oil and gas applications. With numerous webinars and user-friendly brochures, he supports customers and interested parties in the selection of suitable pumps and works as an interface between sales and technology. Should you want to know more about one of the most safe, cost efficient and reliable pump technologies do not hesitate to contact Dominik Hegen.
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Stéphane Dumonceaux is a French “Water-Man”! We can say that water is his life! Mr. Dumonceaux was sailing since he was a child and started out his career working 3 years on the water in the French Navy. He gained 7 years of experience in the hydraulic construction, pump industry, and water treatment in the field of wastewater. After this, he developed a new method for pump stations rehabilitation and invented Direct In-line Pumping for lift stations in a period of 12 years at S.I.D.E. Industrie. Today he is the owner of SIDE Industrie. After years of time spending his time fixing customers their problems in the field of wastewater, he realized that they needed something different. In 2002 he invented and patented the Direct, Intelligent and Clean way to transport wastewater called the DIP System. S.I.D.E Company. The first system has been manufactured and installed in 2003. Now Mr. Dumonceaux spent his time introducing promoting and deploying the DIP System® all over the World. Mr. Dumonceauxand is still working with lots of passion in improving the vital relationship between humans and water!
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Francisco graduated as an industrial technical engineer at the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (Murcia, Spain) in 1993, and joined HRS in 1998. After a year as a design engineer, he focused on HRS’ food processing projects, developing, designing and commissioning large projects for customers. Throughout his professional career, Francisco has worked primarily within the food industry and has an in-depth understanding of its process nuances and requirements. In 2010, he was made Food Business Director for the HRS Group, supporting the sales teams’ engagements and customer requirements internationally across all of the HRS Group’s offices. Francisco’s extensive technical knowledge developed throughout his career as a design engineer, along with his ability to understand the unique needs of the client, have made him one of the top experts in the food processing industry.
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Martin Hangaard Andersen, Technical Supervisor with Landia a/s has 20 years of experience with mixing technology, pumps and pumping systems. Martin holds a bachelor’s degree in Technology Management and Marine Engineering and he has worked extensively with projects involving waste water management, food industries and biogas production. The past 20 years Martin has worked as Technical Supervisor at Danish Pump and Mixing company Landia a/s, consulting customers and colleagues on a wide range of technical solutions. Whether it is handling and preparing food industry by-products for recycling or updating sludge processing for biogas production in sewage treatment plants – Martin is the expert, providing in-depth advice, sustainable solutions as well as highly specialized products for handling demanding liquids and industrial waste products. He takes great pride in providing reliable, high-quality and long-lasting technical solutions, tailormade to match individual customer needs. Throughout his years of experience Martin has gained vast knowledge and expertise in his field and product development has been a natural part of his job description, resulting in durable and effective solutions such as Landia GasMix. A unique method for treating and mixing sludge for optimal anaerobic digestion used in sewage treatment plants in Denmark and worldwide.
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