Each month, the Pumps & Systems team strives to put together a collection of articles that will touch many corners of the pumps industry and give you information you need to do your job better. Here are the most popular articles we published in our newsletters in January and February. If you don’t already receive the Pump Users Digest newsletter, subscribe here to have it delivered to your inbox every Thursday.
Calculating vs. Estimating Pipe Velocity
Columnist Lev Nelik says that when doing a quick calculation in the field, it is not uncommon to disregard velocity head correction and gauge elevation correction. Usually this gets reasonably close to a “practical” answer, although there are cases when the error could be substantial. It is important to know when you can use a shortcut, and when to go the long way.
9 Things to Know About On-line Condition Monitoring
Condition monitoring technologies enable early detection of operating abnormalities in rotating equipment, including pumps, before problems can escalate toward failure. Turning to especially critical assets, here are answers to a few often-asked questions about 24/7 on-line condition monitoring systems and how they support proactive maintenance strategies.
7 Elements of IoT for Predictive Pump Maintenance
Common pitfalls in the rush to use IoT, artificial intelligence and machine learning often involve overlooking one of these seven elements, resulting in a broken “value chain.” For example, many data science companies are working to bring value and the benefits of machine learning, artificial intelligence and predictive maintenance to industry, yet are unfamiliar with failure modes and the effects of industrial pumps.
The Basics of Parallel Pump Control
Many of today’s pumps are installed to operate under variable flow conditions, so understanding the concept of parallel pump control is a must. First, it is critical to know how parallel pumps will operate upon installation. The idea behind parallel connected pumps is the ability to add or subtract flow capacity and/or provide redundancy.
Jim Elsey: The Basics of Suction Specific Speed
uction specific speed (NSS) can be thought of as one index or tool in a mix of several tools regarding impeller design. NSS is a dimensionless parameter that describes the relationship between the speed, the flow rate and the net positive suction head required (NPSHr) of the rotating impeller. NSS is a tool, and it is not really a “speed” or “speed limit” at all.
What to Know When Selecting a Chopper Pump
When determining exactly which pump model and specification will fit the need, you may want to consider fluids, system optimization, operating conditions and lifetime cost analysis, among other factors. It is important to do the research before placing the order. Here are some key areas to keep in mind.
