Interestingly, the basic principles of fluid pumping haven’t changed much for centuries.  While we’ve developed new and more efficient methods, many of the fundamentals have stayed the same.

A Brief History Of Pumping

The first types of water-moving systems were basic and straightforward, such as attaching a bunch of buckets to a pulley system.  Or the ancient Greeks had a sort of water screw that used surface tension to transport water upwards through the screw.

The first modern pumps came along in wake of the Renaissance after people learned how to create and manipulate partial vacuums.  They’d use air pumps to create vacuums that draw fluids up, then expel the liquid outwards.  As steam power became common, this process could be automated, creating the first industrial-scale pumps.  This same principle still powers many modern pumps.

From there, the venerable hand pump came into being.  Basic hand pumps don’t use a vacuum, they use a long cylinder with a series of valves on the top and bottom.  With each pump, air is forced into the bottom of the cylinder, then the top valve is opened, and the air pressure forces the liquid upwards.  After a few strokes, the water reaches the surface and begins to flow.

Modern Pumps

Modern commercial pumps generally come in two varieties: centrifugal pumps and positive-displacement pumps.

Centrifugal pumps work much like older vacuum pumps.  They utilize propellers – or, more specifically, impellers – which create areas of low air pressure within a tube, and this area of low pressure sucks in the water.  Then once the water nears the impeller, it’s expelled outwards.  Larger pumps for deeper wells may have several separate impeller chambers, to keep the liquid flowing smoothly.

Positive-displacement pumps, on the other hand, are variations of the hand-pump design.  They use mechanical methods to force air into the pump and physically push the water outwards.  Because they have fewer internal moving parts, they’re also better for thicker fluids like oil.

Pump Distribution

FloRight Pump & Controls is a pump distribution company with a wide selection of pumps and accessories, with options for every application.  If you need a pump, but aren’t sure which will be best, contact our experts for assistance.

The post How Do Modern Pumps Work? appeared first on Flo Right Pump.

In this article, we will briefly look at what a vertical turbine pump is, and how it works.

What You Need to Know About Vertical Turbine Pumps

A vertical turbine pump is a type of centrifugal pump, based around having an elevator motor connected to a long shaft that descends into the liquid to be pumped.  This makes them different from typical pumps, which often have the motor submerged along with the rest of the pumping apparatus.

This is of great benefit since it makes the engine far easier to access when doing repairs or replacements.  In addition, these pumps can have a wider range of fuel options, including power sources that cannot be used in a submerged engine.

A vertical turbine pump typically requires several steps to move liquid from below to above.

1 – Liquid enters the pump through a port called the suction bell because it’s bell-shaped.  This is powered by an impeller which adds acceleration and draws the liquid upwards.

2 – The liquid enters a storage area called the diffuser bowl.  Here, the liquid is put under pressure, so that its upward voyage requires less mechanical power to achieve.

3 – A larger / longer vertical turbine pump will often have several cycles of this, sending the liquid between impellers and diffuser bowls, to keep it moving upwards.

4 – After the final round of impellers and diffuser bowls, the liquid reaches the well bore.  It enters a spinning shaft, supported by brushings, which send the liquid to the surface.  In many cases, the liquid also acts as the lubricant for this operation.

5 – Finally, the fluid enters a discharge head which redirects the flow into surface pipes that will send the fluid to its next destination.

Applications And Features of a Vertical Turbine Pump

These pumps are highly versatile within their use case and can handle widely varying amounts of fluid.  Anywhere from 50 to 30,0000 gallons per minute can be achieved, depending on demand and the power of the attached motor. This gives operations a lot of flexibility in how they pump, and how much.

Some typical applications include:

• Drawing groundwater
• Supplying water to irrigation systems
• Industrial use, transporting fluids across large-scale plants
• Pumping from open bodies of water, such as lakes

In addition, vertical turbine pumps may even be used in situations where a submerged pump might otherwise be used.  The additional power they can achieve, and the ease of maintenance, makes them preferable to submerged pumps.

All this makes vertical turbine pumps one of the most common types of centrifugal pumps in operation.

FloRight Pump & Controls Knows Pumps

For over thirty years, FloRight Pump & Controls has been a leader in sales, installation, and servicing of pumps throughout the country.  If your business relies on pumping, we can help ensure smooth operation for years to come.  Contact us to discuss about pump distribution and repair.

The post How A Vertical Turbine Pump Works appeared first on Flo Right Pump.

Unplug Everything!

Before touching your pond pump, make 100% certain that all of its connections are off and unplugged. Since the pump is submerged in water and having electricity come into contact with it can be deadly, don’t start cleaning anything until you’re sure everything’s been unplugged.

Removing Your Water Pump

After ensuring your pump’s off and unplugged, you’ll need to remove it to clean it. It should have a handle so you can lift it. Just be sure you find the handle and don’t lift it by any other components, such as the wires and cables, as these will break.

Take Apart Your Water Pump

Before disassembling your water pump, lay down a plastic tarp or sheet to place its parts upon. As you remove the parts one by one, place them upon the sheet/tarp in the same position in which they’re located on the pump to make putting it back together easier. Taking photos is also beneficial.

It’s important you remove everything but the pump’s anti-tamper screws, as doing so can cause permanent damage.

Cleaning Your Pump Components

When cleaning your pump components, it’s best to use a non-abrasive sponge and simply warm water, rather than any detergents. In addition to cleaning the pump parts for scale, silt, and algae deposits, you can also inspect its hoses and filters for the same, as well as clogs.

Reassemble Your Pump

Now, it’s time to reassemble your water pump. Follow the reverse order in which you took it apart to make the process a bit easier. Your original owner’s manual will also have instructions for reassembly you can follow. When reassembling your pond pump, make sure to inspect all of its wiring and connections before placing it back in the water.

Let us be your pump distribution experts!

For more about our pump repair, installation, and distribution services, contact us online today or call FloRight Pump & Repairs at (520) 585-4595.

The post How to Clean Your Pond Pump appeared first on Flo Right Pump.