General Pumping Terminology Explained

BASKET STRAINER

Wide open guage strainer which will allow stringy fiborus material to pass through hoses and pump usually used for applications pumping sewage 

BEP OR BEST EFFICIENCY POINT

The range of the pumps performance which can be plotted on a pump curve when the pump is opperating at its optimum effciency and reliability

CAVITATION

Situation caused by opperating the pump at extremes of the performance curve creating air bubbles within the pump internals and resulting in severe damage to pump

 CLOSED VALVE 

The point at which the pump can not overcome the pressure needed to move fluid being pumped for example where the discharge head exceeds what the pump can generate and the pump stops pumping

DEWATERING 

Term for the removal of water commonly used in two ways general dewatering = removal of water from sump holes, excavations,pits rivers and lakes. Sub ground dewatering = specialist opperation where wells are used to remove water from below ground level to lower the water table

DISHCHARGE HEAD

The measurement between the pump and the maximum height in the discharge line

ELECTRIC DRAINER SUB PUMP

Electric drainer submersible pump used for pumping water / dirty water where pump does not need to pass large diameter solid particles

FRICTION LOSS

Draging effect generated when pumping fluid through pipework this is a critical issue when selecting pumps for any application and must be correctly calculated 

GENERAL PURPOSE STRAINER

Filter used at end of suction hose to prevent large solids entering the pump which will either jam the pump or in severe cases destroy the pump

HIGH HEAD PUMP

Sometimes called high pressure pumps type of pump used for applications where high heads are required and can be any thing between 120 feet head to 520 feet head, used where general purpose pump runs out of pressure or head

HIGH PRESSURE HOSE

Hose for use with above pumps or where working pressure exceeds 8 bar / 116 psi, usually flange hose and thick walled to contain higher pressures

JETTING PUMP

High pressure pump commonly used for cleaning piles, desilting and used for instalation of well points / sub ground dewatering

LAY FLAT HOSE

PVC discharge hose that can be rolled up for storage and is easy to install and deploy quickly

POLY DISCHARGE PIPE

MDPE semi rigid pipe that is used for discharge where friction losses are to be kept at a minimum to enable the pump reach its optimum flow

PVC SUCTION HOSE

PVC suction hose which is reinforced by ribs so that it will keep its shape under vacuum and remain flexible in use

PUMP CURVE

Performance of pump plotted on a graph showing flow and pressure / head

PUMPING IN PARALLEL

Using pumps to discharge into one usually large discharge pipe so that flow can be increased

PUMPING IN SERIES

Using pumps to pump into each other so that discharge heads or discharge distances can be increased

SETTLEMENT TANK

Tank with baffles that allows the solids in the discharge to settle to the bottom and be trapped in the tank whilst the cleaner water flows out of tank, used more and more where environmental considerations are a priority

SELF PRIMING

Other terms used vac asissted, automatic priming = pump fitted with an automaticaly cotrolled priming mechanisim which enables pump to be left unattended and will reprime itself if it runs out of fluid to pump

SOLIDS HANDLING

The capabilty of the pump to pass solid particles through the impeller and pump body

SOLIDS IN SUSSPENSION

Condition where solids have been mixed with water allowing these particles to be pumped through the pumping equipment

SUCTION LIFT

Distance between centre line of pump impeller and the surface of the fluid to be pumped, negative suction lift = where fluid is below pump, example excavation or pit, positive suction = where fluid is higher than pump example holding / header tank

TOTAL HEAD

Sum of factors effecting pump application = suction lift plus discharge head plus friction losses

WEIR TANK

Tank with baffle and vee notch used to calculate discharge flow

WELLPOINTING

System of sinking small bore wells at short spacingings and conecting to a vacuum pump to pump sub ground water thus lowering the water table and  allowing work to take place that could not have in these ground conditions, example in running sand or marshy areas also called dewatering

WIRE ARMOURED SUCTION HOSE

A rubber suction hose reinforced with a wire helix to allow flexibility whilst maintaining shape under vacuum for general pumping duties

 

Performance Pumps & Equipment -"We Perform"

 

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