Sealless pump a fit for bleach conveyance
Problem
The White House Utility District in Tennessee experienced leaks in some bleach pumps caused by seals deteriorating. “They had been using mechanically sealed pumps, which caused issues over time due to frequent repairs,” says Will Weathers, regional manager with Finish Thompson.
Solution
The district replaced one pump with a Finish Thompson DB Series sealless pump. After it worked well, they changed out all the pumps in that application and now have 12.
Result:
“The new pumps were pretty much plug and play,” says Chris MacPhee, plant supervisor. “We installed them six years ago and haven’t had one issue since.” 800-934-9384; www.finishthompson.com
Piston pumps help stabilize incinerator operations
Problem
Piston pumps fed dewatered cake solids to the incinerators at the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County, North Carolina. The pumps were supplied in 1993 and sequentially replaced in 2005 and 2007. Pump capacity had to be nearly doubled as part of a plant expansion to accommodate community growth.
Solution
The package included upsized feed hoppers and a delivery piping and an actuated ball valve system that can feed the incinerator or be bypassed to truck loading. The Schwing Bioset pipeline lubrication was incorporated to reduce line pressure, extend wear part lives, and minimize the power draw of the hydraulic power pack. The original pumps had a single discharge line feeding the incinerators. The new pumps were delivered with a dual discharge system that splits the flow, enabling the incinerator to be fed from multiple locations to stabilize incinerator operations. To meet EPA regulations, Schwing Bioset provided its Sludge Flow Measuring System, which accurately measures the pump feed to the incinerator.
Result:
The package has performed without issue. Schwing Bioset provided the cake pumping equipment package and recently supplied new KSP 17 piston pumps to feed the dewatered cake solids to the incinerators. 715-247-3433; www.schwingbioset.com
Submersible chopper pump stands strong through tropical storm
Problem
The main lift station serving the wastewater treatment plant in Morgan’s Point, Texas, had problems with three standard nonclog pumps, which frequently clogged with shop rags and other debris after heavy rains. Over seven years, those issues cost $100,000 for pump maintenance and service.
Solution
The city installed a Vaughan SE-Series submersible chopper pump and a complete guiderail system.
Result:
The city received more than 100 inches of rain with no plugging or other issues. During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the pumps ran continuously for 72 hours without incident, while pumping over 2.5 million gallons of sewage through the lift station. It never flooded and none of the 150 homes served experienced sewer backups. 888-249-2467; www.chopperpumps.com
Centrifugal blowers and master control panel lead to significant cost savings
Problem
An Ohio wastewater treatment plant’s aeration blowers were consuming about half the plant’s electricity. The multistage blowers operated at a constant speed and used an inlet throttling valve to regulate flow. The three 100 hp blowers were inefficient and had limited turndown capability. The plant needed to reduce energy costs and improve dissolved oxygen control.
Solution
The facility team chose three 75 hp Inovair IM-30 integrally geared centrifugal blowers, along with the company’s standard master control panel. The change immediately reduced blower power consumption by more than 25%. The blowers’ turndown range provided flexibility not previously possible. The control panel provided tight dissolved oxygen control with simple operation and easy interface with the plant SCADA system. This resulted in less airflow with minimal operator input, enhancing overall efficiency and significantly reducing costs.
Result:
Power consumption declined by almost 350,000 kWh, reducing annual energy bills by some $26,000. Low capital cost and installation costs and the energy savings enabled fast payback, leading the utility to purchase additional Inovair blowers for its digestion process. 855-466-8247; www.inovair.com
Progressive cavity pump simplifies maintenance
Problem
A wastewater treatment plant in Kentucky used piston pumps for biosolids conveyance. The pumps tended to pulsate and, due to the high demands of the plant, they were operated at high speeds and pressures. Parts wear led to time-consuming maintenance and costly replacements. Maintenance issues along with conveyed product leaking from the pumps led the plant to explore alternatives.
Solution
The facility team selected four BN 35-6LS pumps with 20 to 100 gpm capacity. The pumps were equipped with the SEEPEX maintain-in-place Smart Conveying Technology and TSE temperature controllers, which shut the pumps off at unsafe temperatures. The integrated solution ensures optimal maintenance costs; the pumps are protected against various kinds of damage.
Result:
Smart Conveying Technology simplified maintenance and repair. Spare parts costs have been reduced substantially. The pumps can be serviced quickly without being dismantled. 937-864-7150; www.seepex.com
Grinder pumps solve community’s clogging issue
Problem
At least once a month residents of a 48-unit townhome complex in New Jersey saw a vacuum truck unclogging their sewer pump system and cleaning out the well. The complex used a four-pump system engineered for single-family homes, and it was underperforming with a pumping capacity of 11 gpm. Rags and solids accumulated in the basin, and frequent vacuum truck visits were needed to keep the system operational.
Solution
The facility turned to Franklin Electric FPS IGP Series Grinder Pumps, designed as replacements for small-horsepower progressive-cavity and other centrifugal grinder systems. The 2 hp pumps have a maximum flow rate up to 33 gpm; the quadplex system was simplified to a triplex. These pumps allowed the owner to keep the existing basin and modify the controls. They were installed on a guiderail so that maintenance technicians can easily slide them out of the well, saving time and money.
Result:
Installed in 2018, the system has never clogged, eliminating the vacuum truck visits and the maintenance and emergency repair costs. 800-437-6897; www.franklin-electric.com
