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Job Stories

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Power Plant

Power Plant

Problem: A 300 megawatt power plant required a chemical feed system to supply hydrazine to a boiler. The hydrazine acts as an oxygen scavenger, and must be delivered in a precise and consistent quantity. While metering pumps can deliver chemicals in precise amounts, their reciprocating action will not allow delivery in a smooth and consistent flow.

Chicken Plant

Chicken Plant

Problem: Steggles Chickens of Newcastle uses a 4" electric diaphragm pump to transfer chicken waste from a wash-down sump to a centrifuge. The diaphragm pump is suited to the application because of its ability to handle large solids such as chicken heads and viscous sludge consisting of congealed chicken blood. The pump's reciprocating action created vibration in the piping system which caused damage to brackets, fittings and valves.

Oil & Gas Drilling

Oil & Gas Drilling

Problem: Chesapeake Operating, Inc., a major oil and gas drilling company headquartered in Oklahoma, uses a Hydra-Cell triplex diaphragm pump (3.5” stroke, 450 rpm max speed, 27 gpm max. flow rate, 4500 psig max. pressure) to pump saltwater (1.13 sg). The pump is located over 100 feet from supply tanks. The supply line comes out of the tank, goes underground across a driveway/parking lot for more than 100 feet, then up out of the ground into the inlet of the pump. While the pump operated adequately, the pump inlet gauge fluctuated +/- 7 psig and steel pipes next to the fiberglass supply tank vibrated so violently the customer was concerned the tank would rupture.

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste

Problem: A major chemical company in Michigan uses air operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps for unloading hazardous waste, including many different chemicals and products (e.g., acids, solvents, methyl chlorides, etc.). Each of the AODD pumps are 2 inch stainless stee; with PTFE internals, and are pumping at a flow rate of 80 to 100 gpm at 30 psi discharge pressure. The company has experienced pump diaphragm failure due to the elastomer material wearing out or damage from metal particles. When a diaphragm fails, the product goes into the air system and then out through the pump’s air exhaust. Because the product is hazardous, there is zero tolerance for spills. If a spill occurs, HAZMAT is called and the cost of cleanup can range from $20,000 to $100,000 depending on severity.

Filter Press

Filter Press

Problem: The Franklin Brine Treatment Plant uses a Wilden diaphragm pump to charge a filter press with brine water oil/sludge. When first charging the filter press with the diaphragm pump, the filter screens are clean and product flow is exceptionally fast. Because of the reciprocating design of the pump, product flow is pulsating. The pulsating flow produces pressure spikes which cause damage to the filter screens. The piping is CPVC plastic because the brine water is corrosive. The pulsating flow also causes vibration which results in leaky pipe joints.

Centrifugal Pump Startup

Centrifugal Pump Startup

Problem: An internationally known tool manufacturer located in the Pacific Northwest was experiencing severe pipe vibration in an overhead manifold system. The system delivers coolant to several production grinding machines. The coolant is delivered to the manifold by a 300 gpm centrifugal pump located in a reservoir on the plant floor. When the pump is started, a ball valve at the pump discharge is opened and fluid is pushed vertically up to the horizontal manifold. The manifold does not stay filled with liquid during idle periods so, when the pump is started the coolant flowing into the manifold must first push the air trapped in the manifold out the machine coolant nozzles before coolant reaches the machines. Since air moves more quickly out of the nozzles than liquid, when the coolant reaches the nozzles the velocity of the coolant is instantly reduced and a water hammer effect occurs creating severe pipe vibration.

View All Dosing Filling Water Hammer Spill Prevention Filter Metering Injecting Pulsation Dampening Spray Coating Transfer Inlet Stabilization
JOB STORIES