Top tips for better pump performance

Here we have put together a few top tips that will help better your pumps performance.

Gauges: Install flow and pressure gauges on the suction and discharge side of the pump so that you can monitor changes in performance over time and ensure that the pump is running at its best efficiency point.

Material Compatibility: Using the correct pump materials of construction are essential if the pump is to have a long life, this is especially so when handling corrosive liquids. Not only the main pump body material, but also the individual parts such as shaft / bearing / mech seal materials must be correctly specified. More information can be found at https://www.crestpumps.co.uk/chemical-resistance-table/ but the team at Crest will always carry out this work for you when recommending a pump.

Pipework Velocity: Pipework should be correctly sized so that the velocity of the fluid is suitable for the pump and this will depend upon the liquid being pumped and its density. As a rule of thumb these velocities should not be exceeded:

Water 2.4m/s

Hydrochloric Acid (S.G 1.18) 1.5m/s

Sulphuric Acid (S.G 1.5) 1.2m/s

Pipework Arrangement: Avoid elbows just before the pump suction and allow 5 to 10 of straight run to the pump after an elbow. Preferable to use one diameter larger pipework that the pump suction and use eccentric reducers to avoid air pockets and turbulence. Lay out the suction piping in such a way that minimizes the amount of 90-degree bends and allows for the shortest line possible. This will increase the net positive suction head available (NPSHa) and improve pump system efficiency. Always independently support the pipework and do not rely on the pump to do this for you.

Train your operatives: More pumps are damaged through careless use than any other reason. Always ensure that anyone using the pump has proper training and can recognise when the system is not operating correctly.