One usually does pump performance efficiency audits to assess the fluid power and useful work being done by a pumping system. Evaluating pump performance is just one of the services that Flowservices offers customers.
Recently, we got called in to do a pump performance efficiency audit in Caboolture, Queensland. What do you know, we’ve encountered another one of those problems that mystify clients. It should’ve been a quick problem to fix—it just only takes us 10 minutes or so—but some still get stuck with old school, expensive methods when new technology could easily solve the problem.
Pumps age. Rust and scales accumulate within. Flow is blocked thus negatively affecting pump performance efficiency.
Pump performance efficiency audits are one of the easiest applications that Flowservices does. If you don’t know what what issues to look out for, you could end up with a headache instead of correcting the problem.
You wouldn’t expect a 20-year old pump to be as efficient as when it was brand spanking new, would you?
Yet when pump flow becomes sluggish or pumps stop working altogether, council workers and contractors always opt for the knee-jerk solution. They mistakenly believe that they can fix poor pump performance just by replacing older pipe sections with brand new ones. The only trouble to that quick, simple solution is the fact that a 30-year-old pipe is already antiquated, made of asbestos cement, and incompatible with a new pipe.
The result?
When the pump gets cranking, the pipe starts moaning.
That’s because the older asbestos pipe can’t handle the pressure running freely and fluidly through the new pipe sections. If that happens, the older asbestos pipe is sure to split and crack.
Not only is it bad news to have asbestos floating around in the water, you also have a ruptured pipe in your hands. So now, what started as a small headache has just turned into a throbbing aneurysm!
The lesson learned in this seemingly obvious and simple solution? Hold off on a pipe change until you have an idea of the actual flow measurement.
Poor pump performance can cause all sorts of trouble.
Every component in the pumping system must match pump loads. If there’s a mismatch in the system somewhere—like old and new pipes forced to work together—the pump will continue to perform poorly. Flow is one of the critical aspects of matching loads to pumps. Until you get the actual flow measurement, you shouldn’t start changing pipes.
Flowservices can easily and quickly undertake flow measurement—just 10 minutes—if you’d only allow us. We’ll be using ultrasonic flow meters that clamp on the outside of the pipes, which does not disturb the pumping system.
Ultrasonic flow meters use the Doppler Effect to measure flow. These flow meters are non-invasive so we won’t have to cut the pipes. We will also not use any harmful chemicals, ensuring that the environment (or any environment, for that matter) is untouched.
Best of all, the pumping system will continue running. By placing our sensors well away from the pump so the flow meter won’t pick up pump turbulence or aeration caused by the pump, we can obtain flow measurement in minutes. Ultrasonic flow meters work for both clean and dirty liquids, even slurry.
Flowservices can establish flow measurement from all kinds of pumps—pool pumps, mining pumps, industrial pumps and so on. Whatever type of pumping system you have, we’re sure to have a solution. Contact us now to find out how we can help you audit your pump performance efficiency.
