FAQ

Usually, a red arrow on the pump refers to direction of kick, a green arrow refers to direction of impeller rotation. However, it is advisable to check the operation manual whilst wiring up a submersible pump.

It’s not best practice as high pressure pumps are designed for clean water only. It depends how clean the water is, sharp grains of sand and the likes will mean regular seal and lining replacements and/or pumps to be replaced regularly. Centrifugal end suction pumps are generally recommended as easier to maintain than vertical multistage pumps.

Grey water recycling for wash-down and other processes is now possible with EnviroHub, meaning you can reduce site water discharge needs and fresh water abstraction costs.

Yes, you can still have discharge cavitation if the required differential pressure is greater than the pump can provide.

If the pump has a 3 phase motor, check it is wired in correctly. If the phases are wired in incorrectly, the pump may run in reverse. This will then only provide up to 60% of the specified performance depending on the type of pump.

It depends on the pressure, but at a typical 3 bar, they use approximately 1 cubic meter of water per hour each.

To diagnose and address the issue of reduced flow, it’s essential to inspect the pump, its components, and the surrounding system thoroughly. This may involve cleaning or unclogging the pump, checking for leaks, inspecting electrical connections, and assessing system design and operation. If necessary, consulting a professional technician or engineer experienced in pump systems can help identify and resolve the problem effectively.

Reduced flow could be caused by a number of factors, examples include:

• Worn impeller: As the impeller wears out it become less and less efficient and the flow rate will drop.
• Blocked discharge lines: If you have a long discharge line a drop in flow rate due to a worn impeller could allow solids to settle out in the line.
• Rubber pipe lining collapsed: If the rubber liner in steel pipework becomes unstuck from the pipe wall it can partically block the suction line and reduce flow rate.
• Cyclone liner collapsed: A worn cyclone liner can become unstuck from the cyclone and restrict the flow into the cyclone which limits pump flow.

This could be due to a number of reasons:

1. The pump could be losing its prime. Check suction pipework and the level in the feed tank if pump is flooded suction.
2. Solids could be settling out in the discharge pipeline causing it to surge.
3. The pump impeller could be worn and struggling to get up to pressure.

This happens on rubber lined pumps when the discharge pipework isn’t straight. The throatbush can get pushed out of line, which leaves a gap between the cover plate liner and the throatbush. Water then comes out where the cotter pins are.

This happens where the pump is running too much to the left of the curve. Power is constantly going into the pump, so if it can’t pump as fast as it would like, the energy turns into heat. When left for a long time, the water actually boils, and the pump cavitates and steams.

This can indicate a few potential issues.

1. The bearings have been incorrectly shimmed which causes them to run hot.
2. The bearings have not been greased for an extended period of time.
3. The pump is running faster than the maximum recommended speed.

New built-up SlurryPro pumps include provision for an automatic greasing system as standard. Once fitted, this ensures consistent reliable lubrication of the bearings and seals for maximum service life.

Find out about SlurryPro Automatic Greaser here.

This is a sure sign of cavitation and there can be a few reasons for this:

1. The discharge heads too great for the pump. This could be due to a valve on the discharge being closed or the wrong pump for the application.
2. The suction heads too great. This is when you’re trying to draw the fluid up too far or the suction pipe has blocked.
3. If you are pumping from a tank, ensure the fluid level is not dropping below the level of the inlet pipe as it will start to draw in air.

All of the above will result in damage to the pump, especially the impeller.

This will be due to cavitation, and the fact it is around the outside means it is discharge cavitation rather than suction cavitation. This is almost exclusively a high chrome issue. To resolve the problem, check for blockages, closed valves and check the application.

This can be due to a number of reasons:

1. Cavitation with a rubber impeller. Rubber does not pit in the same way that high chrome does.
2. The pump is turning too fast which makes the tip speed too high. When the max tip speed is exceeded, the rubber starts to delaminate and disintegrate.
3. The discharge head is too great or a valve is closed. The fluid thrashes around inside the pump which causes a build-up of heat and can lead to the rubber melting.
4. If the impeller is incorrectly adjusted, it can rub against the liner which causes both to heat up and disintegrate.

We aim to send stocked spare parts out the same day they are ordered. If you operate older or specialist pumps, its worth speaking to us ahead of time for advice on which parts to keep on hand,

We use courier services that provide UK-wide tracked next day delivery (allow extra for weekends and remote locations). We also offer dedicated van delivery for the most urgent part replacements, and these are typically at site within hours of ordering. Our focus is on minimising downtime on your site.

We know from experience that prevention is better than cure, especially when it comes to process-critical pumps. Conditioning monitoring reduces the risk of emergency call-out costs, provides a forecast for scheduled maintenance planning, and increases MTBM (Meantime between maintenance). Knowing what condition your pumps are actually in can also prevent stock piling spares, or replacing things before it actually needs it.

Contracting your pump condition monitoring to Atlantic Pumps means your pumps will be regularly health-checked by specialist pump engineers who bring a wealth of knowledge. Using our vibration analysis monitor we can determine bearing condition and anticipate failures, we also check gland adjustment, belt and pulley condition general pump condition, delivery a easy to read report, that over time allows you and us to plan PPM’s.

If the casing is hot, it’s generally down to discharge cavitation. Basically the fluid is not getting away and recirculating within the pump. Likely causes are the head is too high, pipework too narrow/blocked, pipework been extended past OE design, worn impeller, change of material density.

Failing bearing assembly, belts, and pulleys incorrectly aligned/tensioned, discharge head changed, pipework restricted, change of material density, increased demand, worn wet parts.