How to select the right pumping solution for efficiency, reliability and lower lifecycle costs
By Darryl Macdougall, Managing Director, Verder Pumps South Africa
FROM purification of cobalt, transferring of slurry and lime dosing, to pumping liquid or concentrated products, the pump and piping solutions installed throughout are often the backbone network of numerous industrial and manufacturing applications – and what keeps the material (or product) flowing throughout the entire processing operation.
Achieving perfect results every time requires a well-engineered pumping system that is designed to deliver a smooth, reliable flow for all circumstances.
A poorly designed pumping system can, for instance, lead to high consumption of power and premature wear or failure of components in the system, as this is not isolated to the pump itself and can impact on instrumentation, piping, valves and ancillary equipment too. Possibly the worst-case scenario being a complete plant stoppage.
Additionally, excessive breakdowns will increase the risk to personnel as emergency repairs will have to be carried out over and above routine planned maintenance. It should also be noted that any of these possible scenarios are guaranteed to increase labour costs and inventory of spare parts, leading to production costs being driven up.
Not uncommon in the pump industry is the neglect of interrogating the total cost of ownership prior to making a purchasing decision, but rather making a purchasing decision on price alone. The purchase price of a pump is generally not greater than 15% of the total cost of ownership when considering all the cost drivers associated with transporting materials (or product) in pumping systems over the lifetime of the pumping equipment.
Selecting the right pump for the application is the first step to a well-engineered pumping system, and the pump should be selected based on the following considerations:
- Chemical compatibility of materials of pump construction to the product being pumped
- The pump design or technology should be suitable for the product being transported
- Suitable pump design for the duty cycle required
- The pump itself and the system design must allow for efficient operation – that the pump is selected to operate at the best efficiency point on the performance curve
- All pipe work is often designed to consider appropriate fluid velocities to help minimise head losses due to friction and turbulence.
- Power supply is adequately sized, and correct switch gear is utilised
- The correct valves are in the system – and in the correct positions
Understanding the intricate and technical details and implications of selecting the right pumping solutions for specific use applications can be challenging, however, it is an important purchase decision as maintaining production and efficiency largely depends on the longevity of the equipment. Lower lifecycle costs of the equipment translates into higher productivity and efficiency, cost savings and even return on investment/profit ratios in the long run. And, by providing all the necessary qualifying information upfront offers added assurance that the pump manufacturer will be able to supply the right solutions that are long-lasting, cost-effective and energy efficient – because they are 100% fit-for-purpose for the application.
