New Product: ABS Concrete Base
New Product Highlight: Hydra-Cell Winning Moment
Shop Talk
Did you know.
Product Highlight: CX Series - Sanitary Housings
Employee Profile
Maintenance Tips
PFC Quiz

Read the following articles to find the answers to the questions below. Then submit your answers to http://www.pfcequip.com/quiz.html or email sales@pfcequip.com or fax to 763-425-1132.

All correct submissions will be placed in a drawing for this issue's giveaway.

Congratulations to Andy Gayhart and Joe Wild who were last edition's quiz winners!! Thank you to all of those who entered our contest.

In keeping with the design philosophy inherent with ABS Pumps, a new generation of baseplate offerings has been developed providing more cost-effective installation of process pumps. In particular, concrete foundations have been generated. The concrete foundation is similar to the more recognizable steel baseplates; however, concrete offers substantial advantages.

The major advantages of ABS supplied concrete bases are reductions in installation costs, distortion and vibration. Since ABS supplies the entire baseplate out of concrete, installation costs are reduced in regards to grouting when compared to standard fabricated steel baseplates. Furthermore, the floating design (bases complete with machine feet), does not require the need to purchase anchor bolts or add anchoring costs with labor. Fabricated steel bases are subject to distortion either from transport or more commonly from installation. The concrete foundation eliminates this concern because of its large mass. Since the concrete foundation is such a large mass, vibration is significantly reduced when compared to standard fabricated steel base designs. Furthermore, with the floating design, minor movements from pipe stress or temperature changes, can be absorbed.

ABS can supply the concrete bases with two (2) concrete baseplate options. With the Rubber Carpet option, the concrete baseplate is arranged on a rubber carpet. The baseplate with the carpet is set directly on the floor. Optionally, the concrete baseplate is supplied with machined feet mounted into the baseplate and the entire assembly set directly in place. With either option, no grouting is required, reducing installation time and costs.

ABS Pumps has been a leader in innovative solutions for pump applications. They offer a complete line of products from fractional horsepower submersible pumps to large process pumps. The Concrete bases are just another innovative product from ABS Pumps. Contact PFC Equipment for more information about ABS Pumps and accessories.

• GPM - Gallons per minute
• PPM - Parts per million
• PPB - Parts per billion
• TDH - Total Dynamic Head
• PSI - Pounds per square inch
• SG - Specific gravity (Water = 1.0)
• Micron - 1/1000 of an inch
• Q-H - Flow vs. Head curve
• BHP - Brake Horsepower
• NPSHa - Net Positive Suction Head available
• NPSHr - Net Positive Suction Head required
• pH - Power of Hydrogen
• VFD - Variable Frequency Drive
• VSD - Variable Speed Drive

Our employee spotlight this edition focuses on Jerry Arenkiel, PFC Equipment's Inside Sales Manager. Over 25 years ago Jerry started at PFC Equipment as the Purchasing, Warehouse, Shipping and Inside Sales departments. Fortunately our growth has allowed us the ability to add additional employees to staff those departments and concentrate Jerry's work in servicing our customers.

His knowledge and hands-on experience are the cornerstones of our Inside Sales Team. As the Inside Sales Manager, Jerry is able to maintain and continue to develop new relationships with our customers and help to develop our sales staff through training seminars and individual coaching. His door is always open and he is willing to share his vast product knowledge with our staff.

During his tenure, Jerry has built a strong relationship with a network of pump and filter distributors. This allows him to locate just about any pump or filter product. Jerry has handled the most outrageous and demanding applications. From common sewage and centrifugal pumps to complete fluid-handling systems, Jerry Arenkiel can find solutions to your needs.

Swedish Paper Mill has quick payback with Hydra-Cell!

A recent application for a Hydra-Cell high-pressure diaphragm pump was recently detailed in the European trade journal, Industrial Maintenance. It involved the use of a Hydra-Cell model G25 for a white liquor filtration recovery system at a paper mill in Sweden.

The Backhammar Paper Mill in Kristinehamn, Sweden produces over 100,000 tons of Kraft paper each year. The starting material for this paper is unbleached sulphate pulp. As the pulp is processed, "white liquor" (caustic soda/sodium sulfide solution) is recovered using lime. The residual lime "mud" is collected by filters that are cleaned with re-circulated water. Ideal pressure for this cleaning is approximately 725 psi.

Multi-stage centrifugal pumps are commonly used in the paper industry for this task. However, high energy consumption and other limitations experienced with this type of pump prompted mill management to consider alternatives. Typical seal and bearing failures had kept maintenance costs high, but above all, the pumps were found to be expensive to run and the pressure rarely exceeded 450 psi. The power consumption was calculated and the annual cost of continuously running the centrifugal pump was found to be $6,120.

A Hydra-Cell model G25 was recommended for this application. Smaller in size than the centrifugal, the G25 pump was more than equal to the needs of Backhammar on this application. As predicted, the Hydra-Cell pump was considerably more efficient to run and without any seals in the unit, annual maintenance was greatly reduced. According to the company, "Not only is the Hydra-Cell very hardwearing, but when it finally needs service, the straightforward replacement of wear parts virtually gives you a brand new pump".

Now well into its second year of operation at the Kristinehamn mill, the Hydra-Cell pump has exceeded all expectations. After saving heavily on the initial outlay (25% less cost than a replacement multi-stage), it has cut filter pump energy consumption by 90%. Consistently higher pressure has increased filter capability while servicing costs have been reduced. The Hydra-Cell G25 has given the mill quick payback and long term savings.

CX Series Convertible Stainless Steel Sanitary Filter Housings

FSI's CX150 (150 psig) and CX300 (300 psig) Convertible Stainless Steel Sanitary Housings are excellent choices for your sanitary filtration needs. Equipped with bags or cartridges, the CX Series Housings are suitable for various applications within the Pharmaceutical, Food Processing, Dairy, Semiconductor and any other industries that require sanitary filtration solutions.

The CX Series Housings are manufactured from 316L Stainless Steel. FSI offers two standard finishes for the wetted surfaces and outer housing of the vessel: 32 microinch (3A) sanitary finish with bright electropolish on the exterior surfaces; and 45 Ra finish (Rounded average, a measure of the surface finish) with bright electropolish on the exterior surfaces. Other finishes are also available.

The CX Series Housings are engineered with a "clean wall" design, a smooth interior surface that allows faster, easier manual cleaning or in-place flushing. Designed to accept either a bag filter or a cartridge filter, the FSI CX150 and CX300 filter housing allows you to choose the filter media and construction to precisely fit your filtration needs. The quick-close concept of the CX Series is designed to replace bolts, making the closing operation fast and easy - no bolts to torque or untorque, and the lid drops onto the vessel's body in any position, allowing maximum flexibility.

The CX Series Housings, along with the Polyloc seal point of FSI's X01 filter bags and the Polyseal seal point of FSI's X20 filter cartridges, creates a positive seal and eliminates the chance of fluid by-pass. Also, the CX150 and CX300 cannot be pressurized if the lid is not closed properly, nor can the unit be opened unless excess pressure has been released. The CX Series Housings can be easily converted to accept either a filter bag or filter cartridge by ordering a basket for bag operation, or a cartridge plate and plate gasket for filter cartridge confirguration.

Whatever your application, FSI's CX Series Convertible Filter Housings are highly adaptable. A choice of filter elements and a complete line of accessories allow the CX150 or CX300 to be your best filter choice. Contact PFC Equipment for additional information on the full-line of FSI filter products.

In our last newsletter we described the symptoms and effects of cavitation in an end suction centrifugal pump installation. In review, the subject pump was making a "pumping marbles noise" and the impeller, mechanical seal and bearings required frequent replacement.

Cavitation will be present in a system when the Net Positive Suction Head available (NPSHa), a system calculation, is less than the Net Positive Suction Head required (NPSHr), a pump specific characteristic. By analyzing the factors that influence NPSHa and NPSHr we can identify the cause of the cavitation problem.

NPSHa is a system calculation. The factor that positively affects NPSHa is the amount of pressure of the fluid at the suction of the pump. This could be in the form of a pressurized tank feeding the pump or a liquid level above the centerline of the impeller of the pump. The factors that negatively affect NPSHa are suction line restrictions, liquid level below the centerline of the pump and the vapor pressure of the liquid being pumped. Vapor pressure of the liquid being pumped is quite often overlooked. Vapor pressure is especially critical when pumping fluids at elevated temperatures.

NPSHr is a design characteristic of a pump. Depending on impeller design, port sizes and speed, NPSHr will vary over the flow curve. In general as flow or speed is increased the NPSHr for any given pump will increase. NPSHr curves are typically published by pump manufacturers and included on Flow vs. Head (H-Q) curves. If it is known beforehand that a system will have low NPSHa, a pump with a low NPSHr at the desired flow rate will need to be selected.

Some pump manufacturers do make available flow inducers to help lower the NPSHr of a pump. To find a cure to our ailing pump system let's go back and ask a few questions.

1. Do we have adequate suction conditions - correct size piping with minimal length, elbows and tees?
2. Is the suction piping at least one size larger than the discharge piping?
3. Is the pump located above or below the fluid source?
4. Is the liquid being pumped at elevated temperatures?
5. Is the pump being operated at a high flow rate relative to its flow curve?
6. Has the correct pump been selected for the application?

This is a very basic discussion of cavition. In general cavitation is a symptom of a system problem and not just a bad pump. If you feel that cavition is present in your pumping system, contact one of the application engineers at PFC Equipment for a complete system evaluation.

In our 5,000 square foot service department, PFC Equipment has the capability to test not only pumps, but also motors and filter housings. This state-of-the-art technology assists PFC Equipment in identifying problems with products. With this information, our service technicians are able to troubleshoot and resolve your fluid-handling needs.

Throughout our facility, we have several test stands, including three pump testing stations where our service team can test pumps to 2,500 gallons per minute. Other testing stations in our service facility allow our technicians to wet-test filter housings and pressurize them to confirm there is no leakage. Finally, we have a motor testing stand capable of testing to 160 Amp, 3-phase.

As an addition to our testing standards, PFC Equipment and its staff have developed a standard operating procedure to report all findings after testing products. With this information our service team can fully document the results of their findings and produce a course of action to fix the situation.

Please contact Dan Jenkins of PFC Equipment's Service Team for an appointment to service your fluid-handling products.