Sump and Sludge
What You Need to Know About These Specific Pump Types in Utility Applications
By Brandon Jaynes
 Removing excess water or other fluids from a work area is essential if you want to avoid hazardous situations when working with and around utilities. Because they are built lightweight, portable and designed to withstand harsh jobsite and adverse weather conditions, sump and sludge pumps are the ideal tools for pumping liquids from basements or cellars, trenches, ditches, manholes, industrial sumps and excavation pits.
But using a pump in a utility application is not as simple as putting it in the sump and turning the machine on, says Eudes Defoe, Product Manager of Handheld Tools and Light Compaction with Chicago Pneumatic Construction Equipment.
Before you look for a pump for your next project, here is what you need to know. In utility applications, rotary or centrifugal pumps are used. This design employs an impeller to draw the liquid through an inlet pipe, spin it around and channel the liquid out through an outlet pipe. To match the right pump to your specific project, you need to first understand the makeup of the liquid you are going to pump.
“You need to identify what kind of liquid it is and what its density is,” says Defoe. “Questions you need to be able to answer are: Are there any particles in the fluid that could clog the pump, like sewage, sand, dirt, gravel, larger rocks or other debris? If so, what is the maximum size of those particles? Is the fluid abrasive or flammable?”
Defoe warns that pumps should never be used to remove liquids that have the potential for explosion, like gasoline or other fuels. Also, don’t pump liquid that is near anything combustible. You need to know how deep the area that needs to be pumped is, as well as what size of compressor, particularly its cfm rating, you will be using to generate air for the pump.
Defoe suggests that if the liquid is deep enough that the pump’s exhaust cannot be positioned above the surface, you should add additional exhaust lines to the pump. Before connecting the air hose to your pump, make sure to blow any dirt out of the air hose. These particles will restrict the pump from functioning properly.
“The most widely used pump in utility-related projects offers 90 psi of working pressure. The CP 0010, for example, with a discharge rate up to 255 gallons per minute, can handle the majority of pumping needs,” says Defoe. When you are ready to use your pump, make sure to position it so that the exhaust is above the liquid’s surface. “When you turn the pump off, a vacuum effect is created. If the exhaust is under the surface, the liquid will be pulled into the pump, which can ruin the machine.
“Also, make sure that the working pressure at the pump, not the compressor, is 90 to 100 psi,” says Defoe. “For the pump to be productive, the air supply must be constant. Multiple connections and the length of the hose will influence the airflow from the compressor to the pump.”
You also need to make sure there is no moisture in the line, which can freeze in colder temperatures and condense in warmer weather, causing issues for your pump. “To avoid getting moisture in the air line, it is a good idea to put in a water separator,” says Defoe. “And in the winter, it is a good idea to use a lubricant with an anti-freezing agent.”
Keeping your pump lubricated at all times is a must. “Lubrication protects the pump’s vital components from the effects of working in water, mud and other debris. This means less downtime for maintenance,” says Defoe.
If you are unsure whether your pump will sit for hours, days or weeks between uses, Defoe adds that keeping your pump lubricated will ensure it is ready to work the next time you need it. He recommends putting oil in the pump and running it through for a few seconds at the end of the day, while the unit is warm, to make sure the pump stays lubricated while it sits. Defoe finishes, “It is important to keep these guidelines in mind in order to safely and efficiently remove liquids from your utility worksite.”
Brandon Jaynes is a Technical Writer with Performance Marketing. |
