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December 20, 2023 Chloé Walker Comments
• Drainage • Sewage pumping • Industrial pumping • Effluent and slurry pumping • Ponds • Swimming pools • Firefighting • Water well and deep well drilling • Offshore drilling rigs • Mine dewatering • Irrigation systems With so many applications, these water pumps can come with a lot of queries. So, here are the most frequently asked questions answered when it comes to electrics Submersible Pumps.
A submersible pump is a centrifugal pump designed to be submerged into water. The impellers inside the pump throw the water outwards. The impeller blades are backward curve type. The water is then thrown out of the impellers due to the centrifugal force involved. When the water passes through all the impellers, it reaches a non-slam check valve. This stops water hammering.
Submersible pumps are efficient for pumping liquid from a large body of water. Whereas most water pumps are positioned outside of bodies of water and pull water to the surface, submersible pumps are submerged and push water to the surface. If there is an unwanted body of water, a submersible water pump can help drain it quickly and efficiently, such as flooded areas.
A sump pit will be needed to collect any flood water at a lower point to the rest of the water level. Submersible pumps only work when submerged in water, so placing one on the same level would require the water to be a certain height for the unit to start pumping. The pump would then be placed in the sump pit, connected to a power source, and turned on. The water will find the lowest point in the sump pit and once it rises around the pump to a sufficient level, it will automatically start pumping.
Dry running can cause damage to the electric submersible pump. Operating the pump without a fluid is a waste of energy and will result in the motor overheating and burning out. The water that passes through the pump cools the electrical parts. If there is a chance that a submersible water pump could be run dry, a float switch can be used to turn the pump off when it detects a low fluid level. This means the pump can then be left unattended while in operation.
An inverter takes power from and incoming DC voltage and turns the power into AC voltage. If the submersible pump uses AC power, then an inverter is required if you want to run the water pump using solar power which is DC voltage. Usually, inverters will allow a backup source of power, like from the AC grid or generator power, to be plugged in when solar power is not available.
Submersible pump wires can be buried without conduit if the wire is rated for underground use. It needs to be buried below the freeze depth as the freeze and thaw movement in the soil could damage the wire. Can a submersible pump run continuously? Submersible pumps are designed for continuous operation, which means you can run them for 24 hours a day, if necessary, when mains powered. The pump needs to be submerged in water continually during this time for cooling, as dry running will lead to the motor overheating and burning out. However, some submersible pumps are battery powered, which means they have a duty cycle and can’t run continuously.
Submersible pump motors are primarily designed to run vertically. If you require a horizontal installation, the motor must be aligned with the pump and mounted to avoid any load on the shaft and bearing. This will help avoid vibrations that could damage the motor when running.
No, a submersible water pump needs a capacitor. If run without a capacitor and the motor stops and needs to restart, the pump will shut down and not be able to restart, which will ruin the motor.
If you have further questions about electric submersible pumps that have not been answered here in our FAQs, or you aren’t sure which type of pump you need, contact us. We are a leading supplier of submersible pumps, and our technical sales engineers have been specifying water pumps for domestic, industrial, and agricultural industries for over 25 years. Call us on 01777 871100 and we will advise you on the right pump for your installation.
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