×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Size limit for self-priming?

Size limit for self-priming?

Size limit for self-priming?

(OP)
I'm considering using a 90,000 gpm pump for pumping out a tailings pond.  It has a suction diameter of 1 metre or more.

Is it possible to get pumps like this to be self-priming?

RE: Size limit for self-priming?

yes it is.

Phitsanulok
Thailand

RE: Size limit for self-priming?

One way is to put a trap in the suction so the pump doesn't drain when it's stopped.

Of course, you still need a big vacuum pump or other means to prime the pump for a black start.  See documentation for the New Orleans pumps, the subject of much discussion here in the past year.  Since you must have the vacuum pump, or a liquid priming pump, in place anyway, maybe you don't really need the big pump to be self- priming.

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: Size limit for self-priming?

What pump type are you going to use.
As you are talkig about pumping tailings, are they abrasive, are there any solids etc.
What configuration is the inlet and discharge pipes.
Any suction lift involved  - etc.
Give some more detail on the application so we can advise you further.

Phitsanulok
Thailand

RE: Size limit for self-priming?

Normally on a pump this size, it will be self priming by virtue of a vacuum system.  If you're planning on a single pump for this service, you're looking at one big pump....depending on other factors, economics of operation might lean toward using two pumps instead, or possibly a vertical pump, maybe mounted on a floating barge, depending on what exactly you are looking to do.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources