×
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

Flow switch for pump protection

Flow switch for pump protection

Flow switch for pump protection

(OP)
Hi,
For pumps pumping from a tank, our engineering has decided to use a flow switch for pump protection. I was wondering if the pump should also stop for low level in the tank, or if the flowswitch is enough.

thanks,

RE: Flow switch for pump protection

What type of pump?

From a tank, a flow transmitter with low flow interlock could provide pump protection.  It would require a startup time delay.  A low flow recirculation could help too.  Mechanical flow switches are hopeless.  Use the low level interlock from the level transmitter regardless of the flow interlock.

RE: Flow switch for pump protection

Go to the control variable's source.  Use the instruments that directly measure your control variable.  If you want to stop on low flow, a flow switch may be best.  If you want to stop when the tank gets low (or high) go with tank level switches.  If you want to do all three, go with all three.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, its what we know for sure" - Mark Twain

RE: Flow switch for pump protection

Another option is to use a low pressure switch on the inlet of the pump as a pump shut-off.  This depends also on the normal inlet head....

RE: Flow switch for pump protection

Flow switch for pump protection is very common. This protects the pump.

A low level switch in the tank would prevent pumping below a level, perhaps preventing "uglies" from being pumped out.

They serve slightly different purposes.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

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