Jockey pump question
Jockey pump question
(OP)
Guys - This is a follow-up to my previous jockey pump question.
In the installation of a typical jockey pump, used to pressure-charge a piping system before a much larger pump comes on-line when the demand increases, what keeps the pump from deadheading and subsequent overheating/damage during operation? Is there a minimum flow recycle or bypass off the discharge back to a tank or back to the suction header? BTW this is not a fire pump system.
Thanks in advance for your time!!!
In the installation of a typical jockey pump, used to pressure-charge a piping system before a much larger pump comes on-line when the demand increases, what keeps the pump from deadheading and subsequent overheating/damage during operation? Is there a minimum flow recycle or bypass off the discharge back to a tank or back to the suction header? BTW this is not a fire pump system.
Thanks in advance for your time!!!
Thanks!
Pete





RE: Jockey pump question
The manufacturer will be able to advise you what the continuous minimum flow is. My experience is that these have gone up over the years, I've seen 25% as a typical value up to as much as 40%.
If you are just going to 'charge' the system with the jockey pump in preparation for starting the main pumps, running the pump dead-headed and shutting it down via logic might be fine.
RE: Jockey pump question
Thanks!
Pete
RE: Jockey pump question
RE: Jockey pump question
Now, having said that... do you know of anyone who specifically makes jockey pumps? I suppose I could use anybody's small ANSI pump but I was thinking that there might be someone who makes a small low-efficiency (read: cheap) pump that would take some abuse and has a low minimum flow requirement.
Thanks!
Pete
RE: Jockey pump question
We have a pump with capacity 395 cu.m/hr and it's safe minimum flow is 9 cu.m/hr. You can have a bypass line to the reservoir and this is a general practise. But we have run jockey pumps on fire water system for 24 hours a day. (ofcourse in proper conditions the pump should start not more than once in an hour)
The pump runs for a very short period (in case of minimum leaks and if leakage is more then, as TD2K said, you need not bother
I strongly feel that 20% safe minimum flow is too generous a figure. (It should be below 10%)
Regards,
Truth: Even the hardest of the problems will have atleast one simple solution. Mine may not be one.
RE: Jockey pump question
Just put all them in a logic fashion.
Regards.