Load on a Sea Water Stainer

[tapav]

I need to calculate the force exerted on a mesh for a sea water strainer. flow 15,000 kg/hr 7m x 3.2m flow area. 17 x 17 mm 2mm wire mesh. How can I calculate a force when clean and an estimate when blocked with fish!?
Any pointers would be much appreciated.

thanks,

pav

 

[tapav]

right i've had my first thought.. if i just assume it is completely blocked, like a dam and just calc the hydrostatic head 7m deep that should be the worst case loading? is this correct?

 

[cvg]

will your pump be exerting suction on the strainer at the same time?

 

[tapav]

ye good point. I guess so, but have no info on the pump presently. Im also guessing it will have some sort of cut off too if the strainer becomes blocked?

 

[cvg]

well, the breaker probably would kick off if it overheats, or you could add a pressure sensor switch at the strainer.

 

[BigInch]

Conventional wisdom would suggest a differential pressure switch at the strainer to shut down the pump, NOT set for completely blocked flow. It would also suggest that you build fish screens at the intake; not catch them with the strainer!

**********************
"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[BigInch]

Presumedly this is for a power plant or something and you're not fishing with this set up.

**********************
"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[tapav]

ye fair enough.. my wisdom isnt always conventional! anyway, I'm trying to work out the max load, would a partially blocked flow have a greater load due to the increased drag or shall i just use the hydrostatic head when fully blocked?

 

[BigInch]

A bunch of fish packed sideways might have a 1.4 drag factor, but I sure wouldn't want to prove that.

**********************
"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/