We've got a centrifugal pump that transfers phosphoric acid from one vacuum evaporator to another. The suction line comes off the vapor body and drops about 50 ft to the pump inlet. The suction line has a U-shaped line above and below the liquid level, and a pipe comes off the mid-point of the U and drops down to the pump (acting as a siphon break). Problem is, the pump gets beat up since the suction line isn't flooded full-time. The line fills up with acid - the pump catches up and empties the suction line - then bangs around while the suction line fills up again.
We're experimenting with an additional line from the pump suction back up to the vacuum source, but no luck so far getting the pump to run smoothly.
Would adding a small recirculation line from the pump discharge to the pump suction keep the inlet flooded? I thought the vacuum belt filter manufacturers had this figured out, but can't remember the trick.
We're experimenting with an additional line from the pump suction back up to the vacuum source, but no luck so far getting the pump to run smoothly.
Would adding a small recirculation line from the pump discharge to the pump suction keep the inlet flooded? I thought the vacuum belt filter manufacturers had this figured out, but can't remember the trick.
