MechChem Africa March-April 2023

⎪ Water, wastewater and pumping solutions ⎪

Left: A Grindex Bravo being tested at the company's in-house test facility to ensure it meets OEM specifications. Right: Grindex Maxi pump units being boxed for export to a mine in Africa.

giving pump users peace of mind with respect to protection and en ergy use. “The SMART surveillance unit embedded in Grindex pumps is also 100% compatible with generators. This ensures that, even during extended periods without mains, the pumps can continue to operate reliably and efficiently, preventing downtime or production loss,” Bawden adds. Describing the energy saving role of a pump level sensor, he says dewatering pumps can automatically be switched off when the water in a pond or sump reaches a safe level and, as soon as the level rises, the pumps will automatically switch on again. This improves reliability and minimises unnecessary energy use. Pumps that cannot access features such this will continue to pump regardless of the water level. Eventually, no water will be pumped, but the pump will continue to operate on the far left of its curve. Not only is this a waste of energy, but it will also cause the pump to overheat, potentially causing damage,” Bawden points out. Most important is that the pumps being used are well matched to the duty required by the application: primarily in terms of flow rates and pressure heads, but also in terms of the specific media being pumped and the surrounding environment. “We like to visit a site and analyse the pumping requirement before coming up with a solution. This allows us to make the best recommendation possible for match ing specific onsite needs and the duty, configuration, performance and efficiency required of the Grindex pumps. Our approach is to carefully consider the pump application and all the factors involved to see how they may affect the whole pumping system. “In many of the surveys we have conducted, there is large 45 kW pump, for example, operating in an application where 18 kW would be sufficient. The extra pumping power is just wasting energy and, over time, costing a fortune. In terms of safety factors, it is more efficient, more reliable and less expensive to buy a second standby pump than to install a pump that is twice the necessary size. “The most energy efficient solution will always be the one where the pump units meet the application duty at minimum consumption – and right-sized Grindex pumps can almost always outperform competitors,” Bawden notes, adding that right sizing pumps to operate at their best efficiency also maximises pump reliability and extends service intervals. Pumps do wear, however, so a planned maintenance programme is necessary to maintain pump efficiency. “If mostly pumping clean water, then service intervals can be longer, but abrasive slurries with stones and grit will cause impeller wear. Then a timely service programme is advisable to find out how much the pump duty and efficiency has been compromised and to restore it to its best possible condition.

“It is always good to check that a pump is still running as expected. At Integrated Pump Technology we have a fully operational service facil ity with testing equipment and a test bay where we can run a pump to make sure it is operating on its pump curve at best efficiency. If not, we offer a full range of repair services, from installing a basic repair kit to doing a full pump refurbishment to OEM specifications. “It is never worth taking shortcuts. A refurbished pump from Integrated Pump Technology looks and performs as if it were brand new,” concludes Justin Bawden. www.pump-technology.com

March-April 2023 • MechChem Africa ¦ 9