In the ancient period itself, the concept of good pump has discovered and moved on that period, there were many progressions and changes that happened in the development of the pump’s design, construction, functioning, and others. The one kind of pump which we are going to discuss today is “Submersible Pump”. In the year 1916, Armais Sergeevich Arutunoff initially coined this pump, and the first usage was after the 1950’s only. Initially, these submersible pumps were designed to implement in the industries of mining, water wells, and shipping. Then, the modifications in the design of the pump allowed to use in oil wells too. With the additional improvements in the Arutunoff’s design, many kinds of submersible pumps were evolved and those were now in implementation in many industries. So, this article is all about a submersible pump, working, benefits, and many others.
What is a Submersible Pump?
A submersible pump which is also termed as an electric submersible pump and the name itself defines that it is completely submerged in the fluid. This device has an air-tight closed motor which is closely attached to the body of the motor. To be suitable for immersion, there are many kinds of submersible pumps such as to be submerged in tank, container, or in well and others. These devices are bounded within the compartments those are oil-filled having no contact with the pushing material. Submersible pump diagram is shown as below:
Submersible Pump
Submersible Pumps Working
These pumps are considered as multi-level centrifugal pumps operating in the vertical position. Fluids that are augmented by impeller will drop off their kinetic energy in the diffuser and here the conversion of kinetic energy to pressure happens. This is the fundamental principle of both mixed flow and radial pumps. Whereas in the hydraulic submersible pumps, the motor is of hydraulic type other than the electric ones and in the case of closed-cycle the power liquid is kept isolated from the generated liquid. And in the open cycle, there will be a mixing of the generated fluid and the power fluid with that of surface isolation.
The shaft of the pump is connected either to the protector or gas separator through mechanical coupling at the pump bottom side. The liquid moves into the pump via the ingesting screen and then elevated by the pump levels. The other components consist of bushings that are located all across the shaft length thus offering radial assistance to the shaft. In most of the cases, a thrust bearing handles a portion of the axial forces that arise in the pump, but these forces are maximumly captivated through the protector’s thrust bearing. There even exist various types of screw kind submersible pumps, where there will be a steel screw that operates as a functioning component. This screw permits the pump to operate water even in extreme impurity conditions.
Types
A few of the basic types of submersible pumps and are described below:
Types of Submersible Pumps
Bladder Pumps
Bladder pumps are considered a positive movement, pneumatically functioned, and non-interactive pumps that utilize compressed air. It has a casing that surrounds a supple bladder and this is constructed of polyethylene. Beneath the bladder, there will be a connection of screen and this is used to sieve any components those might combine with the check valves. These bladder pumps ae function either by compressed nitrogen tanks, air, and air compressors.
Bladder Pump
These kinds of submersible pumps are mostly suggested for ecological sampling having greater depths almost above 28 ft and basically for wells. To implement bladder pumps for the sampling of groundwater, then a controller is necessary where this permits fo r the flow rate handling.
Utility Pumps
Submersible utility pumps are of so unique and multi-usage pumps.
Utility Submersible Pump
There any many features available in this kind of pump. The characteristics are:
- Variable speed pumps function at certain speed rate chosen by the operator
- Continuous duty pumps keep delivering complete performance maintained at 100 percent duty cycles.
- Self-priming pumps are used for the creation and maintenance of exact vacuum levels adequate for the ingestion of fluid having no kind of outer support.
- Even utility pumps come up with the features of having a suction, battery management, grinding machine, and thermal excess load shielding.
Well Pumps
These submersible well pumps are constructed to function below the ground’s surface. Similar to the sump which is in most of homes, this pump will not function properly if it is not completely immersed in the fluid. Again, these are classified as deep-well and shallow-well submersible pumps. In general, a submersible well pump has a cylinder that is of 3-5 inches in width. Sealing of the motor averts the flow of water to come inside and thus prevents short-circuiting for the motor.
Fountain Pumps
These are utilized for supplying water for fountains and for the machines that are utilized for aesthetic situations and for aeration in the engineering, and commercial applications. Fountain pumps are even constructed for the usage of either internally or externally and those are designed based on the pool size and many other factors. Even a few of the fountain pumps are energized by solar power and they operate along with the well pump to generate landscape scenarios like that of waterfalls.
A few of the other kinds of submersible pumps are:
- Borehole pumps
- Grinder pumps
- Stainless steel
- Bottom suction
- Oil-filled
Grinder Pumps
It is a wastewater transportation device that pumps the wastewater from household appliances like bathtubs, toilets, washing machines. The wastewater pumping can be done through the pipes used in homes to holding tank. When the wastewater in the tank attains a precise level, the will be turned on to crush the wastage into a well slurry then it pumps into the septic tank. The installation of these pumps can be done within the yard or basement.
Deep Well Pumps
These pumps are one kind of submersible pumps that are used in municipal areas. This pump is placed underwater by connecting with the motor for running. Once the pumps begin working, they have to submerge into the water totally. These pumps are used to push freshwater as well as light acidic water.
Stainless Steel Pumps
These pumps are complete covers with stainless steel and have acidic resistance highly. These pumps are used to push light acidic water and warm water frequently. The water source like well can be protected through its unique cast so that freshwater moves normally. The whole pump can be submerged within the water while it’s working.
Bottom Suction Pumps
Bottom suction pumps are used in lakes, rivers, pools, and mining dewatering. The designing of these pumps can be done using a guide sleeve beneath the water pump. These pumps utilize the water from the bottom of the pump and also include a high-class cooling characteristic of an electric motor. The evaluation of these pumps compare with other types of pumps is easy while its installation, which contains a tall head.
Water Cooler Pumps
Generally, these pumps are used in the areas of industrial, irrigation, and residential. These pumps are used underwater like oil full pumps. The operation of this pump can be done by connecting a motor like a water cooler submersible for operating under the water. These pumps are used to push the water wherever high-quality water is used.
Oil Filled Pumps
These pumps use oil-filled immersion motors and these are used in wells, irrigation, water supply for drainage systems in industries for pushing clean water, and hill residential mountain areas, etc. The motors within the pump can be cooled by filling oil in the heated motors. So that the motor can get cool. Fitting these is extremely handy and easy.
Some other types of submersible pumps are fountain, axial & mixed flow, borehole, utility pumps, etc.
Applications of Submersible Pumps
There are extensive applications of submersible pumps and those are:
- Single-stage pumps are utilized for slurry pumping, sewage, industrial and drainage purposes.
- Multi-stage pumps are implemented in municipal, engineering, and commercial applications.
- Sewage treatment, drilling rigs, irrigation, oil wells, and artificial lifts.
- Submersible pumps are even utilized in the production of oil to offer a comparatively effective type of “artificial lift”, which is able to function all among various ranges of depths and sped flow.
Finally, this is a comprehensive overview of submersible pumps, how they operate, types involved in these pumps, how they are chosen based on the purpose and their applications. From the range of 20 Lpm to that of 28,000 LPm, there are various kinds of these pumps available. Know about the submersible pump efficiency also which is more helpful for the assessment of performance?
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