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FROM THE EDITOR

The search for sustainability is on. In our cover

series on potable water, you’ll find multiple ways
the industry is tackling aging infrastructure,
disaster preparedness, environmental impact
and more. Kicking off our cover series on page
32, read about how public water systems can EDITORIAL
preserve water and reduce the environmental
EDITOR: Amy Hyde
impact of water loss using insertion valves. ahyde@cahabamedia.com • 205-314-8274
On page 35, we learn the importance of water
MANAGING EDITOR: Drew Champlin
safety and how natural organic matter (NOM) dchamplin@cahabamedia.com • 205-314-8264
can impact potable water treatment. On page IMAGE 1: The start of construciton on a well MANAGING EDITOR: Melody Manasco
50, learn how micro-hydro turbine technology project in Cambodia to install a clean water pump
mmanasco@cahabamedia.com • 659-202-6637
can recapture wasted energy and alert water (Image courtesy of neverthirst)
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Dillan Wright
providers to potential issues before a leak or main break. dwright@cahabamedia.com • 205-961-3390
On page 38, Managing Editor Melody Manasco covers the different pump types
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Lev Nelik, Jim Elsey,
charitable organizations install in communities lacking access to clean water. She details Amin Almasi
the differences in the pump features, along with the maintenance and other considerations
CREATIVE SERVICES
that go into selecting the right pump. According to neverthirst Chief Strategy Officer Jason
ART DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Chick
Berry, the pump types installed have to be carefully selected “based on geography,
hydrology, community preference, government requirements and the ability of the DIGITAL PROJECT MANAGER: Greg Ragsdale
community to maintain completed water infrastructure.” Check out that article to learn more WEB DEVELOPER: Greg Caudle
about the other factors that go into deciding which pump technology to install and how CIRCULATION
you can find out more about the six incredible organizations featured. Does your company SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES & INQUIRIES:
donate to or volunteer for a clean water organization? Let us know by emailing us at pumpsandsystems@omeda.com
pumpeditors@cahabamedia.com.
ADVERTISING
Looking for more opportunities for training? This issue also features five of our upcoming
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER:
webinars. We’ve got topics covering everything from air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD)
pumps to thermoplastics. You can register for these learning opportunities and more at Derrell Moody
pumpsandsystems.com/webinars. dmoody@pump-zone.com • 205-961-3379
As always, thanks for reading. SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES:
Mark Goins
mgoins@pump-zone.com • 205-310-7081
Gannon Greene
ggreene@cahabamedia.com • 205-278-2876
Amy Hyde, Editor Garrick Stone
ahyde@cahabamedia.com gstone@pump-zone.com • 205-212-9406
CLIENT SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE:
Presley Dean
pdean@cahabamedia.com

PUBLISHER: Matthew G. Conroy

VP OF SALES: Greg Meineke
Pumps & Systems DIRECTOR OF FINANCE: Brandon Whittemore
is a member of the following organizations:
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: Laurie Tisdale
PUMPS & SYSTEMS (ISSN# 1065-108X) is published monthly by Cahaba Media Group, 1900 28th Avenue S., Suite 200, Birmingham, AL 35209.
Periodicals postage paid at Birmingham, AL, and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: Free of charge to qualified industrial pump users.
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the factual accuracy of any advertisements, articles or descriptions herein, nor does the publisher warrant the validity of any views or opinions
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submission yourself or to allow others to republish your submission. Submissions will not be returned. Volume 31, Issue 5. 205-212-9402

2 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023

IN THIS ISSUE
MAY 2023

COLUMNS

16 GUEST COLUMN
Vibration, Operation,
Reliability & Maintenance
COVER SERIES: of Pumps
POTABLE WATER 32 By Amin Almasi,
Principal Machinery/Mechanical
32 Maintaining Service & Reducing Consultant
Water Loss During Drought
By Steve Fuller, 18 GUEST COLUMN
HYDRA-STOP Improving Mean Time
Between Repairs of
35 Attaining Pure Drinking Centrifugal Pumps
Water Through Dissolved By Michael Key,
Organics Measurement Key Pump & Gear, LLC.
By Nikodem Siwek,
ABB

38 Pumping Technology in Rural

Communities Around the Globe EVERY ISSUE
By Melody Manasco,
PUMPS & SYSTEMS
2 FROM THE EDITOR
40 Important Considerations in 8 NEWS
48 The Life of a Reverse Osmosis
the Design of Water Pumps Membrane, Part 1 68 PRODUCTS
By Alex Moser,
By Wes Byrne,
HYDRAULIC INSTITUTE 69 ADVERTISERS INDEX
KURITA AMERICA

46 Choose the Right 70 PUMP USERS

50 Sustainable Water Solutions MARKETPLACE
Mechanical Seal for Potable
Generate Energy With New Tech
Water Production
for Control Valves 72 PUMP MARKET ANALYSIS
By Kai Krueger & Bill Pritchett,
By Gregg Semler,
JOHN CRANE
INPIPE ENERGY

SPECIAL SECTION: VALVES & ACTUATORS

20 Preventing Water 26 The Advantages of

Hammer With Variable Top-Entry Ball Valves in
Speed Actuators Severe Service Applications
By Craig Mizer, By Nang Chau & Tim Cassel,
AUMA ITT, Inc.

24 Selecting an Actuator for 30 Choose the Right Valve

Optimal System Actuator for Your System
Performance By Gilbert Welsford &

26
By Zachary Lehmann, Jason Welsford,
ASAHI/AMERICA VALVEMAN

4 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023

 For hydraulic mixing without headaches, choose the reliable Vaughan
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IN THIS ISSUE
MAY 2023

54
✚ PLUS DEPARTMENTS

53 Differential Pressure Sensors 60 EFFICIENCY 101 66 SEALING SENSE

for Data Center Applications 10 Benefits of Packaged Where to Find Technical
By Steve St. Hilaire, Pump Systems Information About Rubber
ASHCROFT By Gautam Das, Expansion Joints
GRUNDFOS By James M. Gannatal,
54 Automatic Lubrication for FSA MEMBER,
Bottling Operations 62 MOTORS & DRIVES PROCO PRODUCTS, INC.
By Jack Koenig, Intuitive Pumping & Data
GRACO Accessibility
By Brett Mernin,
57 Digital Twin Technology & Its CONTROL TECHNIQUES
Applications in HVAC Systems
By Anne-Laurence Chevalier, 65 HI PUMP FAQS
ARMSTRONG FLUID TECHNOLOGY
Pumps as a Package &
Pressure Relief Valves for
Positive Displacement Pumps 62

Editorial Advisory Board

THOMAS L. ANGLE, P.E., MSC,
Geschaeftsleiter (CEO), Swiss Flow
Solutions GmbH
R. THOMAS BROWN III, President,
Advanced Sealing International (ASI)
KEVIN CLARK, Vice President,
Industrial Strategy, Accruent
BOB DOMKOWSKI, Business
Development Manager/Engineering
Consultant, Xylem, Inc., Water
Solutions USA – Flygt
JIM DRAGO, Principal Applications
Engineer, Garlock Sealing
Technologies
JIM ELSEY, General Manager,
Summit Pump, Inc.
JOE EVANS, Ph.D., Customer &
Employee Education, PumpTech, Inc.
ROB LAIRD, Practice Leader,
Woodard & Curran
LARRY LEWIS, President, Vanton
Pump and Equipment Corp.
TODD LOUDIN, Head of Valmet
Maryland & Head of Mining & Metals
North & South America
JOHN MALINOWSKI, Industrial
Motor Consultant
MICHAEL MICHAUD, Executive
Director, Hydraulic Institute
LEV NELIK, Ph.D., P.E., APICS,
International Center for Pumps
Research and Development, Israel
HENRY PECK, CEO, Geiger
Pump & Equipment Company
MICHAEL ROMANO, Global Strategic
Account Leader, Sundyne
MICHELE SHAUGHNESSY,
Vice President Marketing & Sales,
PSG Dover
SCOTT SORENSEN, Oil & Gas
Automation Consultant & Market
Developer, Siemens Industry Sector
ADAM STOLBERG, Executive Director,
Submersible Wastewater Pump
Association (SWPA)
DOUG VOLDEN, Global Engineering
Director, John Crane
CHRIS WILDER, CEO, SEPCO

6 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023

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NEWS
NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS & RECOGNITIONS
VINCENT RADA,
PW TECH
ROSEDALE, Md. – Process Wastewater
Technologies LLC (PWTech) announced
the addition of Vincent Rada as sales
manager for the western United States
and Canada. Rada brings more than six
years of water industry experience and
will provide support for municipal and
industrial treatment facilities across the
region. The strategic hire is a response
to a sharp increase in demand for high
quality treatment systems to meet evolving
environmental requirements.
pwtech.us
ERIC JENKINS,
KSB SUPREMESERV
GROVETOWN, Ga. – Eric Jenkins
has been named sales director
for KSB SupremeServ in the
United States and will manage the
service sales across the nine networked
service centers.
Jenkins is a 30-year professional sales
veteran with more than 24 years in pump
and pump services across applications,
including nuclear power, fossil power water,
wastewater, pulp and paper and chemical
processing. He brings extensive sales
management experience from companies
including Flowserve and Johnson Pump. In
his recent role as nuclear sales for Sulzer
Pumps, he managed a top-performing sales
team and was in charge of sales strategy
development and execution.
ksb.com/en-us/services/ksb-
supremeserv-us
Mergers & Acquisitions
AcBel Polytech Inc. Acquires ABB’s
Power Conversion Division
March 3, 2023
Busch Vacuum Solutions U.S.
Acquires VESCO-McLaughlin, Inc.
March 6, 2023
8 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
BHUPESH KATAKKAR,
INVERTEK DRIVES
LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Bhupesh
Katakkar has joined Invertek
Drives. He has worked with
Invertek for more than nine years as a
sales partner with a detailed knowledge
of the automation sector and industries in
India. Katakkar has worked as an industrial
electronics engineer in the drives and
controls industry since 1992.
invertekdrives.com
MARK JOHNSON,
SAMOA CORPORATION
WEAVERVILLE, N.C. – Samoa Corporation
announced that Mark Johnson joined the
Samoa Corporation Process Division as
sales manager, North America. Johnson
has over 30 years of experience in the
industrial pump industry. He has an
extensive background in air-operated
double diaphragm pumps (AODD) with
several years of experience in AODD sales,
business development and marketing
functions with IDEX/Warren Rupp, IR/
ARO and Iwaki America/Iwaki Air. He
has a bachelor’s degree in marketing
and statistical rconomics from Kentucky
State University and a Master of Business
Administration from Clarion University of
Pennsylvania.
samoaindustrial.com/ww/en/Home
DOUG WRIGHT,
INDICOR, LLC
SARASOTA, Fla. – Indicor, LLC announced
that Doug Wright joined its board of
directors and became the company’s CEO,
effective April 1. As CEO, Wright will lead
the company’s continued growth with a
focus on expanding products and solutions,
enhancing user experience and increasing
channel access.
indicor.com
ROBERT CLOUTIER,
ASAHI/AMERICA
LAWRENCE, Mass. – Asahi/
America, Inc. announced the
addition of Robert Cloutier as
valve and actuation team manager to its
technical service team.
Cloutier comes to Asahi/America with
experience in chemical manufacturing and
custom equipment builders for the water
treatment market. Among his credentials,
Cloutier holds a bachelor’s degree in
business management from Plymouth
State University. He is also a certified
Massachusetts Class II Physical/Chemical
Industrial Waste Operator.
asahi-america.com
KAZUHITO TOJO,
MITSUBISHI HEAVY
INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
HOUSTON – Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries Compressor International
Corporation (MCO-I) named Kazuhito Tojo
as president and CEO. He succeeds Jun
Fukuda, who will return as an advisor at
MCO’s facility in Hiroshima, Japan.
Tojo’s leadership expertise brings a
wealth of knowledge to the MCO-I Pearland
Work’s facility as he demonstrates
efforts to increase the North American
turbomachinery footprint and enhance
after-sales capabilities.
mhi.com/group/mco/
KHALED AL-LABADI,
SUNDYNE
ARVADA, Colo. – Sundyne
announced that Khaled
(Kal) Al-Labadi joined the
company as vice president of product
line management. Kal will lead Sundyne’s
product line managers to accelerate
growth. Al-Labadil comes to Sundyne from
Cognex Corporation, where he served as
director of product marketing for their
Electronics Solutions business. Prior to
Cognex, Al-Labadi held several sales and
marketing leadership roles for Fortive
Corp’s (formerly Danaher) fluid sensing
and motion control businesses. Al-Labadi
has also held several operations leadership
roles for Eaton’s power transmission and
distribution businesses.
sundyne.com
—

AVAILABLE
CERTIFIED
TO NSF

9001:2015

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LEARN
MORE
R

SIM2305
NEWS
AROUND THE INDUSTRY
Hydraulic Institute Recognizes
Key Contributors Through
Annual Awards Program
PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Hydraulic
Institute (HI) 2023 Annual Conference,
held February 26 to March 2, concluded
with the presentation of awards for the
following distinguished categories:
Lifetime Achievement Award
HI recognized Aleksander Roudnev,
Weir Minerals North America, with
the 2022 Hydraulic Institute Lifetime
Achievement Award. This award is
selectively presented to individuals
who have demonstrated exceptional
contributions to the Hydraulic Institute
and the industry over many decades.
Member of the Year
Timothy Albers, director of product
management, commercial and
industrial motor division, Nidec Motor
Corporation, has been selected as the
2022 HI Member of the Year. This award
serves to recognize the contributions of
TRADE SHOW PREVIEW
AWWA/ACE
June 11-14
Enercare Centre,
Beanfield Centre, &
Headquarter Hotel
Toronto, Canada
There is a priceless value in connecting
with your peers in person. Take part in
the innovation shown in the exhibit hall
and attend sessions where conversations
take place that act as a catalyst for
change. Regardless of where you are
10 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
Upcoming Events
a member that has made a sustained
effort, over time, to advance the mission
of the Hydraulic Institute. AWWA/ACE
June 11-14
Standards Partner of the Year Enercare Centre, Beanfield Centre,
HI recognized Andrew Johansson, & Headquarter Hotel
director of hydraulic modeling and Toronto, Canada
consulting, Alden Research Laboratory, awwa.org/ace
Inc., as the 2022 Standards Partner of
the Year. The Standards Partner of the NFPA
Year award recognizes an individual
June 19-21
from this community whose insight and
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
participation has advanced the work of
Las Vegas, Nev.
the Hydraulic Institute through their
nfpa.org
exceptional volunteer leadership.
Young Engineer of the Year EASA
HI recognized Bryce Wells, R&D June 25-27
engineer specialist, Flowserve Gaylord National Resort &
Corporation, as the 2022 Young Convention Center
Engineer of the Year. This award is National Harbor, Md.
presented to a young engineer who has easa.com/convention
made significant accomplishments in
their position and has demonstrated PACK EXPO
exceptional voluntary leadership. September 11-13
pumps.org Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nev.
packexpolasvegas.com/the-show
TPS
September 26-28
Exhibition Hours George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas
Monday, June 12
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
tps.tamu.edu/exhibition/
WEFTEC
Tuesday, June 13
September 30 – October 4
9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
McCormick Place
Wednesday, June 14 Chicago, Ill.
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. weftec.org/exhibit/exhibit-in-2023/
in your career, there is something for initiative to collaborate and champion a
everyone at ACE. course for a successful and sustainable
Planning for the future is critical. Be water community.
a part of the water revolution that AWWA brings vast resources for the
addresses issues about the world’s most water community but Water 2050, that’s for
important resource. Water 2050 is an the future.
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ON THE CURVE

Pumps in Pop Culture:

In season 3, episode 1 of “Ted Lasso,” Lasso takes his team down into
the sewers of London where their tour guide mentions The Great Stink of
1858. This real-life event was caused by a hot summer
fermenting centuries worth of waste in the River Thames,
which led to engineer Joseph Bazalgette
creating an updated sewer plan for the
city that is still in use today.

On March 14, the Environmental President Joe

Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Biden’s 2024
proposed National Primary Drinking Budget Proposal
Water Regulation for six per- and aims to secure
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and funding for water
expects to finalize
resources including
the regulation by
the end of 2023.
PFAS research
If implemented,
and remediation, watershed
the rule will protection, infrastructure
prevent thousands improvements and more.
of deaths and
reduce tens of
thousands of serious
PFAS-related illnesses.

60,000
On average, a person will drink

liters of water in their lifetime.

“Studies have shown capturing even a fraction of rainwater could
eliminate drinking water shortages and recharge groundwater basins.”
- The Washington Post on rainwater farming

12 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023

FACES OF THE INDUSTRY
Stefanie Vaughan Marketing Director & Trade Show Coordinator
VAUGHAN COMPANY
Stefanie Vaughan and great-grandfather wanted a space
was destined to where our family could create a lasting
work for the family legacy for many generations to come.
business. She The countless friends I’ve made in the
joined Vaughan
industry throughout the world are a
Company at
age 16, starting spectacular bonus!
off answering
phones, making What is the most challenging part?
photocopies It’s the same as my favorite part of
and picking up my job—working with my family.
supplies from local vendors. Today, Communication, understanding and
Vaughan is the marketing director and
knowing healthy conflict is okay are ways
trade show and event coordinator for the
family-owned and -operated business
we keep things moving.
that manufactures centrifugal chopper
pumps, screw pumps, mixing equipment What are some of your long-term
and more. career goals?
If Vaughan Company has a presence Alongside my siblings and cousins, I want
at an event, you’re likely to find her there. to continue the Vaughan legacy for our
children and our future grandchildren.
What is your favorite part This includes our tradition of keeping up
of the job? with the needs of our wastewater industry
My favorite part of this job is having by continuing our innovative research
the opportunity to work with my family and development (R&D) projects to help
and friends every day. My grandfather solve the ever-evolving new sewage.
Ronald Hurst Engineering Manager
FLOWSERVE
Ronald Hurst something that is core to the company’s
joined Flowserve future success, and our team has been
in 2009 and was given the autonomy to build that out. It’s
on the fast track been a super interesting past 12 months.
to leadership. I’ve collaborated with peers all over the
Now, he serves world, and I have met so many great and
as engineering
interesting people. People are the reason
manager for
I come to work every day. My passion is
Flowserve’s
developing and advancing people and
Energy Advantage
Program. giving them a platform to be successful.
“I started by supporting as an inside That’s what I enjoy most about my job.
applications engineer and then moved
into the field at a few of our major What is your advice to college
customers’ sites,” Hurst said. “When I
students or young professionals
started, we had four engineers at the new to the industry?
facility and soon grew to 13. As the team I’ve spent a lot of my time as a manager
grew, we needed a supervisor, and I was doing recruiting events at career fairs
put in a leadership role in 2012.”
or smaller events, such as speaking to
the Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
What is your favorite part or the American Society of Mechanical
of the job? Engineers (ASME) student organizations.
I think this most recent role has been My message to those new to the industry
my favorite. It’s exciting to be part of is to let them know that our industry is
14 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
Personally, I will continue my volunteer
efforts with the vital associations of our
industry, including Water Environment
Federation (WEF), Submersible
Wastewater Pump Association
(SWPA), Pacific Northwest Clean Water
Association (PNCWA), etc. Another
goal is to continue to have Vaughan
Company work together with industry
professionals to provide solutions for
wastewater processes.
What is your advice to college
students or young professionals?
Don’t give up on your dreams. Volunteer.
Never be afraid to ask any question.
Know your worth. Ask for advice. I used
to suffer from impostor syndrome, and
I still do at times, but once I
acknowledged this, I was able to look
back at all I’ve done over the years to
realize I deserve to be in this space
because of my effort and determination.
I love the wastewater industry!
so broad and eclectic. You really must
prepare yourself to learn for the next
10 to 20 years. Even if you specialize in
something, there’s an incredibly large
spectrum of things you need to know. You
must be open to learning, listening and
being someone who is going to continue
to ride the micro learning curves along
the macro educational journey. Along
with that, there’s a huge emphasis on
collaboration. The sooner you realize you
cannot have all the answers and that
we need to tackle things with a village
approach, the more successful you will
be. A lot of times—because we deal
with complex problems and complex
equipment, machines and processes—
we need to rely on the collective
knowledge of not just people with more
experience, but people who have different
perspectives and experiences.
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GUEST COLUMN
Vibration, Operation, Reliability &
Maintenance of Pumps
AMIN ALMASI | Principal Machinery/Mechanical Consultant
A rotating shaft (or rotor) can generate
vibration and propagate it to the pump and
subsequently to surrounding equipment,
piping and facilities. The amplitude of
vibration usually varies with the speed
of the rotor/shaft. At critical speeds, the
amplitude of the vibration becomes large,
and the shaft experiences a resonant
vibration. Unbalance and misalignment are
important causes of vibration in pumps.
However, there have been other sources and
forms of vibration related to pumps.
Vibration—and particularly the vibration
due to unbalance and misalignment—have
been the focus of attention for operation,
performance, reliability and safety of
many pumps. A key point is a systematic
approach to the vibration, balancing,
alignment and monitoring (vibration
monitoring). Most of the investigations on
pump vibration, balancing, alignment and
vibrational condition monitoring have
been theoretical.
Special attention should be paid to
practical aspects and simplified methods
and rules for the operational applications
(for operators, plant engineers and experts).
This article discusses vibration in pumps
and the complexity and subtlety of issues
that may be encountered.
Vibration in Pumps
Pumps have been widely used in modern
plants and facilities. Through the years,
there has been a tendency to use faster,
higher power and better performing
pumps with lower vibration levels.
However, to fulfill these challenging goals,
it is necessary to better specify, operate
and maintain the pumps. This would
translate to better designing, modeling,
simulating, analyzing, manufacturing
and maintenance.
16 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
Excessive vibration can be an indication
of a developing problem or impending
failure. The vibration and associated
shaking/noises have been regarded as
sources of operational difficulties,
reliability issues, failures, discomfort and
safety concerns.
Vibration Components
The fundamental properties of the
vibration of rotors are usually discussed
based on traditional and simplified
explicit formulations. In this way, the
vibration of the rotor can theoretically be
divided into two major parts: free vibration
and forced vibration.
Vibration has two major components,
namely a forward vibration and a backward
vibration. In the forward component,
the rotor follows a spiral path around
the bearing axis in the direction of shaft
rotation. Conversely, in backward vibration,
the rotor center moves in a spiral path
around the bearing axis in the direction
opposite to the shaft rotation. If the pump
is manufactured and operated well, the
free vibration will usually decay rapidly,
thus making the forced vibration the
principal concern.
There have been different challenges
and difficulties in vibration analysis,
vibration monitoring and their
interpretations. Too often, with increasing
vibration frequencies, correlation between
calculated/analytical vibrations and
experimental/actual readings becomes
increasingly difficult because of the
complex mode shapes.
Practical Pumps & Resonances
For many categories of pumps, such as
those with variable-speed capabilities, it is
not practical to design and build a pump
which is clear by reasonable margins from
resonances between all possible periodic
disturbances (excitations) and all possible
natural modes of vibration.
Resonance situations are often
unavoidable, as in the case for variable-
speed electric motor drivers (VSDs) or
variable-speed steam turbines, gas turbines
and engines. In practice, the pump train
should be dimensioned accordingly to cope
with the resonances. Some resonance cases
are not practically risky due to reasons like
high damping involved in the mode.
For others, a proper mitigation method
should be formulated. One mitigation
method is achieved by reducing the
excitation loads acting on the vibrational
mode(s). For instance, the excitation forces
due to unbalance and component weight
variations can be minimized by proper
balancing. These excitation forces can
normally be reduced by 70% to 80% from
the original/ordinary level.
For a real excitation in pumps (actual
resonance), the direction of the excitation
should match the natural mode shape in a
way that the natural mode can be excited
by that excitation loading (or action).
Most often, it is possible to live with the
resonance if the excitation direction does
not match the natural mode shape. For
instance, a bending excitation cannot
usually excite at a natural frequency of
torsion. In rare cases, there might be a
coupled torsional-lateral resonance case.
The possibility of such a special case or rare
circumstance should be properly evaluated.
The worst possible resonance situation
is congruity of the natural mode shape
and the excitation mode shape at the
same frequency. Under certain conditions,
some compliances would be enough for an
excitation to excite a mode shape.
 Also, there could be complicated
Intelligent Motor Control
coupled cases where a specific excitation
would excite an unlikely mode through for Your Pumping Needs
a coupled vibrational mechanism. By
comparing the excitation patterns and Water Management in Agriculture,
Irrigation & Municipal Water
natural mode shapes, it is possible to form
an impression of whether the excitation at
a particular frequency or harmonic order
is risky/dangerous for the pump or not. Treatment Applications
Actual experiences, accurate testing and
operational reference checks are ways to
evaluate how risky a theoretical resonance
case is.

Misalignment
Misalignment is a major source of
pump vibration. Limited accuracy in the
alignment of shafts and couplings is
usually a key challenge. There are
typically small offsets of the rotor center
lines (radial offset) and angular deviations
of the connection, for instance, due to
out-of-squareness coupling flanges.
Therefore, there are always some vibrations
due to misalignment.
When the coupling halves are forced
together by bolting, the rotation of the
shaft produces a rotating pair of forces
caused by radial offset and a rotating
pair of bending moments caused by the
misalignment. For the misalignment, there
are typically two events per each rotation
of the shaft/rotor and the signature
vibration excitation speed is two times the
shaft speed.
For many pumps, the operating speed Pump Drive F600 is
range and/or their harmonics interfere with
the critical speeds (natural frequencies).
available in Wall Mount &
Therefore, the aim is to avoid risky Free-Standing packages
resonances, problems and failures. The up to 700 HP
associated risk assessments are based
on proper simulations and operational
experiences.
Remote access &
Intuitive interface
Amin Almasi is a principal machinery/mechanical
consultant in Australia. He is a chartered professional
engineer of Engineers Australia (MIEAust CPEng–
Mechanical) and IMechE (CEng MIMechE).
He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of
Science in mechanical engineering and is a RPEQ
(Registered Professional Engineer in Queensland).
He has authored more than 200 papers and articles
dealing with pumps, rotating equipment, mechanical
equipment, condition monitoring and reliability. ctdrives.com/pump
PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 17
GUEST COLUMN
Improving Mean Time Between Repairs
of Centrifugal Pumps
MICHAEL KEY | Key Pump & Gear, LLC.
In an industrial plant environment, the
mean time between repairs (MTBR) metric
is the key measurement in assessing the
reliability of American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) centrifugal pumps.
While most centrifugal pumps will run a
minimum of 18 to 24 months, exceeding 24
months is the goal. The best-case scenario
would be to perform regularly scheduled
preventative maintenance while the pump
is in service.
The implications of reliability extend
beyond just the loss
of production while
the pump is out
of service. Supply
chain shortages and
inflation have caused
both an increase in the
cost of the repair parts
as well as much longer
lead times on items
that in past years were readily available.
ANSI centrifugal pumps break down
for a variety of reasons. Overheating due
to insufficient lubrication, cavitation
when pressure inside the pump drops,
corrosion when pumping corrosive
liquids, misalignment of the pump shaft,
mechanical wear and improper installation
of pump components are just a few
examples of what might cause a pump to
break down.
When the pump fails, it will need to be
removed from its foundation and taken
to the pump shop for repairs. Once in the
pump shop, the likely failed components
will be the bearings, seals, impeller or the
casing. All of these items could possibly
be damaged.
To extend the MTBR of your ANSI
centrifugal pumps, there are several
measures reliability machinists can use.
18 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
The most important thing is to make sure
the pump is repaired properly before it
leaves the pump shop. Meticulous care
needs to be taken when reassembling and
balancing. Look closely at the cover and
make sure there has been no damage.
Inspect the pump shaft thoroughly for
any damage. Using a dial indicator, ensure
the lift and thrust movements are to the
pump’s specifications. You will also want to foundation bolts.
replace the mechanical seal, making sure
to choose the correct seal for the pump
While most centrifugal pumps will
run a minimum of 18 to 24 months,
exceeding 24 months is the goal.
as indicated. Make sure to lubricate the
O-rings going on the shaft to prevent issues the performance and life expectancy of
when applying the seal and cover back on
the pump. Carefully inspect the impeller
for damage. Impeller vanes can become
sharp while in service. Many times, the
impeller will need to be replaced. Reinstall certainly be extended when you properly
the impeller and new gasket, making
sure to use the proper tool for the job to
ensure the impeller is tightened properly
and not damaged.
Once back in the field, you will want
to make sure the pump is properly
bolted and the pump and motor are
properly aligned. Regular maintenance
such as lubrication and checking the
foundation bolts are properly tightened
can go a long way toward preventing future
failures and extending pump life. Regular
monitoring of the pump can identify
problems early on.
Vibration analysis should be regularly
performed, as pump vibration of any kind
is deemed a problem. If you can visibly
see vibration, you will need to shut down
the pump and take it out of service. A
handheld vibration mic may display a small
problem that can wait. Most of the time, the
vibration is caused by an internal problem,
but you may just have to tighten the
Operating the pump within its designed
parameters, such as the flow rate and
head pressure, can
prevent the pump
from overheating. If
continuously pumping
corrosive material, the
impeller can become
damaged. A fiberglass
pump could be a better
fit for that application.
Using the best
quality of impellers and seals can improve
the pump. Qualified machinists properly
trained and certified will make certain the
work is performed right.
ANSI centrifugal pump MTBR can
repair, maintain, monitor and operate your
ANSI centrifugal pumps with certified
reliability professionals.
Get More Info
For more articles
on MTBR, visit
pumpsandsystems.com/
tags/mtbr.
Michael Key is president of Key Pump and Gear,
LLC. For more information, visit keypng.com.
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VALVES & ACTUATORS
Preventing Water Hammer With Variable
Speed Actuators
Neglecting the potential consequences of this major concern can have disastrous effects.
CRAIG MIZER | AUMA
Water hammer can be a major concern
in pumping systems and should be a
consideration for designers for several
reasons. If not addressed, it can cause a
host of issues, from damaged piping and
supports to cracked and ruptured piping
components. At worst, it may even cause
injury to plant personnel.
What Is Water Hammer?
Water hammer happens when there is a
surge in pressure and flow rate of fluid in
a piping system, causing rapid changes in
pressure or force. High pressures can result
in piping system failure, such as leaking
joints or burst pipes. Support components
can also experience strong forces from
surges or even sudden flow reversal. Water
hammer can occur with any fluid inside
any pipe, but its severity varies depending
upon the conditions of both the fluid and
pipe. Usually this occurs in liquids, but it
can also occur with gases.
How Does Water Hammer Occur &
What Are the Consequences?
Increased pressure occurs every time a
fluid is accelerated or impeded by pump
condition or when a valve position changes.
Normally, this pressure is small, and the
rate of change is gradual, making water
hammer practically undetectable. Under
some circumstances, many pounds of
pressure may be created and forces on
supports can be great enough to exceed
their design specifications. Rapidly opening
or closing a valve causes pressure transients
in pipelines that can result in pressures
well over steady state values, causing water
20 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
surge that can critically damage pipes and
process control equipment. The importance
of controlling water hammer in pump
stations is widely recognized by utilities
and pump stations.
Preventing Water Hammer
Typical water hammer triggers include
pump startup/shutdown, power failure and
sudden opening/closing of line valves. A
simplified model of the flowing cylindrical
fluid column would resemble a metal
cylinder suddenly being stopped by a
concrete wall. Solving these water hammer
challenges in pumping systems requires
either reducing its effects or preventing it
from occurring. There are many solutions
system designers need to keep in mind
when developing a pumping system.
Pressure tanks, surge chambers or similar
accumulators can be used to absorb
pressure surges, which are all useful tools in
the fight against water hammer. However,
preventing the pressure surges from
occurring in the first place is often a better
strategy. This can be accomplished by
using a multiturn variable speed actuator
to control the speed of the valve’s closure
rate at the pump’s outlet.
The advancement of actuators and their
controls provide opportunities to use them
for the prevention of water hammer. Here
are three cases where addressing water
hammer was a key requirement. In all
cases, a linear characteristic was essential
for flow control from a high-volume pump.
If this had not been achieved, a hammer
effect would have resulted, potentially
damaging the station’s water system.
Case 1:
Preventing Water Hammer in
Booster Pump Stations
IMAGE 1: Colorado’s ECCV Southern Booster
Pump Station fitted with ball valves operated by
variable speed, multiturn actuators for safe, high
volume pump control (Images courtesy of AUMA)
Design Challenge
The East Cherry Creek Valley (ECCV)
Southern Booster Pump Station in Colorado
was fitted with high-volume pumps and
used pump check valves for flow control.
To avoid water hammer and potentially
serious system damage, the application
required a linear flow characteristic. The
design challenge was to obtain linear flow
from a ball valve, which typically exhibits
nonlinear flow characteristics as it is
closed/opened.
Solution
By using a variable speed actuator, valve
position was set to achieve different stroke
positions over intervals of time. With this,
the ball valve could be driven closed/open
at various speeds to achieve a more linear
fluid flow change. Additionally, in the event
of a power failure, the actuator can now be
Re-engineering &
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VALVES & ACTUATORS
IMAGE 2: Pump control valve operating
time characteristics
set to close the valve and drain the system
at a predetermined emergency curve.
The variable speed actuator chosen had
the capability to control the valve position
based on preset times. The actuator could
be programmed for up to 10 time set points,
with corresponding valve positions. The
speed of valve opening or closing could
then be controlled to ensure the desired
set position was achieved at the correct
time. This advanced flexibility produces
linearization of the valve characteristics,
allowing full port valve selection and/
or significantly reduced water hammer
when closing the valves. The actuators’
integrated controls were programmed to
create linear acceleration and deceleration
of water during normal pump operation.
Additionally, in the event of electrical
power loss, the actuators ensured rapid
closure via backup from an uninterruptible
power supply (UPS). Linear flow rate
change was also provided, and this
ensured minimum system transients and
easy calibration/adjustment of the speed-
time curve.
Due to its variable speed capability, the
variable speed actuator met the challenges
of this installation. A travel dependent,
adjustable positioning time provided by
the variable speed actuators generated
a linear flow through the ball valve. This
enabled fine tuning of operating speeds
through ten different positions to prevent
water hammer.
Case 2:
Water Hammer & Cavitation
Protection During Valve Operation
Design Challenge
22 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
IMAGE 3: Actuator mounted to 1-inch
butterfly valve
In the area of Oura, Australia, water is
pumped from multiple bore holes into a
collection tank, which is then pumped into
a holding tank. Three pumps are each
equipped with 12-inch butterfly valves to
control the water flow.
To protect the valve seats from damage
caused by water cavitation or the pumps
from running dry in the event of water loss,
the butterfly valves must be capable of
rapid closure. Such operation creates huge
hydraulic forces, known as water hammer.
These forces are sufficient to cause
pipework damage and must be avoided.
Solution
Fitting the valves with part-turn, variable
speed actuators allows different closure
speeds to be set during valve operation.
When closing from fully open to 30% open,
a rapid closure rate is set. To avoid water
hammer, during the 30% to 5% open phase,
the actuator slows down to an eighth of its
previous speed. Finally, during the final
5% to complete closure, the actuator
speeds up again to reduce cavitation and
consequent valve seat damage. Total valve
operation time from open to close is around
three and a half minutes.
IMAGE 4: Speed profile provided by the
variable speed actuator to minimize water hammer
and cavitation
The variable speed actuator chosen
had the capability to change output
speed based on its position of travel. This
advanced flexibility produced linearization
of valve characteristics, allowing simpler
valve selection and reducing water
hammer. The valve speed is defined by a
maximum of 10 interpolation points which
can be precisely set in increments of 1% of
the open position. Speeds can then be set
for up to seven values (n1-n7) based on the
actuator type.
Case 3:
Variable Speed Actuation: Process
Control & Pump Protection
IMAGE 5: Brine wellhead with associated pipework
and installed actuator
Design Challenge
In Mid Cheshire, United Kingdom, a
chemical company used several hundred
brine wells, each using pumps to transfer
brine from the well to saturator units. The
flow is controlled using pump delivery
recycle butterfly valves driven by actuators.
Under normal operation, when a reduced
flow is detected, the actuator which
controls the valve is opened over a period
of 80 seconds. However, if a reverse flow is
detected, then the valve needs to be closed
in 10 seconds to protect the pump. Different
actuation speeds are required for opening,
closing and emergency closure to ensure
protection of the pump.
Solution
The variable speed actuator is able to
provide up to seven different opening/
closing speeds. These can be programmed
independently for open, close, emergency
open and emergency close.
 IMAGE 6: This graph illustrates the ability to
program the actuator with different speeds
for routine opening (green)/closing (blue) and
emergency closure (red) of valves.

Mitigate Effects of Water Hammer

Improving valve modulation is one solution
to consider when addressing water hammer
concerns in a pumping system. Variable
speed actuators and controls provide
pump system designers the flexibility to
continuously control the valve’s operating
speed and accuracy of reaching setpoints,
another task apart from closed-loop control.
Additionally, emergency safe shutdown
can be provided using variable speed
actuation. With the capability of continuing
operation using a pump station emergency
generator, the actuation technology can
offer a failsafe option.
In other words, if a power failure occurs,
the actuator will close in emergency
mode in various speeds using power from
a UPS system, allowing for the system to
drain. The positioning time curves can be
programmed individually for close/open
direction and for emergency mode.
Variable speed, multiturn actuators
are also a solution for open-close duty
situations. This design can provide a soft
start from the beginning position and
soft stop upon reaching the end position.
This level of control avoids mechanical
pressure surges (i.e., water hammer) that
can contribute to premature component
degradation. The variable speed actuator’s
ability to provide this control positively
impacts maintenance intervals and extends
the lifetime of system components.

Craig Mizer is the engineering manager at AUMA

Actuators, Inc. located in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
Mizer oversees the engineering activities supporting
AUMA’s North American sales and manufacturing.
For more information, visit auma.com.

PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 23
VALVES & ACTUATORS
Selecting
an Actuator
for Optimal
System
Performance
Identify what types of
automation are possible and
what level of control and
accuracy is needed.
ZACHARY LEHMANN | Asahi/America
Over the last century, upgrades and
developments in thermoplastic valve and
piping systems have been installed in a
growing range of industries. Actuators,
which play an important role in
automating these systems, have evolved
into smaller and more efficient units since
the torque requirements to operate these
valves have dropped.
Advancements in actuation have
improved the size and reduced the cost
of these systems, while also providing
more reliable control options. These
improvements have contributed to the
efficiency of both the most advanced
fully automated systems that use data
communication protocols and even the
simplest remote shutoff valves.
Power Sources
Selecting an actuator for a system
typically starts with the power source that
is available to control the unit. Actuators
usually use one of two methods for power
creation: pneumatic or electric inputs.
Pneumatic actuators use a simple piston
arrangement to turn a compressed liquid
or gas into rotatory torque output. The
most basic forms of pneumatic pistons are
rack and pinions and scotch yoke designs.
24 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
IMAGE 1: Double acting versus spring return torque outputs for rack and pinion and scotch yoke
actuator designs.
Scotch yokes are typically cheaper for a
bigger torque output but have a nonlinear
function of stroke, which is a major
difference when compared to rack and
pinion design. Rack and pinion actuators
can have a smaller frame, and they control
positional inputs more efficiently due to
their constant torque output. Pneumatic
actuators are ideal for applications that
need to be immediately operated, given
that cycle times are under a second for
most valve sizes. An example of a system
that may benefit from faster cycle times
is an emergency overflow tank that needs
quick outlet lines to open up to avoid
flooding a designated area.
Electric actuators take a defined voltage
signal to power a motor that will give the IMAGE 2: Glass-filled polyamide pneumatic
actuators automating Type-21 ball valves in a
desired rotary torque. Electric actuators lithium nickel slurry application.
typically fall into brushed or brushless
motors that can either run unidirectionally most valves only need 90 degrees of
or be reversing. Brushless actuators run travel for a full stroke. Simple shut-off or
more efficiently and have longer life spans, isolation valves can be added to a system
but can be more expensive. Similarly, to make maintenance downstream easier
reversing motors are more versatile in what or add a level of security to a system if
valves they can operate, but also end up an emergency shut down was needed.
being more expensive to produce. For smaller system lines, ball valves are
used, while butterfly valves typically
Basic Controls handle larger pipe sizes. These valves can
Quarter turn actuation is the most be seen all over most plumbing systems,
common form of automation because ranging from water treatment plants to
mining systems and to aquatic life support
systems. Any system that needs to be
turned off at some point can use these
valves. Additional levels of security can be
added to these actuated valves by including
a mechanical or electric failsafe option to
the actuator.
Mechanical fail safes usually incorporate
a spring to either the piston of a pneumatic
actuator or the gearing of an electrical
actuator to physically force the valve to a
determined fail position when the power
supply is lost to the actuator. Electrical fail
safes typically use batteries or capacitors to
store power that can be used to electrically
operate the valve for at least one cycle to
move the valve to a fail position when the
actuator loses power.
Advanced Controls
Multiturn valves, like gate valves,
diaphragm valves, needle valves and globe
valves, all add a higher degree of control
due to longer stroke travel. These valves
IMAGE 3: This chart shows different valve styles’ Cv
flow characteristics with a 4-20 positioner.
can all be proportionally controlled with
an analog input control signal, like a
4-20 milliamp (mA) signal, to adjust the
flow coefficient downstream of a valve.
These levels of precision actuators can
be synchronized with field devices that
measure fluid conditions, like chemical
concentrations or water levels in a tank,
to fully automate processes. For example,
some applications include chemical
feeding systems or chlorinated pool
concentrations. Larger-scale, multiturn
valves typically use electropneumatic
positioners, since the electric actuators
can take multiple minutes to fully open
or close. However, compressed air is not
always readily available in all situations. As
electric actuators continue to get faster and
more efficient, they should become more
prevalent in future markets.
Whether there is a single valve in a hard-
to-reach location or a full factory setup that
needs to be fully automated, actuators help
make processes more efficient. Not every
job requires the most complicated setup to
benefit from automation; so, it is important
to identify what types of automation are
possible at a site and what level of control
and accuracy is needed for the process.
Zachary Lehmann is a valve and actuation
application engineer at Asahi/America. He
may be reached at zlehmann@asahi-america.com
or 781-388-4569. For more information, visit
asahi-america.com.

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PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 25
VALVES & ACTUATORS
The Advantages of
Top-Entry Ball Valves
in Severe Service
Applications
Their ease of inline maintenance, reliable tight
shut-off and fugitive emissions compliance can
benefit most operations.
NANG CHAU & TIM CASSEL | ITT, Inc.
There are various types of valve designs
that can be used in demanding, hazardous
and corrosive applications. However, there
is a case to be made for the inherent
benefits of a top-entry design in severe
service applications. While top-entry ball
valve designs naturally offer the benefit of
inline reparability, this is just one of the
advantages gained from this style of valve.
Top-entry ball valves offer an engineered
seating technology. This is different from a
traditional floating ball valve seal common
on other types of designs. This is one of the
most important design differences of the
soft seated ball valve designs. The top-entry
design also minimizes potential points
of leakage out to atmosphere. This is a
primary concern when considering fugitive
emissions and gases or vapors.
With the introduction of top-entry ball
valves, many of the inconveniences and
reliability issues experienced by industrial
facilities can be minimized. These valves,
easy to maintain, are resilient and are
effective for safely operating in severe
services like ammonia, hydrofluoric acid,
chlorine, ethylene oxide, phosgene, oxygen
and numerous other applications.
Different Types of Ball Valve Designs
There are four common ball valve designs
which include end-entry valves, split-body
valves (two-piece), three-piece valves and
top-entry valves. Like all comparisons,
26 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
each of these options have advantages and
disadvantages. The question users must
answer is: “What attributes of a given ball
valve design are the most important to the
application?” For users with severe service
applications, reliable shut-off, reducing
fugitive emissions and the ease/speed of
inline maintenance are typically at the top
of the list.
The end-entry valve is popular due to
its compact, unibody design that prevents
piping stresses from being applied to the
critical ball and seat seal. End-entry valves
use a design where the ball and seats are
inserted and removed via the end of the
valve. A drawback to this design is that the
user must remove the valve from the pipe
to service it. If the threads on the end piece
are corroded, removal of the end piece and
eventual replacement of the ball and seats
can become difficult.
The seats of an end-entry valve are like
the two- and three-piece designs, which are
packed into the valve body and will have
continuous pressure on the seats causing
cold flowing problems. As end-entry valves
are usually only available in flanged ends,
top-entry valves offer more versatility with
the different end configurations.
Similar to the end-entry valve is the
split-body valve (two-piece). Split-body
ball valves use a two-piece body design
which is separated to replace the ball and
seats. It is typically used for general service
IMAGE 1: Conventional vs. top-entry ball seat
design (Images courtesy of ITT, Inc.)
applications and common for larger valve
diameters. It is easier to handle the valve
body halves during routine maintenance
when compared to the one-piece body.
However, the flanged connection in the
center of the valve body adds a potential
leak point and is subjected to the stresses
of the piping system. Like the other ball
valve configurations where the seats are
under constant load, cold flow problems will
more quickly occur, leading to premature
seat leakage. These valves are typically
supplied only in flanged end, which limits
the end connection configurations and is
not serviceable inline.
The most common and economical
ball valve design in the industry today
is the three-piece ball valve. Three-piece
valves use a three-piece body design which
allows the center section to swing out by
loosening one bolt and removing the other
fasteners, thus permitting the seats and
ball to be replaced in line. An advantage
of this design is gained when considering
screwed and welded piping.
Unfortunately, this type of valve usually
requires disassembly prior to welding or
the replacement of body seals (dummy
seals) after welding. On specific top-entry
valves, they can be welded in place without
requiring removal or replacement of the
seats and bonnet gasket. This prevents a
user from negating the factory acceptance
test performed by the OEM and saves time
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1 p.m. CT
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Product Marketing
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VALVES & ACTUATORS
and money on installation cost. Like the
end-entry and split body design, three-
piece ball valve seats are under constant
load. As such, cold flow problems will
more quickly occur and lead to premature
seat leakage. This valve design inherently
has a higher risk of atmospheric leakage.
There are two potential leak points in the
body that need to be maintained. Like
the split-body design, the stresses in the
piping system are directly applied to the
body fasteners, which in turn effects the
reliability of the body seals. It is critical
the body fastener torques are maintained
on this design to avoid an unintended leak
to atmosphere.
Finally, there is the top-entry ball valve,
which has been designed for severe service
applications and offers reliable shut-off,
fugitive emissions compliance and ease of
inline maintenance. Like the end-entry, the
top-entry benefits from a compact, unibody
design that prevents piping stresses from
being applied to the critical ball and seat
seal. Unlike the other designs, the top-entry
feature creates the ability to maintain the
valve in line without removing the valve
from the piping system. The top-entry
design uses a top bonnet that allows for
quick access of the ball and seats and the
bonnet itself houses the stem and stem
seals. The act of removing the bonnet
thereby gives access to all components
needing maintenance. Additionally, piping
stresses do not impact the bonnet fasteners
that maintain the critical seal between
the body and bonnet joint. This makes it
easier to maintain a reliable joint seal and
minimizes the risk of an atmospheric leak
between the valve body and bonnet seal.
The concept of interchangeable
or modular bonnet designs is also a
characteristic of top-entry ball valves.
The top-entry design allows the user to
easily convert or upgrade from one style of
packing system (bonnet) to another without
having to purchase a new valve. With the
many bonnet design options available
on top-entry valves, the bonnet selection
can be tailored to the specific operating
parameters of the application. This makes
upgrading from a standard bonnet design
28 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
to an extended or severe service bonnet
simple. Upgrades to the bonnet are offered
to allow for extensions to the stem to be
used in applications requiring the use of
insulation on the piping system or for
severe service applications requiring
specialized stem seals, such as v-ring
stem seals, which are commonly used
to meet fugitive emissions standards
in the industry such as the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO)
15848 and American Petroleum Institute
(API) 622.
Benefits of Engineered Seating
Technology in a Top-Entry Valve
End-entry, split-body and three-piece
body ball valves use conventional seating
technology. With this technology,
constant pressure is placed on the ball in
both the open and closed position. Time,
temperature and pressure will lead to cold
flowing the seats more quickly. The result
over time is a decrease in the dimensional
stability of the seats, which can greatly
affect shut-off. Conventional floating ball
valves also rely on the line pressure to
push the ball into the downstream seat.
This reliance on line pressure to seal can
become a problem under low pressure or
low pressure drop conditions. Particularly,
as the seats wear, shut-off is compromised
and higher pressure is required to seat the
ball to maintain tight closure.
Top-entry ball valves require a clearance
for the ball and seat to be installed in the
seat cradles of the valve body. There are
essentially two methods to accomplish
this. The more common seating technology
used by top-entry ball valve manufacturers
is the wedge seat design. Like a plug valve,
the seats are wedged into a tapered body
and held in place by a spring. Like the
plug valve, this type of seating results in
a reliable seal, but with increased loading
on the seats and increased operating
torque. The benefit is a tight-seat seal
on the upstream and downstream seat
independent of the line pressure.
There is an alternate ball/seat design to
allow top-entry valves to be assembled and
increase seat life and minimize operating
IMAGE 2: Three-piece
ball valve
torque. The geometry
between the ball/seat
interface can be changed so there
is a clearance when the ball is in the open
position and a camming action against the
seats when the ball is rotated to the closed
position. This ball design mechanically
compresses the upstream and downstream
seats to create a tight, dependable seal
independent of line pressure. Two benefits
of this method are operating torque
requirements are reduced and the positive
seal from the camming action allows the
valve to seal reliably at low pressures. This
design has been proven to meet and exceed
industry seat shut-off standards such as
API 598 and American National Standards
Institute (ANSI)/Fluid Controls Institute
(FCI) 70-2. Because this design only applies
pressure to the seats when the valve is in
the closed position, the seats do not have to
be loaded continuously. Therefore, the seat
life for this design is the most favorable
when compared to conventional ball valve
seating technology.
While differing valve designs have
advantages and disadvantages, the
advantages of top-entry ball valves have
been tailored to fit the needs of severe
service applications. Their ease of inline
maintenance, reliable tight shut-off and
fugitive emissions compliance are ideal
for critical applications. This allows users
to focus less on valve maintenance and
concentrate time and effort on improving
their operational efficiency.
Nang Chau is a global product manager at ITT
Engineered Valves LLC. He has more than 18 years
of experience in the fluid handling industry with
emphasis on pumps, valves and sealing technology.
Tim Cassel is a product engineer at ITT Engineered
Valves LLC. He holds a bachelor’s degree in
mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State
University. For more information, visit itt.com.
 June 15, 2023
1 P.M. CT

The History & FREE

Discussing the
Application of history of PTFE
and modified PTFE
materials, PEEK,
Commonly Used and PPS, along with
their strengths and
Thermoplastics industrial uses.

SPEAKER
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Plastic Sales Specialist
Sealing Equipment Products
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Sponsored by

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webinars.
VALVES & ACTUATORS
Choose the Right Valve Actuator
for Your System
The pros and cons of pneumatic, electric and hydraulic actuators.
GILBERT WELSFORD & JASON WELSFORD | ValveMan
Valve actuators are a vital component
of industrialization. This explains why,
according to Future Market Insights, the
global market for pneumatic actuators
alone will attain a market value of $16
billion in 2023. Although valve actuators
come in various forms, they only work
as expected in specific applications. This
article examines pneumatic, electric and
hydraulic valve actuators and provides the
advantages and disadvantages of each to
help in the purchasing journey.
Pneumatic Valve Actuators
As the name suggests, pneumatic valve
actuators use the energy generated
by compressed air into rotary or linear
mechanical motion. The typical use for
rotary pneumatic valve actuators is on
plug, butterfly and ball valves, and the two
primary types are scotch yoke and rack and
pinion pneumatic valve actuators. Both can
operate in single or dual versions, relying
on either spring return or direct (single or
double) action. In double-acting actuators,
the configuration requires the supplied air
to drive the pistons in the primary direction
of operation and in the reciprocal direction
of operation.
Alternatively, spring-return actuators
only require the supplied air to drive the
action of the pistons in one direction and
instead rely on the mechanical force of a
spring to return the pistons to their original
position. This spring-return configuration
consequently yields a failsafe position,
a designated orientation to which the
actuator will return the stroking valve upon
loss of air supply to the actuator. Double-
30 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
acting rack and pinion actuators deliver
linear torque outputs, offering consistency
throughout the valve stroke. However,
a scotch yoke actuator would deliver a
torque output curve reflective of its ability
to deliver its maximal torque outputs at
the beginning and end of its stroke with
diminished torque mid-stroke.
To ensure a user selects the right
pneumatic valve type for their application,
they must consider features such as the
method of valve actuation, valve
configuration, flow capacity, type of return
action and media of control. Valve
configuration could mean opting for either
2, 3 or 4-way valves, and a user could
choose a spring-return or direct actuation
valve. The gas or liquid used to control
the valve and how the user will actuate
the valve also play a pivotal role in the
selection process.
operates in a little control
wide range of
temperatures
(-20 F to 350 F)
can hold constant noisy
force
high speeds low efficiency
Electric Valve Actuators
An electric actuator device converts
electricity into kinetic or mechanical
energy that can control butterfly and ball
quarter-turn valves. Most use a motor that
quiet costly
precise control it does not
operate in as
wide a range of
temperatures as
pneumatic valve
actuators
energy efficient
can travel in both directions and a limit
switch that turns it off when it achieves the
final position. There are two basic types of
electric valve actuators: rotary and linear.
Rotary electric actuators can be used with
plug, ball and butterfly valves that rotate
90 degrees (quarter-turn) open to close,
typically used in the packaging industry.
Linear electric valve actuators work best
with diaphragm, pinch, gate, angle and
globe valves requiring a sliding stem to
open or close the valve. These work well
where tight tolerances are the goal.
To get the selection of an electric
actuator right, a user must consider the
motion profile. That is, the force required
to move the load, the travel distance and
minimum and maximum speeds required.
Additionally, they have to take into account
the load, duty cycle/cycling rate and
positional accuracy requirements.
Hydraulic Actuators
These use the same principles of operations
as pneumatic actuators, except hydraulic
actuator valves use a liquid in the place of
 Hydraulic actuators come in many forms, including
rotary, linear, thro ling, start-stop and semi-rotary valves.

oscillatory mechanical motion. Since they
use incompressible fluid, they are ideal for
heavy loads. Hydraulic actuators come in
several forms, including rotary, linear,
throttling, start-stop and semi-rotary
suited to a high maintenance valves. Piston-type actuators have the most
wide range of
widespread usage. Unlike the other
applications
actuators, users need several components
highest peak low efficiency to run hydraulic actuators. For instance, a
power
piston-type actuator contains a cylinder,
shock, explosion spring, stem, piston, control valve, hydraulic
and spark proof
fluid and hydraulic supply and return line.
The most suitable hydraulic actuator
air. Therefore, a hydraulic actuator converts will depend on its use case. Users will
fluid pressure energy into linear, rotary or need to consider factors such as operating
pressure range, force and direction of force
and cylinder mounting style. Other factors
include actuation time (the time it takes to
open and close), range of motion, sealing
thrust and actuator force and the number
of turns.
Gilbert Welsford and Jason Welsford are third
generation valve industry entrepreneurs. During
their early careers, each made their mark in other
industries but “came home” to the valve distribution
firm their grandfather started in 1965. Together, they
run both valveman.com and the FS Welsford Co., a
distributor of valves in the greater Philadelphia and
greater New York City markets.

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PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 31
Maintaining Service & Reducing Water
Loss During Drought
Using insertion valves can minimize water lost during repairs.

STEVE FULLER | Hydra-Stop

Though rainy weather may come and go,

most of the United States experiences
drought throughout the year, not only in
the summer. For instance, California has
been experiencing harsh drought conditions
annually since 2000, and much of the West
Coast, Mountain region and Southwest are
increasingly struggling with drought.
According to a CNN article,1 2023 is a
critical year to determine the Colorado
River Basin’s future stability to supply water
to the 40 million people who depend on it.
Usage is currently outpacing the supply,
and the largest man-made reservoirs in
the country, Lakes Mead and Powell, are
in danger of reaching “dead pool” status
in the next two years, “where the water
level is too low to flow through the dams
and downstream to the communities and
farmers that need it.” IMAGE 1: This map shows the state of drought conditions within the U.S. at the time of CNN’s published
When potable water is at a premium, article. Map created and published by the U.S. Drought Monitor (droughtmonitor.unl.edu). (Images courtesy of
Hydra-Stop)
any system maintenance or repair can
become a nightmare. Under the best
conditions, a repair can be costly in terms Preserve Water
of money and water loss, but during Anytime a section of pipe needs to be
a drought, it can be a public relations repaired or replaced, there will be water
nightmare. Imagine how it must look to loss, but during drought conditions, any
users living under usage constraints as water loss will negatively impact users, the
several hundreds of thousands of gallons of environment and the utility’s reputation. An
water go gushing down the street. insertion valve allows utilities to isolate the
By using insertion valves, public water area of maintenance, repair or expansion
systems (PWSs) can avoid the cost and while maintaining service to the rest of
the optics associated with repairs during the network with minimal water loss—
IMAGE 2: Estimation of water loss savings
drought conditions. An insertion valve sometimes as few as 10 gallons.
can significantly reduce water loss during A conservative estimate shows that number increases as the diameter of
a repair or expansion, which mitigates even for small pipe diameters, the amount the pipe increases. A utility can prevent
the strain on the water supply, cuts costs of water saved by using an insertion valve millions of gallons of water loss by adopting
and reduces environmental impact while over a traditional pipe replacement process valve insertion within a system distribution
preventing bad publicity. is around 100,000 gallons (Image 2). This maintenance program.

32 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023

 Based on Denver Water’s study on water
lost from main breaks,2 the table (Image 2)
shows the estimation of water loss savings
from using an insertion valve compared to
the traditional pipe replacement process.
The figures use the high-end average water
lost from main breaks, and the amount
saved was then extrapolated based on
various valve sizes. These figures also
presume an insertion valve will be used
only once in its lifetime to help control a
main break. As a permanent asset, the valve
can control flow for a lifetime of use, and
the more the valve is exercised, the more
water is saved.
Reduce Environmental Impact
Unless the PWS is part of a reuse system,
any water loss from a pipe repair will
end up in storm sewers and potentially
drain into natural waterways. Chlorinated
water is excellent for consumption but is
detrimental to the natural environment,
killing bacteria, algae and even fish, which
can harm other parts of the ecosystem that
depend on them. During times of drought—
when the available source water is running
low and ecosystem stability is stressed—it
is critical to limit the amount of chlorinated
water in the environment.
Additionally, the valve insertion
process requires minimal excavation
at the site, creating much less
environmental disturbance than traditional
methodologies. It may seem minor,
but a smaller excavation can have a
larger, positive impact because, in some
conditions, utilities may be required to send
the removed soil elsewhere for treatment,
then transport other materials to the site to
fill the hole.
Another overlooked factor is that
traditional repair and expansion procedures
can force maintenance workers to
depressurize the system, which can be
detrimental to older water systems once
pressure is restored. Reintroducing pressure
to the system will expose weak spots that IMAGE 3: Fire hydrant install
PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 33
can cause a rupture and leak more treated
water into the environment—causing more
work and costing more money. Insertion
valves do not require depressurization,
eliminating water hammer and potential
damage down the line.
Ensure Fire Safety
Shutting down any part of the distribution
system for repair or expansion puts the
isolation area at risk in a fire emergency.
With a system shutdown, viable hydrants
may be reduced or eliminated, and
commercial sprinkler systems can only
access available water from a tank or static
water source, thus limiting the ability to
fight a serious blaze.
The odds of a fire starting increase
during a drought, and fire can spread due
to dry conditions. While the probability of
a fire during a system shutdown may not
be high, it is still a risk no utility wants to
take. Using an insertion valve during repair
or expansion avoids a complete water
system shutdown and ensures there will be
enough water in the distribution system for
firefighters and commercial fire suppression
systems to do their job quickly enough to
contain the damage.
34 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
Maintain Water Quality
& End User Trust
Contamination of the water supply is a
common side effect of traditional repairs.
In the best-case scenario, it can lead to
discoloration and turbidity. In the worst-
case scenario, it means issuing boil orders.
When water is scarce, this kind of
contamination can upset customers
already dealing with drought restrictions.
Installing an insertion valve mitigates
opportunities for water contamination,
reduces the likelihood of discoloration
and turbidity, and eliminates the need for
boil orders.
Reduce Bad Press
& Create Good Press
Water scarcity has been major headline
news for years now. So, when a PWS
experiences a significant drop in water
quality or water supply during a drought, it
is likely to attract media attention.
Unfavorable optics and increased public
pressure can lead elected officials to
demand why such water loss was allowed
to happen and, more importantly, how it
could have been avoided. The irony is that
if a utility avoids a disaster by using an
insertion valve, the inverse does not hold.
Users will continue to drink and shower as
though nothing has happened.
As such, it falls on the utility to
proactively promote how it used foresight
and leveraged modern technology to
avoid losing precious water, protect the
environment and maintain water quality.
After all, drought or no drought, good news
is always a scarce commodity.
References
1. cnn.com/2022/12/30/us/colorado-river-lake-
mead-drought-2023-climate/index.html
2. denverwater.org/tap/main-breaks-101-
raising-our-infrastructure-gpa
Get More Info
For more on potable water,
visit pumpsandsystems.
com/tags/potable-water.
Steve Fuller is strategic accounts director for Hydra-
Stop. For more information, visit hydra-stop.com.
POTABLE WATER
A aining Pure Drinking Water Through
Dissolved Organics Measurement
Color and UV analysis can help improve water safety.
NIKODEM SIWEK | ABB
Increasing urbanization and development
and the corresponding increase in
industrialization and climate change
means wastewater treatment plays a major
role in tackling the challenge of freshwater
scarcity. Converting wastewater for reuse,
particularly for agricultural and industrial
purposes, which collectively consume 89%
of water globally, means more freshwater
can be made available for domestic use.
Moreover, wastewater, if not processed and
treated properly, may also have a negative
impact on the environment, polluting rivers
and seas and affecting animals, fisheries,
biodiversity and public health.
One of the areas in wastewater
treatment that has always posed a
challenge is the removal of natural organic
matter (NOM). NOM exists in all sources of
fresh water, but left untreated, it can affect
the efficiency of potable water-treatment
processing and impair the quality of the
finished water. At a time when every drop
of water counts, removing NOM is essential
for optimizing process efficiency and
public health.
Why Is NOM a Problem in
Drinking Water?
NOM occurs when decayed vegetable
matter mixes with water. It can also
be found in wastewater or industrial
effluent. It is a multicomponent organic
mix of several compounds, humic acids,
fulvic acids, carbohydrates, proteins and
carboxylic acids, most of which derive from
soil and the decomposition of plants and
animals that enter streams, rivers, lakes
and aquifers. The chief indicator of humid
and fulvic contamination is discoloration in
the yellow-brown spectrum.
While not considered toxic in drinking
water, NOM can detrimentally affect
color, taste and odor. More importantly,
it has been found to act as a precursor
for toxic and mutagenic compounds like
trichloromethane and chlorophenols, which
originate from disinfection of the drinking
water by chlorine, and which increase the
risk of pathogen-induced diseases.
At certain pH levels and temperatures,
a reaction with a disinfectant like chlorine
that is intended to make water safer can
have the opposite effect. Trihalomethanes
(THMs) in drinking water have been linked
to heart, lung, kidney, liver and central
nervous system damage, as well as bladder
or colorectal cancer. High levels of THMs
have also been associated with above-
average risk of miscarriages. THM levels
in public water supplies must therefore be
carefully monitored. Reducing the risk from
THMs requires highly accurate detection
methods. The challenge for water utilities is
to identify and remove these contaminants
so that they can treat the water effectively.
Methods of NOM-Removal
Coagulation, the chemical water-treatment
process that manipulates the electrostatic
charge of particles in suspension to remove
solids, is one of the main methods of NOM-
removal and is considered essential for
the control of pathogens. In terms of cost
efficiencies, getting coagulation right is
important. Suboptimal coagulation causes
high residuals, post-treatment problems
and microorganisms getting into the water
supply, as well as additional costs in waste
disposal. Optimal coagulation minimizes
turbidity and removes microorganisms/
pathogens including cryptosporidium
parvum, a chlorine-resistant protozoan,
which can cause diarrhea.
All coagulants have an optimum pH
value at which they work most efficiently.
Continuous monitoring of the pH values of
raw water is necessary in order to optimize
the dosage of coagulant.
To minimize the risk of undesirable
disinfectant by-products (DBPs) creeping
into the water system, utilities use modified
conventional processes, such as enhanced
coagulation and softening, to ensure
organic matter is dissolved to safe levels.
Many processes also use an activated
carbon stage as an additional means of
capturing dissolved organic matter that
may have escaped the coagulation stage.
Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters
remove dissolved organic compounds
and are effective for drinking water
purification, as well as decontamination
of polluted water.
Instrumentation in NOM-Removal:
Color Monitoring & UV Detection
Accurate, reliable and representative
information on the performance of the
coagulation, clarification and filtration
stages is paramount to successful NOM-
PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 35
removal. Near-instantaneous online
analyzers that measure levels of dissolved
organics are playing an important role in
mitigating health and efficiency issues that
arise from contaminants. Technological
advances have enabled water companies
to invest in safety measures at a lower cost
than ever before.
When detecting dissolved organics in
water during the potable water treatment
processes, two methods apply: color
monitoring and ultraviolet (UV) detection.
Coloration of water, specifically the degree
of color intensity and changes in color,
indicates the levels of either the
absorption or concentration of certain
chemicals and is regarded as a test of
treatment plant efficiency.
Of course, many dissolved substances
and chemicals do not absorb light in the
visible spectrum and are therefore colorless.
Chemical reagents are therefore introduced
to create a reaction that forms a legible
color complex that can be measured.
Color is the main parameter for
coagulant-dose demand. By monitoring
coloration of raw uncoagulated water, color
analyzers can provide predictive coagulant-
36 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
control, thereby ensuring optimal levels of
coagulants are administered throughout
the process. Installing color analyzers at
the final treated water storage phase
helps verify the treatment process is
functioning correctly and water quality
standards are met.
Another important factor when
measuring color is turbidity. Turbidity—
cloudiness or opacity—is a key test of
water quality. However, it causes problems
when one is differentiating between true
and apparent color. For analytical purposes,
true color is attributed to dissolved matter
and apparent color to suspended matter.
Turbidity can result in the apparent color
showing a higher value than the true color,
which can affect color-determination
and therefore impair results. That is why,
when turbidity is a factor, it is imperative
to properly filter a water sample before
introducing it to the analyzer to obtain a
true color-intensity and an accurate result.
The most advanced instrumentation
measures the three main parameters in
the water treatment process (color, pH
and turbidity) and feeds the numbers
into an algorithm, which then calculates
IMAGE 1: Analyzing water treatment (Image
courtesy of ABB)
the required dose in milligrams per liter
(mg/L). Taking the incoming flow of water,
it then equates that mg/L reading to the
volumetric dose of milliliters per minute
(mls/min), which produces an accurate
figure for the required dose. Assuming all
instrumentation is functioning correctly,
one should end up with good, clarified
water ready for filtration.
The latest instrumentation in the
detection of NOM has been designed
specifically to measure coloration for
coagulation optimization, ensuring water
is sufficiently dosed and treated to reduce
dissolved concentrations of NOM to
approved safe levels.
UV monitors measure the capacity of
water to absorb ultraviolet light at
254 nanometers (nm), commonly known as
UV 254; the UV-light absorbent
qualities of water are directly related to
levels of organic matter. These levels are
calculated by measuring a pulse of light
at two wavelengths. One wavelength
provides a reading from a turbidity photo
detector; the other, from a UV photo
detector. Put simply, in addition to the
absorption measurement at 254 nm, a
second measurement at 400 nm enables
the monitor to compensate automatically
for fluctuations in turbidity.
Many manufacturers offer UV monitors
that can be configured to measure
UV transmission, known as %UVT. UV
transmission measures the light that passes
through a sample, enabling it to produce
a %UVT value for key parameters: color,
turbidity, particulates and organic and
non-organic matter. In potable treatment
processes, measuring %UVT can be used
for checking the quality of treated water
and assessing the efficiency of the
coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation,
filtration and carbon adsorption phases.
Measuring UV transmission can also help
detect residual dissolved organics that
could generate DBPs during chlorination.
Online analyzers can detect dissolved
organics faster and more effectively
than traditional methods, in most cases
eliminating the need for laboratory testing,
which leads to cost savings.
These advances in detection devices
are helping to reduce the likelihood of
contamination by dissolved organics,
leading to safer supplies of drinking water.
Avoiding DBPs
There are some simple ways of minimizing
risk of DBPs. Instrumentation should be
installed as close to sampling points as
possible and in places where it can be easily
accessed, operated and maintained. Sample
lines should be straight and smooth to avoid
sedimentation traps. When supplying the
coagulant dose, ensure dosing pumps are
correctly sized to cover the entire dosage
requirement. The coagulant flow meter
should be installed on the side of the dose
pump. Where automated control of dosing
pumps is employed, the control software
needs to be capable of responding to real-
time dose-demand changes.
Controlling dissolved organics has
historically been a problem for the water
industry. The presence of NOM-based THMs
in municipal water supplies remains a daily
challenge for water treatment operators,
especially in countries which commonly
treat drinking water with chlorine which can
lead to DBPs. Optimization of coagulation
is central to the drinking water industry’s
NOM-removal goals. By providing insights
into dissolved organics levels in real- or
near-real-time, color and UV analyzer
technologies can make a big impact in
ensuring water quality meets required
safety standards.
Nikodem Siwek is a continuous water analyzer
global product manager for ABB’s Measurement
and Analytics Division. He has more than 13 years
of experience with analyzers in the municipal and
industrial markets and holds a bachelor’s degree in
chemical engineering. For more information, visit
abb.com/measurement.

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PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 37

Pumping Technology
in Rural Communities
Around the Globe
How organizations are providing clean water
access to areas in need.
MELODY MANASCO | Pumps & Systems
Access to safe drinking water, sanitation
and hygiene (WASH) services is essential
to human life. According to the World
Health Organization, as of 2020, 2 billion
people did not have access to safe
drinking water, 1.7 billion did not have
access to basic sanitation services and
3.6 billion did not have safe sanitation
services. To achieve universal coverage
of basic water and sanitation services by
2030, current rates of progress need to
double; to achieve safely managed services,
the rates need to quadruple.
We looked into several clean water
organizations—neverthirst, WaterAid,
Pump Aid, Design Outreach, WATERisLIFE
and Planet Water—to find out the types
of pumping technology they use to bring
water access to rural communities to help
cut down on those numbers.
1
Hand Pumps
Hand pumps are the most widely used
solution to increase access to water
in communities around the globe. These
38 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
manually operated positive displacement
pumps have reciprocating pistons and
plungers. When the handle of the pump is
raised and lowered, it causes the piston to
rise, closes the piston valve and creates a
vacuum that draws water into the cylinder
through a foot valve that opens. When
the piston moves back down, the foot
valve closes to prevent any backflow.
Standard hand pumps can pull water from
as deep down as 45 meters (m), depending
on the type being used. However, Design
Outreach has created their own version of
a hand pump that can pull water from as
deep as 150 m.
2
Rope Pump Wells
Rope pump wells are a low-cost
solution popular at the community
level, as well as the household level, due
to their affordability. They can produce
more water than a hand pump, but are
typically only used where groundwater is
easily accessible—no deeper than 25 m.
These systems work by inserting a rope
Get More Info
Design Outreach:
doutreach.org
neverthirst:
neverthirstwater.org
Planet Water:
planet-water.org
Pump Aid:
pumpaid.org
Water Aid:
wateraid.org
WATERisLIFE:
waterislife.com
with pistons down into a main and looping
it back around and securing it with a knot
to create a pulley that will then be attached
to the wheel of the rope pump. When the
wheel is turned, the pulley will bring up
water trapped in the pistons.
3
Solar Powered Water Pumps
In certain areas, groundwater is
deeper than a hand pump can
reach. Some organizations, like neverthirst
and WATERisLIFE, have implemented
solutions to this problem. In a case such as
this, their teams will have a submersible
pump installed that lifts water up to the
surface that is powered by solar panels.
4
Gravity-Fed Systems
Communities living near rivers or
springs may implement gravity-
fed water systems. This option involves
engineers surveying the area and designing
a pipework plan that will allow gravity to
carry water from the water source, down
to tap stands and households. Valves and
 IMAGES 1-3: A rope pump well and hand
pumps in use (Images courtesy of Pump Aid and
WATERisLIFE)

repair/replacement for pump systems.

pipe fittings help manage the water flow.
Planet Water uses a gravity-based system
to bring water towers to rural schools and
communities. They have a three-stage
filtration process that uses ultrafiltration
hollow fiber membrane technology and
activated carbon to remove pathogens and
provide clean, safe drinking water.
Maintenance
Community pumps can face a lot of wear
and tear due to high usage. So, how are
pumps maintained after an organization
has installed them?
WaterAid, neverthirst and Planet Water
work with local members of the community
to train them on how to deal with common
maintenance and repair needs. Basic
training helps the community know when
to contact a local contractor for more
serious issues.
Jason Berry, chief strategy officer for
neverthirst, said their partners provide
water committee’s with spare parts for
common issues, connect them with
networks who specialize in repairing
water points for larger issues and ensure
licensed suppliers are available for
Navpreet Juty, program funding officer
for Pump Aid, said their organization
works with local entrepreneurs in the
community to train them to build
businesses as pump mechanics who can
do regular repairs and maintenance to
keep pumps up and running.
“We work with local Waterpoint
Committees to train them on
administration of pumps and managing
user fees, but we look to move beyond
relying on volunteerism of committees
to undertake the work themselves, as
they should be customers of a service
rather than providers,” she said. “By
professionalizing maintenance service, we
can deliver efficiencies and maintain high
levels of pump functionality (over 95%).”
Melody Manasco is managing editor for Pumps
& Systems. She may be reached at mmanasco@
cahabamedia.com.

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PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 39
Important Considerations in the
Design of Water Pumps
Choosing the right materials is especially critical in water applications that affect the public.
ALEX MOSER | Hydraulic Institute
Designing a new pump from scratch is not
easy, and there is nothing on the market
that will provide all the necessary tools to
design a pump exactly the way it has been
requested. Some of these sources may
provide insight on the impeller design,
while others may help with the layout of
the hydraulic passages (casing/bowl, volute,
diffuser, crossover, etc.).
However, it is the combination of the two
hydraulic components working collectively
that will determine the performance
characteristics of the pump. For instance,
if the impeller eye design is restricting the
pump’s runout capacity, increasing the
flow areas within the volute may have no
effect on the runout performance. With
the lack of standardization on pump
hydraulic design, and with no two
companies or engineers using the exact
same methods, sources or techniques,
this article will focus on industry accepted
considerations when designing pumps for
potable water applications.
Most pumps used in potable water
applications are of the rotodynamic type,
more specifically, of radial (or centrifugal)
design. This is not to say mixed or axial flow
pumps cannot be used in potable water
applications, just that overhung horizontal
end-suction, overhung vertical in-line,
horizontal split-case and vertical turbine
(discharge through column) pumps are
traditionally used in the transfer of potable
water. Potable water centrifugal pumps
are specifically designed to circulate or
move clean, fresh drinking water from one
location to another. These pumps are used
in a variety of settings, such as municipal
40 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
IMAGE 1: Maximum practically attainable efficiency for different flow rates and specific speeds (Hydraulic
Institute, 2021, Pump Life Cycle Costs: A Guide to LCC Analysis for Pumping Systems – 2nd Edition) (Images
courtesy of the Hydraulic Institute)
water systems, water treatment plants and
agricultural irrigation systems, and their
design should meet all relevant regulations,
standards and local codes. In the design
process, there are important considerations
to address, ranging from the materials of
construction to the type of mechanical seal
and appropriate piping plan. This article
focuses on the important considerations for
volute casing type pumps, but depending
on the application or environment, there
may be additional factors that affect the
design of the pump.
Pump Design
The hydraulic design of impellers,
volutes and casings is not standardized
within the pump industry and will not be
covered. However, there are several
factors that are universally accepted that
aid in the hydraulic design of potable
water pumps, and their value should be
known to everyone from design engineers
to end users.
ns (or Ns) = (or Ns)
(H)0.75
Where:
ns = specific speed in metric units
Ns = specific speed in US units
n = rotative speed, in revolutions
per minute
Q = total pump flow rate, in cubic
meters per second (U.S.
gallons per minute)
Note: Images 1 – 3 reflect an
alternate definition of specific speed,
which utilizes (Q’), instead of (Q),
which is defined as the flow rate
per impeller eye for double inlet
impellers.
H = head per stage, in meters (feet)
Equation 1
When designing a potable water pump,
efficiency is an essential parameter that
needs to be considered. It is affected
 IMAGE 2: Estimated efficiency decrease due to increased IMAGE 3: Estimated efficiency increase due to improved surface
wearing (running) clearance (Hydraulic Institute, 2020, HI finish (Hydraulic Institute, 2020, HI 20.3-Rotodynamic Pump
20.3-Rotodynamic Pump Efficiency Prediction) Efficiency Prediction)

by various factors such as pump type,
size, orientation and operating speed.
One important factor that affects pump
efficiency is the specific speed of the pump.
Specific speed (Ns) is a parameter used to
describe the performance of a rotodynamic
pump. It is defined as an index of pump
performance at the pump’s best efficiency
point (BEP) rate of flow and head, with the
maximum diameter impeller, and at a given
rotative speed (Equation 1).
The index informs the design engineer
of the type of pump required for the
application. Along with the pump type, the
specific speed will establish the maximum
attainable efficiency achievable for the
particular design. The attainable efficiency
of a pump is the maximum efficiency
that can be achieved for a given pump
design based on pump type, design (BEP)
flow rate and the specific speed (Image
1). There are additional factors that can
affect the attainable efficiency, such as
surface finish of flow passages and the
running (wear ring) clearances of the
pump’s internal components; however, their
effect on maximum attainable efficiency is

PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 41
 transition from the suction nozzle
to the impeller eye section, as well as
from the volute cutwater (or tongue) to the
discharge nozzle. This is typically done by
evaluating both the suction and discharge
passages separately and fine tuning the
area progression in the direction of the
flow. Image 4 shows the typical gradual
expansion of cross-sectional areas in the
volute development from the cutwater
(or tongue) to the discharge nozzle for a
horizontal split-case (BB1) pump.
Additional considerations in the pump
design that have not been covered consist
of axial and radial thrust, bearing life, shaft
deflection and stress, casing wall thickness,
number of casing bolts and the area
between the impeller vanes versus the total
impeller eye area.
See American National Standards
Institute (ANSI)/Hydraulic Institute
(HI) 14.3-2019 Rotodynamic Pumps for
Design and Application and HI 20.3-2020
Rotodynamic Pump Efficiency Prediction
for additional information.

IMAGE 4: Typical representative illustration of cross-sectional area progression created during the Construction Materials
volute development of a horizontal split-case (BB1) pump Another critical consideration when
designing a potable water pump is the
dependent on the specific speed of the The flow area transitions created during selection of materials of the wetted parts
pump (Images 2 and 3). Higher output the suction (inlet) and volute development (components in direct contact with the
capacity pumps at BEP typically have a stage of design can also affect pump potable water). The materials used in the
greater attainable efficiency than lower efficiency. These transitions need to be construction of the pump should meet all
capacity pumps when designed for similar designed to minimize losses, and this can relevant regulations and standards, such
specific speeds, and understanding this be done by minimizing sudden changes in as NSF/ANSI 61 or FDA standards and must
relationship is crucial in the design process. cross-sectional areas and smoothening the not contaminate the water supply. Stainless

IMAGE 5: Typical materials of construction of wetted parts in potable water applications

Disclaimer: This table does not intend to cover all potable water applications and has been supplied as an example that may be helpful in addressing the selection
of pump materials in typical potable water operations. The user will need to understand the actual application and its operational characteristics and use this table
as general guidance for selecting materials for potable water applications.

b
316 stainless steel to be used when in contact with the water. Alternate, if shaft is not in contact with water: 416 stainless steel or carbon steel.
c
Hardware subset: with packing shaft sleeve to be hardened stainless steel.

42 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023

How to Use AODD
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May 18, 2023

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IMAGE 6: Mechanical seal piping plan 13 schematic
steel, bronze and various plastics are
common materials used in the construction
of potable water pumps. Image 5, which is
a modified version outlined in Appendix B
of the Hydraulic Institute Pump
Application Guideline Water Treatment
Plant Pumps, shows typical materials of
construction that are in compliance with
regulations and standards.
Look for this and other podcasts at pumpsandsystems.com/ep81
44 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
Mechanical Seals, Compression
Packing & Flush Plans
The selection of the right mechanical
seal is another critical consideration
when designing a potable water pump.
The mechanical seal must meet certain
requirements to ensure it is safe and
suitable for use with drinking water and
be designed to prevent leakage from the
EPISODE 81
Inflation Reduction
Act’s Effect on the
Pump Industry
With Patrick Hogg
of Nidec Motor
Corporation
pump. It must also be able to prevent any
contaminants from entering. There are
several types of mechanical seal designs
that may need to be used to meet the
specific application requirements, but most
commonly, single mechanical seals are
used in potable water applications.
The specific design of the mechanical
seal used will vary depending on application
requirements. Acceptable materials for the
seal face, seal balance, integrated metal
components and secondary seals all need
to be considered and are outlined in the
Hydraulic Institute Pump Applications
Guideline for Mechanical Seals for Pumps.
However, with an increased regulatory focus
on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS), in the future, pump designers may
need to consider alternate materials for
gaskets, O-rings, shaft seals and packing.
There are several different types of
mechanical seal piping plans used in
potable water applications, including
Plans 2, 11 and 13 (Image 6). Plan 2 is a
dead-ended seal chamber with no flush
fluid circulation. A Plan 11 involves product
recirculation from the pump discharge
to the seal through a flow control orifice
or valve, and a Plan 13 involves product
recirculation from the seal chamber back
to the pump suction. The selection of a
seal piping plan will depend on the specific
requirements of the application, including
the operating conditions, environment and
any regulatory requirements.
Another shaft sealing method that
is commonly used in potable water
applications is compression packing.
When selecting seal packing materials for
potable water applications, it is important
to choose materials that comply with
relevant industry standards and regulations.
Common materials used for seal packing in
potable water applications include braided
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) synthetic
yarn, braided expanded PTFE or graphite.
However, consult with the supplier for
materials that meet all relevant regulations
and standards.
Ease of Maintenance & Reliability
How easily a pump can be assessed during
standard maintenance is an essential
consideration when designing any type of
pump, but is especially important in pumps
responsible for delivering safe drinking
water to households, businesses and public
facilities. Any failure or malfunction to the
pump can have serious consequences to
public health and safety. By prioritizing
ease of maintenance in the design,
engineers can ensure easy access to
critical components that may need to be
replaced or serviced over time. This
includes impellers, bearings, seals and
other parts that may wear out or degrade
during operation.
In terms of reliability, choosing
materials that are durable and resistant
to corrosion, and that meet all relevant
regulations and standards, is essential.
Proper design of the pump to meet the
needs of the application is also crucial, as
an undersized or oversized pump can result
in accelerated wear, a higher risk of failure
and a reduction in energy efficiency.
Designing a potable water pump requires
careful consideration of several important
factors, ranging from the hydraulic design,
materials of construction, mechanical
seal and its appropriate piping plan to
ease of maintenance and reliability. By
taking these considerations into account,
designers can ensure the pump will be
effective, efficient and safe for use in a wide
range of potable water applications.
Alex Moser is the senior engineer of standards and
training at the Hydraulic Institute. He may be reached
at amoser@pumps.org. For more information, visit
pumps.org.

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PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 45
Choose the Right Mechanical Seal
for Potable Water Production
The proper seal is important when attempting to meet water quality standards.

KAI KRUEGER & BILL PRITCHETT | John Crane

Water treatment facilities rely on system components to comply with the

mechanical seals in their pumps and
other rotating equipment to produce
potable water—better known as drinking
water. They are a safeguard against many
potential health hazards.
Mechanical seals help prevent pump
leaks and outside contamination from
entering the water flow during potable
water processing. They keep rotating
equipment, large and small, running
dependably and effectively. As a result,
users are better protected from ingesting
raw, untreated water that could potentially
cause serious health issues.
Before 1988, it was common for
mechanical seals to be approved as a
component within a larger assembly, such
as a pump. This put the burden of approval
on mechanical seal users and limited the
requirements of the standard.
Mechanical seal manufacturers
generally offer product options to
meet NSF/ANSI/CAN 61, including a
comprehensive range of elastomer bellows,
O-ring pushers, standard cartridge seals
and split seals. While cartridge and split
mechanical seals often share similar
mean time between failure (MTBF) rates,
there are important technical, cost and
maintenance differences water treatment
facility managers must consider when
choosing the right seal for the potable
water application.
Split Seals
As the name implies, split seals are
divided into two pieces. They are used on IMAGE 1: Wet-running cartridge O-ring split seal
large potable water processing rotating (Image courtesy of John Crane)

seals’ use to the approved assembly.
Today, in most areas, the mechanical
seals used in potable water processes must
meet the National Sanitation Foundation/
American National Standards Institute/
Canadian guidelines (NSF/ANSI/CAN)
61: Drinking Water System Components
–Health Effects standard for municipal
water treatment systems and products.
The standard sets health effects criteria
for chemical contaminants from materials,
components and devices that may leach
into drinking water.
Within the United States, 49 state
drinking water agencies have requirements
for centralized water treatment plants and
distribution system components to comply
with NSF/ANSI/CAN 61. In Canada, 11
provinces/territories require drinking water
equipment, especially on pumps with shaft
sizes exceeding 3 inches.
Split seals are most often specified
for large pumps because of the time,
production losses and other costs
associated with removing the heavy
rotating equipment from service. They can
be installed without hoisting the pump
from the foundation pad, saving many
hours in installation time compared to
other seals.
At the same time, split seals require
a considerable amount of know-how and
training to properly connect the rotating
pump shaft with other equipment. For
example, technicians basically build
the seal on the shaft, including properly
positioning the O-ring. Oftentimes, leaks
are detected when the suction valve is
activated because an O-ring was improperly
installed, resulting in the need for
technicians to start the seal installation or
repair from scratch. Another consideration
is that water facility managers are
always looking at overhead. Split seals
are generally more expensive than their
cartridge seal counterparts.
Cartridge Seals
While split seals may be the right choice
for a large-pump application in a potable
water treatment facility, cartridge seals
are the preferred choice of plant managers
for smaller pumps built with shaft sizes 3
inches or smaller.
Cartridge seals, including standard,
O-ring pusher and elastomer bellows
variations, are typically an arrangement of

46 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023

seal components on a shaft sleeve and in a
seal gland, constituting a single unit that is
assembled and preset at the factory.
Aside from costing less than comparable
split seals, cartridge seals are quickly and
easily installed and removed from pump
shafts. This pre-assembled convenience
gives water treatment facility technicians
important maintenance advantages
over split seals. There is less risk of
assembly error and assembly damage than
with conventional or split seal mechanical
seal mounting. IMAGE 2: Compact, general-duty single cartridge IMAGE 3: Single cartridge O-ring seal
Potable water treatment facilities are O-ring seal
barriers between water-borne diseases
and healthy communities. These utilities install seal options, especially with small, managers the tools they need to ensure the
depend on reliable mechanical pump simple pumps and rotating equipment. In reliable flow of potable water, keep their
seals to consistently provide clean, potable these instances, cartridge seals provide utilities on budget and meet standards for
water and follow NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 for economical and maintenance benefits. In water quality.
water purity. larger pump applications, split seals are
At the same time, managers at these viable and cost-effective options.
Kai Krueger is market director and Bill Pritchett is
facilities and their parent companies are In both cases, options for split and senior global account manager for John Crane. For
looking for basic, affordable and easy-to- cartridge seals give potable water facility more information, visit johncrane.com.

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PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 47
The Life of
a Reverse
Osmosis
Membrane,
Part 1
Common factors of
membrane failure and how to
maximize life.
WES BYRNE | Kurita America
New membrane elements allow a reverse
osmosis (RO) system to operate optimally
with the highest removal of dissolved
salts (also known as salt rejection) and the
greatest production of permeating water
at its design pressures. With time, these
performance characteristics will decline
to a point where it may be necessary
to replace the RO membrane elements.
Because many facilities depend on the
RO for meeting their purified water needs,
anticipating when the membranes are
going to need replacement may be critical
to the plant’s operation.
The membrane manufacturers will
usually prorate their membrane warranty
over three years, although it is rare for a
membrane failure to occur because of its
manufacture. Possibly related to the length
of the manufacturer’s warranty, three years
of life has become a common expectation
for membrane replacement.
It should be noted an RO membrane
element is not a filter, which means it is not
a disposable device expected to foul up or
wear out due to its use. While it is true the
RO membrane will not last forever, there
are cases where the membranes have
operated for more than 10 years without
suffering significant and permanent
changes in their performance.
48 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
IMAGE 1: Reverse osmosis membranes (Images courtesy of Kurita)
IMAGE 2: RO membrane after autopsy
Extending RO Membrane Life
An RO membrane does not perform like a
filter. All the incoming water is not forced
through the membrane sheet so the
suspended solids are always left behind
as particles stuck on the surface. With a
well-designed RO system, the majority
of the suspended solids in its inlet water
will pass through the membrane elements
and exit the system with its concentrate
stream. This can be verified by measuring
the suspended solids in the concentrate
stream relative to their concentration
in the inlet stream and noting how their
increased concentration correlates with the
concentration factor ratio of the inlet flow
divided by the concentrate stream flow rate.
A well-designed RO system is one whose
pretreatment equipment removes large
particles and reduces the concentration of
smaller particles sufficiently to keep the
RO fouling rate moderately low. It may not
be economical to eliminate RO fouling by
designing the water system with extensive
upstream filtration equipment and a low
RO permeate flux rate. However, with a
high concentration of suspended solids
in the raw water, it is usually practical
to at least include a multimedia filter
in its pretreatment. It may be possible
to justify the inclusion of a membrane
filtration system, like a microfiltration or
ultrafiltration system, upstream of the
RO, which will then enable an increased
RO permeate flux rate and still reduce the
RO fouling rate. The RO will then require
infrequent chemical cleanings to maintain
its performance.
Some of the suspended solids may
be biological in nature, originating in
the water source or created in the water
pretreatment system itself. If bio activity
is not controlled within the piping and
treatment components upstream of the
RO, the RO pretreatment may become the
source of biological fouling particles. These
biological particles often have an affinity
for attaching to the RO membrane, which
may make it difficult to keep them from
fouling the membranes even with a low
rate of permeation. It may be necessary
to employ a method for controlling this
activity, such as with frequent biocide
shock treatments or sanitizations at the
source of these bio particles.
Monitoring RO Inlet Water
A common method for monitoring this
pretreatment effectiveness is with the silt
density index (SDI). The SDI value in the
RO inlet water will often correlate with the
required RO cleaning frequency. A common
SDI target is less than five, which then
results in the need for RO cleaning less than
five times per year.
However, this correlation with SDI
will only occur if the RO is designed
with moderately low permeation rates
throughout the system. The most
critical region of the RO system where
fouling by suspended solids is most
likely to occur is where the water first
enters the RO membranes since this is
where the water permeation rate is the
highest. As the feedwater flows across
the membrane surface and through the
membrane elements, the membrane
pressure will decline.
Membrane Selection Ma ers
The choice of RO membrane may impact
this fouling rate. When low-energy
membranes are used with a warm, low-
salinity water source, it may be impossible
to prevent the inlet-end membrane
elements from permeating water at a rate
far greater than the elements located at
the concentrate end of the RO system.
For example, the membrane feed pressure
may be as low as 80 pounds per square
inch (psi), so if there are 40 psi of pressure
losses as the water passes through the RO
membranes on its way to the concentrate
exit stream, the concentrate-end
membrane pressure may only be 40 psi,
and the concentrate-end membrane
elements will be producing less than half
the permeate flow rate of the lead-end
membrane elements.1
Low-fouling RO membranes are
available that are more resistant to the
initial adhesion of fouling particles to the
membrane surface. This may delay the
initial fouling of the RO membranes and
should be considered for use in many
fouling applications.2 Also in fouling
applications, the selected membrane model
should use a 34-mil (thousands of an inch)
feed-to-concentrate spacing material,
which is less prone to plugging off its flow
channels by larger particles and is better
able to be cleaned.3
Maximize Life of RO Membranes
Even if the pretreatment or the RO design
is not ideal, cleaning the RO before the
fouling solids become overly stabilized
is another method to indefinitely extend
membrane life. Even frequent cleanings will
not damage the membrane if aggressive
cleaning agents do not need to be used in
fully restoring original RO performance.
With a high RO fouling rate, a common
error is to go too long before cleaning. If the
fouling solids become overly compressed
against the membrane, they will become
less responsive to the cleaning solution.
The inability to fully restore the original
membrane performance means fouling
solids are being left behind. After returning
the RO to service, these remaining solids
will often cause the membranes to
experience an increased fouling rate due to
blocked flow channels or possibly because
of the suspended solids having a greater
attraction to the compacted fouling solids
coating the membrane polymer surface.
As the fouling becomes more severe,
the fouling solids impede the ability of
dissolved salts to diffuse back from the
membrane surface, resulting in
increased salt passage into the permeate
stream. Either poor salt rejection or low
permeate production can then result in the
need to replace the membrane elements.
When severe fouling blinds off enough of
the membrane flow channels, the result
can be a high feed-to-concentrate pressure
differential (greater than 60 psi differential)
across the membrane elements, which
may be sufficient to crush the concentrate-
end elements.
Notes & References
1. With low salinity water, the rate of water
permeation will be roughly proportional to
the membrane pressure.
2. “Improve RO system performance and
reduce operating cost with FilmTec fouling-
resistant (FR) elements,” J.A. Redondo,
Desalination, Nov. 1999, pp. 249-259
3. “Effect of feed spacer thickness on the
fouling behavior in reverse osmosis process
— A pilot scale study.” Hyung-Gyu Park, et
al., Desalination, Feb. 2016, pp. 155-163
Wes Byrne, a consultant for Kurita America, has
more than 43 years of experience in the design,
operation and maintenance of reverse osmosis
systems and is the author of Reverse Osmosis, A
Practical Guide for Industrial Users, 2nd Edition (Tall
Oaks Publishing). He has worked with thousands
of RO systems around the world and has trained
thousands of operational personnel.
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PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 49
 Sustainable Water Solutions
Generate Energy With New
Tech for Control Valves
Energy recovery systems produce energy from the flow of water
in pressurized water pipelines.
GREGG SEMLER | InPipe Energy
For 2.2 million people in Houston, the
impacts of the late 2022 loss of power
are still fresh in their minds. Suddenly
faced with a lack of clean water, people
everywhere fired up their stoves to boil
water. Power failures are not surprising
anymore. There was a similar grid failure in
Houston in 2021 where 4.5 million people
were impacted by water, power, heat and
food shortages and more than 240 died.
Power failures are common. Not just a
concern for Texans, power grids across the
globe are stressed and unreliable.
For many, thoughts about clean water
and reliable power lead to other concerns.
The unfortunate combination of
unreliable power sources and unpredictable
weather, including storms, droughts,
floods, wildfires and other climate
disruptions, keep utility managers,
engineers and first responders up at
night. They all lead to water shortages,
contaminated water and colossal water
infrastructure failures.
It is possible to make great strides
in creating programs that address all
these problems at the same time. Here is
one solution that serves multiple functions.
The solution stands at the nexus
of water and energy in a system that
provides a reliable supply of safe, clean
drinking water while being more efficient,
productive and sustainable. Saving water,
decarbonizing, minimizing disruption and
IMAGE 1: Energy recovery system (Images courtesy
of InPipe Energy)
50 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
generating money to reinvest and upgrade
infrastructure can now be done with a
simple installation that could be funded
largely by the government.
Water is power—consuming energy and
creating it at the same time. The process
of pumping, treating and distributing
America’s water and wastewater accounts
for 6% of the nation’s energy consumption,
contributing 5% of its carbon emissions
and 40% of a utility’s budget. All this
energy is consumed to power pumps, treat
water and distribute the water to users.
As electricity costs rise, the cost of these
processes weighs heavily on the industry
and its users.
Even when water providers initiate
conservation efforts, failing infrastructure
limits their effectiveness. The United
States loses 17% of its treated water, called
nonrevenue water (NRW), to fractured
distribution systems. The World Bank
estimates broken distribution lines release
8.6 trillion gallons of NRW annually.
Global water distribution systems
highlight the interconnected nature of
energy and water resources. The industry
term used to describe this interconnectivity
is the nexus of water and energy.
Water distribution networks rely on
fossil fuel-rich grid power to operate, and
they directly contribute to water scarcity
because of the unnecessary carbon they
add to the atmosphere in the process of
treating, pumping and delivering water to
their users.
 There is innovation happening in the
water and wastewater sectors. In recent
years, academics, entrepreneurs and water
innovators have worked together to address
some of the most pressing challenges for
the industry.

Managing Water Loss &

Reducing Carbon Footprint
As energy costs rise, climate change and
water loss increasingly impacts water and
wastewater systems.
Energy recovery that integrates control
valves with micro-hydro technology enables
water distribution itself to be the solution
for each of these enormous challenges. IMAGE 2: Energy recovery dashboard
Recent advances in micro-hydro turbine
technology empowers water innovators to electricity to the local grid. This generated and pressure that is essential to water loss
leverage the wasted pressure emitted by electricity can be used to save money that control. Now, water providers can analyze
control valves. By leveraging existing flow can be reinvested into operations, save pressure data to identify problems within
and pressure differentials, this solution water and reduce carbon emissions. It also specific distribution zones (district metered
recaptures wasted energy from pressurized provides what the industry needs most as areas) before they experience leaks and
pipelines to return remarkable amounts of it modernizes: real-time data about flow main breaks.

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Systems Standards and Whitepapers
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For more information, visit www.pumps.org

PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 51
 IMAGE 3: Installation of energy recovery system
It is an early warning system for
operators. There are an estimated 2 million
control valves in the U.S. and 5.7 million
globally. Deploying in-conduit micro-
hydroelectric energy recovery systems in
the U.S. would offset 290 million metric
tons of CO2 annually in the U.S. and 1.75
gigatons worldwide.
Federal Government to the Rescue
There is some good news. For U.S. water
utilities focusing on decarbonizing, federal
funding is available. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), Department of
Energy (DOE) and Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) all have funds available that benefit
cities and water utilities. Funding from
programs like the Inflation Reduction Act
now includes a direct pay option for tax-
exempt entities. As a result, utilities can
now provide funding for water loss programs
and pay for it all through federal funding
when combined with energy generation
from energy recovery systems.
Operational Results
Energy generation products are proven
technology. Across the U.S., in-conduit
micro-hydroelectric generation plants
are already producing renewable energy,
52 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
alleviating energy costs and tracking
distribution flow and pressure data. Simply
replacing traditional pressure regulating
valves or control valves with energy
recovery systems provide these entities the
necessary controls with the added features
of energy production and pressure zone
data to detect faulty distribution lines.
Hillsboro Public Utility District (PUD)
serves 112,000 residents outside of
Portland, Oregon. The district serves the
city of Hillsboro, which set a sustainability
goal to reduce the city’s square foot energy
consumption by 60%. Taking this goal
seriously, the district paired with an energy
supplier to install an energy recovery
system at one of their pressure reduction
facilities. This project has been up and
running without incident since July 2020.
It generates 200,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh)
of electricity per year and yields a million
dollars’ worth of savings over the project
life. It also eliminates more than 1,700 tons
of carbon, providing hydraulic data, energy
production and carbon reduction data in
real time to track operations, NRW and
sustainability goals.
In Mount Vernon, Washington, the Skagit
PUD installed an energy recovery system
at its Division Street Pump Station where
it manages water pressure and control
flow in one facility. With the system, the
station now converts excess pressure into
renewable energy to offset expensive, fossil
fuel rich electricity from the pumping load
at this facility. This project has been up and
running for more than 18 months without
incident. A second project is being planned
to power an electric vehicle charging station
at a local high school, all from the otherwise
wasted pressure in the distribution of water.
Now is the time for American utilities
to look to the future and take advantage of
the technologies bridging the water-energy
nexus. A small investment to upgrade a
distribution system’s control valve could
be the key to fighting climate change, high
energy costs, water loss and upgrading a
rapidly deteriorating infrastructure.
Gregg Semler is the founder and CEO of InPipe
Energy. A veteran entrepreneur with extensive
experience in the clean energy and water sectors,
he founded his company in 2016 after seeing
an untapped opportunity to create a new source
of renewable energy from pressurized water
infrastructure that could have a positive global
impact on the climate. Since 2000, Semler has
led efforts to commercialize new products into the
energy and water markets. For more information, visit
inpipeenergy.com.
HVAC
Differential Pressure Sensors
for Data Center Applications
Maintaining proper temperature is critical to keep operations
running with limited downtime.
STEVE ST. HILAIRE | Ashcroft
Data centers that house servers and other
computer equipment crucial to the success
of many companies require a specialized
controlled environment to function
properly. These areas must be maintained
at a consistent temperature to keep the
equipment running at peak efficiency to
help reduce energy costs and must keep
out dust and contaminants to prevent
premature equipment failure.
The wrong pressure instruments can
result in inaccurate measurements,
damage to equipment and downtime for
your application.
Differential pressure sensors are used
in several different applications in data
centers. This article will discuss these
applications and what product features
make for the best differential sensors for
these applications to ensure applications
run accurately and efficiently.
Proper Temperature for
Peak Performance
Maintaining the proper temperature
in a data center is critical to its overall
efficiency. The American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning
Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends the
temperature in a server room or hallway
should be maintained between 60 F to 80 F
for maximum efficiency. If the temperature
is too high, users run the risk of hardware
or system failure. If the temperature is
too low, the energy cost of the data center
increases.
In a raised floor, open-air data center,
where data floors are broken into zones,
differential pressure sensors can be used
to monitor and control the under-floor
pressures which are used to increase or
decrease the computer room air control
(CRAC) or computer room air handling
(CRAH) fan speeds to help maintain proper
airflow and temperature control. In data
halls with hot/cold isle containment, airflow
control and proper pressurization is critical
to maintain cooling air to rack mounted
servers and equipment. By precisely
controlling rack inlet pressures, adequate
cooling is ensured to prevent equipment
damage or premature failure.
Energy Cost
In addition to helping run servers at
maximum efficiency, another benefit of
tightly controlling the temperature in the
server room is it provides a cost reduction
in the energy use of the data center. The
closer the room can be kept to the high end
of the recommended temperature range,
the less energy will be required to heat or
cool the room. Ultimately, this leads to a
reduction in energy costs.
Air Flow
To prevent dust and other contaminants
from entering the room where servers are
stored, many data centers use heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
systems designed to create a positive
air flow in the room so when the door to
the room is open, the air flows from the
room out into the hallway. This prevents
any dust or stray contaminants from
entering the room, keeping the servers in
pristine condition. This type of positive
room pressure is often found in cleanroom
applications and uses a differential pressure
sensor to monitor the pressure differential
between the room and the hallway to make
sure the air is flowing in the right direction.
Sensor Reliability & Repeatability
All the applications listed above require a
differential pressure sensor that is accurate,
repeatable, reliable and stable enough to
help control the HVAC systems. Since the
goal is always to keep the system operating
at peak efficiency with limited downtime,
the pressure measurement instruments
must be designed with a reliable sensor
technology that can measure the slightest
difference in pressure while continuing to
operate accurately, reliably and efficiently
over time. The energy savings assumed
to be gained by tightly controlling the
temperature can be affected by the
accuracy of the differential sensor. If at
any point the accuracy of the sensor shifts
from +/- 0.25% to +/- 1.0% or more, users
lose the tight control of the process and
start to escalate energy costs. Having a
repeatable pressure sensor with minimal
long-term drift will also help to reduce the
downtime needed for periodic calibration
and verification, allowing the systems to
run longer with greater efficiency.
Now that users better understand the
pressure instrumentation requirements for
HVAC systems in data centers, they can
research the solution that is best for airflow
measurements. Keeping these factors in
mind can help ensure problems are avoided
and keep applications running with reliable
and accurate pressure measurements.
Get More Info
For more on sensors, visit
pumpsandsystems.com/
tags/sensors.
Steve St. Hilaire is the product marketing leader
for both pressure transducers and pressure switches
at Ashcroft. He has over 30 years of experience in
sales and marketing in the sensor industry. For more
information, visit ashcroft.com.
PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 53
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Automatic Lubrication for Bottling Operations
Equipment corrosion from product spills can keep things from operating smoothly.
JACK KOENIG | Graco
IMAGE 1: Bottling injectors (Images courtesy of Graco)
Demand is as high as ever in the food
and beverage industry, and every minute
matters on the production line. Any
downtime affects productivity, and
ultimately, profitability.
It is a problem bottling companies know
well, and many are turning to automation
throughout the production process to keep
up capacity, especially as worker shortages
plague industries. Automation keeps the
line moving—usually producing higher
volumes—with fewer people manning
operations. It can also allow for faster
onboarding of new staff in times of turnover
and the ongoing transition from deeply
experienced floor workers to digital natives.
While the older workers knew from their
long tenures what problems to look for
and how to quickly solve them, the newer
workers can get up-to-speed quickly with
a digitized, automated application—and
those automated solutions are often able to
resolve any issues more seamlessly.
With bottling lines operating at high
capacity, it is essential they maintain
optimal lubrication to keep things up and
54 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
IMAGE 2: Automatic grease and oil pump in
bottling system
running—which is no easy task,
especially with fewer eyes on the system
and increased pressure to avoid the
downtime that often comes with fixing a
lubrication issue.
Lubrication fails on the bottling line for
many reasons, but setting up automatic
lubrication with a system that meets a
plant’s needs can maintain the uptime
bottlers need to stay on target.
Case Study
The Duvel Moortgat Brewery in
Puurs, Belgium, produces between
150,000 and 180,000 bottles of
beer an hour. The brewery found
it was frequently experiencing
bearing failures on one of its
bottling lines, which has 1,035
different grease points—even
though the maintenance team
was following its service schedule.
The brewery decided to install an
automatic lubrication system
and immediately saw longer
bearing life.
Following the initial install,
Moortgat Brewery quickly installed
automatic lubrication systems
across the entire bottling plant,
resulting in increased uptime on
the production line and significant
savings—not only financially, but
also in efficiency, productivity
and labor. The maintenance staff
no longer had to lubricate each
lube point manually—a time-
consuming process.
The benefits of automatic
lubrication extend beyond longer
product runtimes. Automatic
lubrication systems also help
protect against moisture, sugars
and wash-down chemicals
that can chew up and damage
bearings—preventing fluids from
penetrating the bearing housing by
creating a fully sealed lubrication
system. With bearings failing
less frequently, maintenance
departments can be more efficient,
and producers can potentially
save thousands of dollars in spare
bearing inventory.
 Thousands of Pumps
Poor Lubrication Decreases
Efficacy—or Stops Production
There are challenges throughout the
Have Never Seized
bottling process that can negatively impact
lubrication efficacy.
Product spills can lead to equipment
corrosion, reducing lubricants’ ability to
keep things operating smoothly. Then,
sanitary wash downs to clean equipment
of contamination can lead to lubricant
leakage or, even worse, remove lubricants
Pumps fitted with
GRAPHALLOY® wear
from key bearings. Bearing failure creates
downtime for repairs and replacements,
which leads to lost production and parts survive upsets.
increased operating costs.
• Self-lubricating
Another lubrication problem occurs • Non-galling
when lubricants go where they should not • Won’t swell
go—into the bottles and cans being filled • Corrosion resistant
with product. Product spoilage, even when • Dimensionally stable
• Improved efficiencies GRAPHITE METALLIZING
quickly identified, can lead not only to • -400˚F to 1000˚F (-240˚C to 535˚C) CORPORATION
large quantities of lost product, but also to Yonkers, NY USA P1
productivity losses and costs associated +1.914.968.8400 • www.GRAPHALLOY.com
with cleaning up equipment and getting it
up and running again.
Worse still, if a spill is not identified
before a product goes to market, a
company’s image could be impaired for
failing to comply with health, safety and GRINDING JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE

P OW E R F U L
environmental regulations.

For Automated Systems, Automatic

Lubrication Is Key
To meet all these challenges, it is essential
for all the equipment to have proper 71 & 72 HD
lubrication and management. At the same GRINDER PUMP
time, the bottling industry is becoming
increasingly automated, adopting the use With 97% of ZEP products
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Choosing the Right Divider Valves

for Distributing Lubricants
In an automatic lubrication system, the
divider valves ensure lubricant is zoellerengineered.com
dispensed accurately, ensuring optimal
performance. There are several options
for progressive dividers that meet the

PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 55
 FOOD & BEVERAGE

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IMAGE 3: Bottle production through automatic lubrication system

lubrication requirements of bearings and other key lubrication

points, and many options come in both carbon steel and
UNMATCHABLE EXPERIENCE IN stainless steel.
FLOW CONTROL TRANSACTIONS It is also important to select a divider with a built-in outlet
check valve to ensure accurate lubrication delivery and even
consider performance indicators to enable easier and more
Jordan Knauff & Company is a knowledgeable and reliable troubleshooting.
experienced provider of a comprehensive line of Another consideration is output volume, especially for an
investment banking services to the pump, valve and
filtration industries (“Flow Control”). assembly with larger machine requirements. Selecting divider
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Our lines of business include: selling companies, high-volume producers with large bearing applications.
raising debt and equity capital, and assistance
on acquisitions. As the push toward automation and increased technology
in bottling accelerates, lubrication is a vital part of the
To learn more about Jordan Knauff & Com- process that must keep up with other automated processes.
pany, contact any member of our Flow As companies continue to look for ways to increase efficiency
Control team. Access our Flow Control research
at www.jordanknauff.com/research-library. and lower operating costs, automatic lubrication is becoming
a standard operating practice that has proven to result in a fast
G. Cook Jordan, Jr. David A. Kakareka return on investment and long-term operating gains.
Managing Principal Managing Director
cj@jordanknauff.com dkakareka@jordanknauff.com
312.254.5901 312.254.5907

MEMBER FINRA, SIPC

Jack Koenig is industrial product manager for Graco. For more information,
visit graco.com/industrial.

56 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023

HVAC

Digital Twin Technology &

Its Applications in HVAC Systems
How machine learning can be used to optimize performance in buildings.

ANNE-LAURENCE CHEVALIER | Armstrong Fluid Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) is used to

describe a broad concept of intelligent
machines that can simulate human
thinking and behavior. Machine learning
is one application of AI that allows
machines to learn from data without being
programmed explicitly.
Machine learning, at its most basic,
is the practice of using algorithms to
parse data, learn from it and then make
predictions about something in the world.
So, rather than hand-coding software
routines with a specific set of instructions
to accomplish a particular task, the
machine is trained using large amounts of
data and algorithms that give it the ability IMAGE 1: How power consumption increases over time (Images courtesy of Armstrong Fluid Technology)
to learn how to perform the task.
This article will discuss how machine developers and owners do not have to bear procedure is required. Once the
learning can be used in heating, ventilation the cost of extra equipment sitting unused maintenance is completed, system
and air-conditioning (HVAC) applications, for most of its life. efficiency is somewhat corrected, but
how it can impact HVAC performance and system performance generally does not
how it works. Performance/Energy Dri return to the desired level. Note that in
As a chiller plant goes through its life cycle, most buildings, it is only when a disruption
Why Should We Be Interested in changes affect performance and efficiency. occurs that poor performance is noticed
Machine Learning Technology? As mechanical systems age, they do not and a correction is made.
The choices made around machine operate as efficiently as they did when they The ideal management practice or habit
learning solutions will impact projects. were first commissioned. This change is would be to complete full maintenance of
By implementing machine learning called performance drift or energy drift. all systems, get them working properly
technology, building construction costs Drift is caused by small changes in and recommission on a continuous basis.
can be lowered by up to $3 per square foot. equipment performance due to fouling Minor amounts of drift would still occur
It can also help reduce operating cost by or incomplete maintenance of certain because of wear on the system, but
approximately 40 cents per square foot. components, such as clogged strainers or performance and efficiency would be closer
The third value of machine learning dirty filters. Because of this, the system to the ideal state.
relates to occupant comfort. Several performance gradually degrades.
solutions can provide occupant comfort Image 1 shows how power consumption Persistence
in existing buildings, but at what cost? increases over time and that there are Persistence is the measure of how energy
The goal is to reach 100% occupant peaks when disruptions occur, such as savings endure after commissioning or
comfort without idle assets so building small failures or when a maintenance recommissioning. This measure does

PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 57
HVAC
IMAGE 2: Achieving persistence with machine learning
not look at the first days and weeks of
operation, but instead looks at the life
cycle of the building and provides an
indicator of how well the system is
maintaining the efficiency for which it was
originally designed.
The expectation is that not only
can the efficiency targets achieved at
commissioning be maintained, but that
operators can implement lessons learned
regarding plant operation to achieve better
efficiencies over time.
Overcoming Dri & Improving
System Efficiency
As mentioned, performance in a
traditional chiller plant will drift. On
average, one would expect to see a 25%
increase in power consumption for the
same level of output.
Would this change if the system was
optimized? In an optimized chiller plant,
better efficiencies would be noticed
initially, but with no method of identifying
the objective for performance has been
deviated from, drift would still be seen.
Ideally, to maintain performance, the
system would have to be recommissioned
every time drift occurs. But how often
is a building operator going to do this?
58 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
Can maintenance staff afford the time to
complete this monthly, quarterly, annually
or even less often? What will be the effect
on operating costs and labor hours? How
will this compare to the impact of not
doing the regular recommissioning? To
really manage the system and maintain
performance correctly, recommissions
must be done on a continuous basis. This is
where machine learning can help.
When machine learning is added,
the practice and the technology not
only maintain plant efficiencies, they
can actually improve system operation
and efficiencies over time. With this,
combinations and configurations can
be learned to operate a plant so that
performance and efficiency are better than
when the system was first commissioned.
How Machine Learning Works
Machine learning, by definition, processes
input data, applies learning through
evaluation and improves the quality of the
output data.
A digital twin is an exact digital replica
of something in the physical world. The
creation of a digital twin is made possible
thanks to internet of things (IoT) devices
that gather data from the physical world to
reconstruct the replica in a digital format.
With a digital twin, it becomes possible to
bring insights about improving operations,
increasing efficiency or discovering an
issue before it occurs. The lessons learned
from the digital twin can then be applied
to the physical system with less risk and
better return on investment.
So, how is the concept of a digital
twin related to machine learning? Often,
machine learning is used to analyze a
model of operations represented by a
digital twin. For mechanical systems in
buildings, a digital twin is a data-only
representation of all the variables of
interest in a component, device or
process. Importantly, a digital twin is not
a single snapshot.
A digital twin captures new data
constantly and updates all the variables
of interest over time so changes in a
modeled environment can be seen. Based
on what is learned, a predictive model
using digital twins can be created to
understand what the results would be if
operated differently.
Machine Learning vs. Existing
Traditional Models
The traditional optimization model is an
equation-based model with only one road
programmed to operate the system. This
model has static equations with fixed
coefficients only adjusted on day one
commissioning when all the equipment is
at its best. When equipment needs to be
serviced, the equation will not change, and
the algorithm will continue to use the
same optimization path. That is what will
lead to lost efficiency until the failing
equipment gets serviced and the plant
gets recommissioned, leading to drift
over time.
On the other hand, by using machine
learning algorithms, optimization can
occur with real-time traffic data. It is a
data-based model using digital twins with
an evolving digital control map. Once it
has created the control map, it will start
operating on that map with the operating
points of the equipment. These control
maps evolve over time by exploring outside
 CUSTOMIZATION IN EVERY DETAIL
THE PERFECT PUMP FOR YOUR EXCELLENCE – MADE TO LAST
APPLICATION
of the optimized operating zones that it has
established. This allows for new ways to
operate the plant to be discovered.

What Else Does Machine Learning

Bring to the Table?
Machine learning brings new opportunities
for condition-based maintenance because
of the diagnostic capabilities. This provides
automatic notifications of any failure of a
piece of equipment, notification on service
requirements and notification of deviation
of performance long before a performance
drift starts. This creates an opportunity to
improve service protocols; operators can go www.boerger.com
from scheduled maintenance approaches
to condition-based maintenance.
If several plants are connected to a
remote diagnostic service in the cloud, and
all their information is brought back and
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• Large selection of materials, seals and rotors

analyzed, the learning from one plant is Customization in every detail – for a long service life
combined to a larger population of similar Booth #3409 and lowest costs.
plants. By looking at multiple sites and
applying AI, it can:
• show trends that have improved
performance through machine
learning exploration mode
• help implement learning right after
commissioning of a building
• reduce the wait time of the
learning period

Machine learning with digital twins is

an evolving data-based model that
identifies more efficient ways to
operate a plant. With self-learning
and self-calibrating capabilities, these
technologies ensure persistence through
a learning and exploring algorithm. They
support condition-based maintenance
and transparency in real time for
immediate assessment of actions required.
These technologies improve building
performance, maintenance and
occupant comfort.

Anne-Laurence Chevalier is the offering manager

for HVAC and automation systems at Armstrong
Fluid Technology. For more information, visit
armstrongfluidtechnology.com.

PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 59
EFFICIENCY 101
10 Benefits of
Packaged
Pump Systems
An introduction to and
explanation of the benefits of
packaged pump systems.
GAUTAM DAS | Grundfos
Shortage of skilled workers, budget
constraints, supply chain issues,
unpredictable weather and aging water
distribution infrastructure are some of
the critical issues plaguing public water
distribution networks and municipal
water districts nationwide. However,
packaged pump systems are a solution for
overcoming these challenges.
What Are Packaged Pump Systems?
A packaged pump system consists of
pumps, piping, valves, instrumentation,
controls and electrical accessories installed
and wired on a common structural steel
base frame, which may also be housed
inside a modular metal or fiberglass
enclosure/shelter to protect equipment. It
is a fundamentally self-contained pumping
solution that can be set in place (typically
anchored to a concrete foundation) at the
jobsite, hooked up to the public utility
(power and water lines) and switched on
for use. They find use in a wide range of
pumping applications such as pressure
boosting, tank fill, dosing and disinfection,
water filtration and treatment, etc.
Why Packaged Pump Systems?
Packaged pump systems offer the
following benefits:
60 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
IMAGE 1: Packaged pump systems offer roughly up to 20% cost savings when compared with a stick-built
(built on user’s jobsite) pump system. (Images courtesy of Grundfos).
1. Preliminary design, cost and schedule
estimate – At the inception stage of
a project, the system manufacturer
adds value beyond assisting the end
user with pump selection and sizing by
also helping write the specifications
for the pump system and developing a
preliminary scope, cost and estimated
lead time based on the user’s
requirements and constraints. This
collaboration with the user ensures
form, fit and function during design.
2. Detailed design and engineering –
After order placement, the
manufacturer carries out detailed
design and engineering of the
packaged system and compiles it
in the form of a submittal package.
The submittal typically includes
equipment selection and sizing, general
arrangement drawing (equipment
layout, overall system dimensions and
user connection tie in points),
electrical and control schematics
and panel drawings, sequence of
operation, testing procedures and
coating specification and procedures.
This level of detailed engineering
and design allows the project
engineer/manager and contractor to
focus on the overall project design
and engineering.
IMAGE 2: Example of a packaged pump system
housed inside a modular enclosure/shelter by the
manufacturer
3. Single source responsibility – Upon
review and approval of the submittal
package, the manufacturer places an
order for the equipment and materials
with multiple suppliers and is also
responsible for expediting, receiving
and staging components. The value this
stage of the project offers the user is not
having to deal with managing multiple
vendors, contracts and potential supply
chain issues, which is taken care of
by the system manufacturer’s project
execution team.
4. Compliance with industry standards
and codes – Packaged pump system
manufacturer’s facilities are typically
certified to industry quality and safety
standards and codes, which guarantees
the user’s peace of mind.
5. Shop assembly of the packaged pump system – Helps
eliminate the following:
a. field installation, alignment and
troubleshooting of pumps and other
system components (all of which
require skilled labor)
b. project schedule delays due to
unpredictable weather or other site
installation delays
c. space at jobsite for staging
components before field assembly

Eliminating the above translates into cost savings

(skilled labor and time) and helps shave time off the project
schedule. Packaged pump systems roughly offer up to 20%
cost savings when compared with a stick-built (built on user’s
jobsite) pump system (Image 1).
Cost savings are greater when the packaged pump
systems are housed inside a modular enclosure/shelter by
the manufacturer. This considerably reduces the time,
funds and coordination required for a field erected
concrete building.
6. Testing and quality inspection – Shop testing and final
quality inspection of the packaged pump system prior to
shipment help minimize the scope of field commissioning
and troubleshooting of the system at the jobsite, translating
into labor, time and cost savings. Manufacturing Drives You Can Trust Since 1986
7. Optional after sales service – Assistance with installation,
startup, commissioning and operator training.
8. Warranty – Makes the system manufacturer the single point Torque Vector Control
of contact for any defective parts or workmanship for the
duration stipulated in the warranty. 2 Year Warranty
9. Digital solutions – Use advanced controllers and
instrumentation to constantly monitor and learn the user’s
½HP to 670HP
varying requirements and control the packaged pump
systems to maintain stable pressure, which in turn
Feature Rich
Conformally Coated
helps reduce water loss due to pipe bursts and leakage as standard
(aging pipes) and reduce energy usage (minimizing
operational costs).
10. Cloud-based remote monitoring – Data acquisition and Meet the range here
logging systems that are more efficient and cost effective
than conventional supervisory control and data acquisition
(SCADA) systems. Such technologies help monitor the aging
water infrastructure and alert maintenance personnel early
to potential issues that could cripple the water network.

imoautomation.com
*Other protocols available

Gautam Das is a mechanical engineer with 13 years of experience in rotating North American Headquarters - Atlanta, GA
equipment packages. He is a product portfolio manager (municipal) for a range
of clean water products that also include packaged pumping systems. For more sales-na@imopc.com ( 404 476 8810
information, visit grundfos.com.

PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 61
MOTORS & DRIVES

Intuitive Pumping &

Data Accessibility
Smart VFD technology boosts efficiency and
ease of use.

BRETT MERNIN | Control Techniques

As water scarcity continues and the the proper control and performance of IMAGE 1: Smart VFD technology for agricultural
demand for wells, irrigation and even pumping systems are becoming embedded pumping (Images courtesy of Control Techniques)

desalination grows, the requirement in the smartest part of a pump installation.

for dependable and quickly deployable Commonly, this is the VFD that is regulating the user, this means fewer decisions need
pumping systems will increase over the the energy and power usage to the pump to be made on a regular basis about how
next few years. Users cannot depend strictly motor based upon a sequence of inputs pumps are being controlled. Rather, the
on labor force and system replacements to and logic. Smart drives are compiling years users and installers can teach the drive
solve and keep water infrastructure running; of pumping experience into intelligence in a pump system exactly how it should
it will require better technology to drive to quickly adapt to system dynamics and react to changing conditions and under
efficiency, along with remote accessibility allow for precise control of water usage what situations it needs to stop or start
and intuitive interfaces to sustain the and responses to system problems. For the flow of water. Cost reduction, reduced
health of overall water supply networks. The
future is exciting for water management
in agriculture, irrigation and municipal
pump applications as it continues to draw
from other technology segments to create
products and innovations for the next step
in intuitive drives and data accessibility.
Through using variable frequency drives
(VFDs) and controls, internet of things (IoT)-
accessible solutions and systems based
on intelligent water consumption, user
friendly technology will assist in the rapid
application and deployment of a new breed
of pumping systems.

Smart Drives & Controls IMAGE 2: Smart drives and controls for proper
For what used to be auxiliary equipment, pumping performance

62 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023

maintenance visits and lower pump wear are all attributable to
the rise of smart drives in pumping systems.

Drive Accessibility Technology

As mentioned previously, the smartest component in a pump
system can typically be identified as the VFD running the
motor at the pump, which makes the accessibility to these
drives more critical. The interface to control, configure and
monitor the drive has varied over the years, starting from
embedded potentiometers and switches to external digital and
analog inputs and outputs, transitioning to more advanced
communication networks (whether hardwired or wireless). With
more advanced technology around communication networks
and their peripheral devices, the user has many options for
how to monitor and control their drives, and in turn, so do the
pump users.
For example, many drives have accessibility via an ethernet
connection, which is a critical avenue for most user interface
options. This could include common options such as industrial
configurable human-machine interfaces (HMIs) to more exotic
options like embedded web page interfaces or smartphone
applications via a Wi-Fi connection. Some drive manufacturers
have begun to go as far as adding in more consumer
recognizable communication links like Bluetooth and near field
communication (NFC). Just as consumers can tap their phone (or
credit card) to pay for goods, users can now tap their phone onto
a VFD and instantly upload configured data from the drive or
provide additional input information to the system.
Using a smart drive provides real-time accessibility to all
elements of the pump system, reducing the need to be near
each component for troubleshooting and managing.

IoT Solutions & System Interfaces

Pulling from the playbook of traditional industrial
process control and logistics, localized HMIs and wireless
communication access are more perceptive and common in
place of the traditional button, switch and pilot light pump
system installations. As typical controls are migrated to
infinitely configurable visual interface options, remote irrigation
and pumping systems are now packed with a wealth of data
including real-time information regarding current and past
states of a system. Using technologies such as Wi-Fi, cellular
data access points, mesh networks and long range radio (LoRa),
pump users no longer need to physically get themselves to
a problem installation, but can access the HMI or control
system from their local personal computer (PC) or phone. With
mirrorable visual interfaces brought from the local site to the
users handheld devices, users can much more intuitively solve
problems and input recommended changes without the need to
visually inspect every part of an installation. These interfaces
simplify initial installations by providing step-by-step guidance 713-667-4402 Sales@SMPtools.com www.SMPtools.com
in setting up the parameters of a pump system without needing

PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 63
MOTORS & DRIVES
to know each and every mechanical detail
of its use.
The key to these accessibility solutions
is their usability for all touchpoint users
within the pumping system network,
whether it is the installer, the service
technician, the owner or water regulators.
Pump systems span across a vast spectrum
of experience and knowledge in their user
touch base, and any interactions within
the system must be able to intuitively
speak to any of these users. For example,
an installation technician likely will require
all typical system data (motor information,
pump type, required pressure levels, etc.) to
be easily accessible at the installation and
may require the system to auto-configure
itself based on the number of pumps
available, the length of supply lines and the
schedule of demand, among other things.
Alternatively, a site manager may
need to report the amount of water used
in a certain period, or cross-reference that
data with weather patterns, crop yields
and the chemical content of the soil in
various areas. These two touchpoints with
the system (and therefore the needs from
the system) vary widely but should come
together in a common, intuitive control
point, whether it is the pump controller
(drive or external controller), HMI or another
interface. This is where pump systems
begin to benefit from other consumer and
64 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
electronics fields, where the value of the
system can depend more on its intuitive
usability versus the actual pump control
performance, since this becomes a major
differentiator in a competitive field of
similar products.
Sustainability &
Consumption Control
The collective awareness of the need to
manage natural resources, while striving
to maximize production, drives most of
the technology innovations mentioned
here. Although there is a myriad of data
and endless tools that could be used to
analyze that data, real benefits to pumping
applications can only be measured through
the practical application of that data.
Sensors, climate models, weather forecasts,
historical data collections and other forms
of feedback assist in providing valuable
input data to intelligent devices in a
pumping system to more accurately use the
water they are looking to provide.
Additionally, data provided directly
from the pump system can change the way
users are notified and advised of predictive
maintenance, preventing costly downtime
in an environment of potentially long
supply chains and unpredictable lead times
for replacement components.
When considering a pumping solution,
consistently consider if a proposal will
IMAGE 3: Operating technology for agricultural
pumping
integrate this type of data into a more
economical system or solution since this
can make all the difference in consumption
control and preventative or predictive
maintenance needs. The application of
this data will rely on the technology
chosen to run the system and the
instinctiveness of its interfaces to users.
Just how users have driven more
intuitive control and responsive data
analysis from their consumer products, it
is important the same expectation is set
for pumping systems. Most of the needed
technology for this already exists in parallel
industries and products, leaving it up to
users and designers to demand equitable
usability for pumping systems. Much of this
initiative will rely on smart VFD technology
and its interfaces to the networked world,
given its highly flexible and capable market
position in pumping systems. Ultimately,
this all brings higher performing, more
efficient, easier to use and more sustainable
pump systems that will manage the future
of water.
Brett Mernin is director of business development
for Control Techniques. He may be reached at brett.
mernin@mail.nidec.com. For more information, visit
acim.nidec.com/en-us/drives/control-techniques.
HI PUMP FAQS
Pumps as a Package & Pressure Relief Valves
for Positive Displacement Pumps
HYDRAULIC INSTITUTE
Q| Should pumps purchased for
commercial building services be
done so as a package?
It is always a good practice to consider
the entire system when purchasing
pumps. Focusing on just the pump
without considering the control method
and instrumentation, for instance, is
shortsighted and will result in suboptimal
operation. However, the design and
packaging can be done individually
and input into a building management
system or as a package from the pump
manufacturer that fits into the building
management system.
If you are new and not sure how the
pumping equipment was designed or
procured, it may be good to take a step
back and get some advice from technical
experts to understand the different building
systems, determine if they are integrated
with each other and understand their
current operation prior to procuring new or
replacement equipment.
As a starting point, you could
inventory how your equipment is running,
and if it is failing or maintenance costs
are higher than expected, it may be an
indication that a broader look at the
system is needed. If this is the case,
reach out to the manufacturer’s sales
representative for support.
An example of pumps that are supplied
as packages with driver and controls are fire
pumps. These pumps are governed by code
(state, local, national building code and
international building coded, with National
Fire Protection Agency standard, NFPA-
20 acting as the guiding standard). Fire
pumps will have third-party certification
and listings that verify the pumps are
constructed to the guiding standard.
IMAGE 1: Packaged fire pump
system, including controllers
on a skid, with pressure
maintenance pump and fittings
(Images courtesy of Hydraulic
Institute)
The underwriting listing agency verifies pressure is higher than a set value. This
the fire pump package, with the pump not only protects the piping system from
manufacturer being responsible for use of mechanical failure, but it can also save the
approved components (see Image 1). driver from overload.
For more information on pumps
in commercial buildings, refer to HI’s
Commercial Building Services Pump
Application Guidebook at pumps.org. Pressure
Relief
Q| Why does the positive
displacement pump I purchased
Inlet Outlet
come with a pressure relief valve?
Positive displacement pumps deliver a
constant volume with every revolution of
the shaft, which is relatively independent
of pressure. This results in a pump
IMAGE 2: Internal gear pump with integrated
performance curve that has a relatively pressure relief valve
constant flow rate as pressure increases
or decreases (see May 2015 Pump FAQ For more information on positive
for more on the performance curve for a displacement pumps, refer to HI’s Training
positive displacement pump). at training.pumps.org.
The constant flow characteristic can
result in system overpressure when the
HI Pump FAQs® is produced by the Hydraulic
discharge flow is blocked or restricted. For
Institute as a service to pump users,
this reason, positive displacement pumps contractors, distributors, reps and OEMs.
should have protections in place to ensure For more information, visit pumps.org.
over-pressurization does not occur.
Image 2 illustrates a gear pump with
an integrated pressure relief valve that
allows flow to recycle to the inlet if
PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 65
SEALING SENSE
Where to Find Technical Information About
Rubber Expansion Joints
The Fluid Sealing Association’s Technical Handbook provides answers to common questions.
JAMES M. GANNATAL | Fluid Sealing Association member, Proco Products, Inc.
IMAGE 1: Technical Handbook for Expansion Joints
Piping 8.1 (Images courtesy of the Fluid Sealing
Association)
When introducing consumers to rubber
expansion joints, several initial questions
come to mind. What are rubber expansion
joints? What is the function of rubber
expansion joints? Are there different types?
What are the capabilities? How do I install
one? The answers to these and additional
questions can be found in the Technical
Handbook for Expansion Joints Piping 8.1,
which has been newly released by the Fluid
Sealing Association.
The handbook is a technical guideline
developed by the expansion joints piping
division of the Fluid Sealing Association.
This division created the Technical
Handbook as a valuable reference source
of pertinent information and factual data
for the thousands of engineers whose daily
66 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
concerns are designing piping systems and excess vibration, which may be transmitted
overseeing installations. The handbook is through the system. The expansion joint
a compilation of construction standards can also compensate for axial, lateral,
and a guide for specifying and purchasing angular and torsional movements that
rubber expansion joints. The information occur due to thermal changes or hydraulic
provided is based upon a wealth of surge effects by strategically positioning
associated knowledge collected from these the expansion joints in the system. Some
different member companies. common places where rubber expansion
The handbook provides the following joints are often seen in a piping system
information regarding rubber expansion are on the inlet and discharge of pumps,
joints: the definition of what a rubber in cooling water circulation and heat
expansion joint is, their different types and exchanger systems or anywhere vibration
styles, commonly available elastomers dampening, flexibility and/or reduction in
and the various design configurations and pipe stresses are needed.
accessories for rubber expansion joints.
It also provides technical design data Types of Rubber Expansion Joints
and information regarding common
design conditions for the different types
of expansion joints and guidelines on
how to install and maintain rubber
expansion joints.
What Are Rubber Expansion Joints &
What Is Their Function?
The definition of a rubber expansion
joint per the handbook is a flexible pipe
connector fabricated of natural or synthetic
elastomers, fluoroplastics and fabrics and,
if necessary, metallic reinforcements to
provide stress relief in a piping system due
to thermal and mechanical vibration and/
or movements. Expansion joints can be
incorporated into the design of a piping
system to solve anticipated problems of
IMAGE 2: Spool types (top), single sphere (bottom
vibration, noise, shock, corrosion, abrasion
left), double sphere (bottom right)
and stresses. The expansion joint will be
used to dampen the anticipated vibration There are several types of rubber expansion
and/or noise transmission from centrifugal joints available in various design
pumps or other equipment that may cause configurations and elastomers, depending
on the requirements of the application. The
handbook discusses in detail the different
types of rubber expansion joints; however,
the two most common types of rubber
expansion joints are the spool type and
molded sphere type. The spool type rubber
expansion joint typically incorporates a
full-face rubber flange as an integral part of
the expansion joint’s body. The full-face
rubber flange is of sufficient thickness to
form a tight seal against the mating flanges
without the use of gaskets. This style of
rubber expansion joint is available in many
different design configurations, from the
very common single and multiple open arch
designs to the filled arch or lined versions
for slurry/abrasive applications. Other
design configurations of the spool type
include the concentric and eccentric
reducing versions to the sleeve type which
forgo the full-face rubber flanges and
instead employ sleeve ends designed to slip
onto the mating pipe for a watertight seal.
The other most common type of rubber
expansion joint, the molded sphere type,
incorporates the movement and vibration
dampening capability of a spool type
expansion joint into a compact and robust
device. The distinguishing features of the
molded sphere type expansion joint are the
shape of the body, metal floating flanges
and beaded end seal. The beaded end seal
is different compared to the full-face rubber
flange typically found on the spool type
expansion joint, providing a different style
of sealing with similar characteristics to
IMAGE 3: Expansion joints come with a plethora of
different accessories to facilitate their function.
the spool type design. The most common
design configurations of the sphere type
include the single sphere and double
sphere designs.
These different types of expansion joints
also come with different accessories to
facilitate their function. The most common
accessories are the control units, which
have availability in a few different styles
depending on the application. They are
designed to restrain the pressure thrust
load developed from an expansion joint
when it is pressurized and/or to restrict the
movement of the expansion joint to within
its design capabilities. With that being said,
a new question arises. What is pressure
thrust from an expansion joint?
When describing pressure thrust,
consider equating it to blowing up
a balloon. As the balloon inflates, it
expands outward. An expansion joint will
do the same thing if unrestrained, and
depending on how the piping system is
supported, guided and anchored, as the
rubber expansion joint is pressurized, it
will create a pressure thrust load that will
be exerted on the system. If the system
is unrestrained, then this pressure thrust
load can cause the expansion joint to
expand past its design capabilities. For
unrestrained/unanchored systems, these
control units will be required to restrain
this pressure thrust load to ensure the
expansion joint does not operate beyond
its design capabilities. The control units
also come in a few different design
configurations, depending on what kind
of movement is being restrained. These
range from limiting the axial extension
of the expansion joint only to limiting
both the axial extension and compression
or allowing the expansion joint to only
angularly deflect.
Where to Find More
Technical Information
What if you are looking for technical
information about rubber expansion joints?
The handbook is a wealth of knowledge for
the design phase of a piping project. The
handbook has design data for the common
types of rubber expansion joints including
their maximum temperature ratings for
the different elastomers, typical pressure
characteristics of the different styles of
rubber expansion joints and their common
movement and associated spring rate
capabilities. This information is valuable in
the design phase of a piping system when
determining the correct style of expansion
joint to use. This technical information
can help to make an informed decision
when determining design choices in a
piping system regarding expansion joint
placement and how the expansion joint will
act based on the design requirements of
the system.
Important questions arise when
determining design choices. For example,
will the expansion joint compensate for
the required axial growth/contraction of
the piping without exerting too much of
a stress load on a nozzle, a pipe header or
a pump flange? The technical data found
in the handbook, along with a pipe stress
analysis, can determine the answer to this
question, and the design can be modified
or a different expansion joint may be used
so the design is within allowable stress
tolerances. Making these determinations at
the design phase and specifying the style
of expansion joint required for the specific
application/installation reduces the chance
an incorrect expansion joint will be used.
If interested in learning more about
rubber expansion joints, the Fluid Sealing
Association’s newly released Technical
Handbook for Expansion Joints Piping 8.1
is your reference guide for expansion
joint piping. Download a copy at
fluidsealing.com.
We invite your suggestions for article topics
as well as questions on sealing issues so we
can better respond to the needs of the industry.
Please direct your suggestions and questions to
sealingsensequestions@fluidsealing.com.
James M. Gannatal is a mechanical engineer with
Proco Products, Inc. He became a member of the
Fluid Sealing Association in 2020.
PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 67
PRODUCTS
NEW & NOTABLE TECHNOLOGY
Selected by the
Pumps & Systems editors
1 GRINDER PUMP
ZOELLER’s new 72hd grinder, 10 and 15 hp,
expands its grinder pump offering
ranging from 1-15 hp. The 3-inch or
4-inch ANSI flanged horizontal discharge
allows for easy adaption to competitor rail
systems. The pumping performance ranges
from 250 feet at shut off and a max fl
flow
ow at 150
gpm at 50 feet TDH. Removable legs allow debris
to flow
flow easier into the industry proven scissor like
cutting assembly, reducing solids down to 1/8-inch
solids.
zoellerengineered.com
2 SCADA SYSTEM
MISSION-managed SCADA offers monitoring
and remote control that allows users to manage,
operate and maintain water and wastewater
applications. This solution includes all necessary
hardware, software, support and connectivity
needed. By including only the necessary features
in a single package, the company keeps costs
low, minimizes security vulnerabilities, simplifies
installation and maximizes reliability. The Mission
web portal is customizable and allows system
access from a computer, tablet or smartphone,
including mobile app 123SCADA.
123mc.com
3 VERTICAL MULTI-STAGE PUMPS
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC’s VR Series is a vertical multi-
stage booster pump available in nominal ratings
of 10 to 500 gallons per minute (1 to 95 m3/h) at
3600 rpm with all 316 stainless steel hydraulics for
superior durability, efficiency and performance.
A small footprint, premium motor and rugged
components ensure this booster pump is capable
of a long operating life to provide a water-pumping
solution in nearly any tough application.
franklinwater.com
To have a product considered for this section, please send the information to Drew Champlin, dchamplin@cahabamedia.com.
68 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
3
4
4 HEATER POWER DETECTOR
The function of motor space heaters is
guarding against damaging effects of water
contamination in electric coils and elements
of the motor insulation systems. Water
contamination from humidity, weather or
dew can cause serious damage to electric
motors and reduce output. How do you know
if the motor heaters are working? By
installing the H-PD-2 heater power detector 6
from EDE ELECTRIC MOTOR TESTING. Get an
immediate go or no-go answer on internal space
heater operation.
edeinst.com
6 PACKING SYSTEM
5 HYDRAULIC MIXING SYSTEM The DuraPack System consists of a PackRyt BRG
The HydroMix hydraulic mixing system uses Bearing and the SLR with SEALRYT packing
a HAYWARD GORDON solids-handling or ring sets. The structural lantern ring (SLR) is a
chemical processing pump to recirculate and new, patented, custom-built removable lantern
discharge the contents of a tank through ring that resists clogging, improves flush and
strategically installed nozzles within the same flow characteristics over traditional PTFE
tank. HydroMix systems develop a mixing lantern rings and is non-collapsible in service.
regime in the fluid volume consisting of circular This innovative hybrid methodology combines
and top-to-bottom fluid motion. The mixing bearing support with the removable, clog-
regime promotes the uniform blending of the resistant lantern ring. When paired, users get
contents and solids suspension. All HydroMix shaft stability and excellent flush capacity in a
projects are validated using computational package that will not crush or shift inside the
fluid dynamics. stuffing box.
haywardgordon.com sealryt.com
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
ADVERTISERS
Advertiser Name Page

AE Pumps .....................................................................71 Graphite Metallizing Corporation ..........................55 Sulzer Pumps Solutions Inc.....................................37

AGI Specialty Valves ..................................................59 Headwater Companies..............................................31 Titan Manufacturing, Inc. ........................................71

Arntzen Company ......................................................71 Hydraulic Institute.....................................................51 Tuf-Lok International ................................................71

Asahi-America Inc .....................................................61 IMO Automation .........................................................61 Uline...............................................................................47

Automationdirect.com ........................................... IFC Jordan, Knauff & Company .....................................56 Unibloc Hygienic Technologies ..............................43

Bently Nevada...........................................................IBC Keller America...............................................................3 United Rentals ........................................................... BC

Blue-White Industries Ltd........................................11 Load Controls ..............................................................70 Valmet Flow Control, Inc. .........................................15

Boerger Pumps LLC....................................................59 Magnatex Pumps .......................................................71 Vaughan Company ......................................................5

Canada Tank Solutions (BoltBoss) ...........................1 Megator/Pumps 2000 America ..............................70 Vertiflo Pump Company ...........................................70

Cla-Val ...........................................................................63 Metropolitan Industries ...........................................45 Vesco Plastics Sales...................................................71

Control Techniques ....................................................17 Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. ....................27 West Coast Rotor ........................................................70

Cornell Pump Company ...........................................23 Moving Water Industries Corp. (MWI) ..................71 Zoeller Pump Co..........................................................55

Dan Bolen .....................................................................70 Pedrollo Group ............................................................39

Engines, Inc .................................................................49 Proco Products, Inc. ..................................................41

Equipump, Inc.............................................................70 Seepex ...........................................................................19

ESCO Products, Inc. ...................................................25 Sepco .............................................................................29

Flomatic........................................................................33 Simflo ..............................................................................9

Flowserve Corporation ..............................................13 Specialty Maintenance Products (SMP) ...............63

*This ad index is furnished as a courtesy, and no
Gorman-Rupp Company ............................................7 Sulzer Pumps Solutions Inc.....................................21 responsibility is assumed for incorrect information.

PRODUCTS
Company Name Page

EDE Electric Motor Testing ..................................... 68 Hayward Gordon ....................................................... 68 Sealryt ......................................................................... 68
Franklin Electric ........................................................ 68 Mission Communications ....................................... 68 Zoeller .......................................................................... 68

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PUMP USERS MARKETPLACE

EXECUTIVE SEARCH/RECRUITING

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PUMPSANDSYSTEMS.COM 71
PUMP MARKET ANALYSIS
Wall Street Pump &
Valve Industry Watch
JORDAN, KNAUFF & COMPANY
The Jordan Knauff & Company (JKC)
Valve Stock Index was down 4.5%
over the last 12 months, and the
broader S&P 500 index was down
9.6%. The JKC pump stock index fell
7.5% for the same time period.1
The Institute for Supply
Management’s Purchasing
Managers Index (PMI) fell to its
lowest point since 2020 at 46.3% in
March. Every sub-component was
below the breakeven 50% for the
first time since 2009. The prices
paid index moved into contraction,
while supplier deliveries also fell
to 44.8%, the lowest reading since
2009, signaling faster deliveries.
The employment index fell for the
third straight month to 46.9%, its
lowest reading since 2020. However,
of the 18 industries surveyed, only
six reported a decline in hiring.
The new orders index measured
44.3%, and the production index
was 47.8%.
New orders for durable goods
declined 1% in February, after a 5%
drop a month earlier. While most
weakness can be traced to aircraft
and defense orders, demand for
new capital expenditures is losing
IMAGE 2: U.S. energy consumption and rig counts.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration and Baker
Hughes Inc.
72 PUMPS & SYSTEMS MAY 2023
momentum. Even after
discounting some of the
transportation related IMAGE 1: Stock Indices from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023
Local currency converted to USD using historical spot rates. The JKC Pump and Valve
volatility, the modest
Stock Indices include a select list of publicly traded companies involved in the pump &
0.2% rise in core capital valve industries, weighted by market capitalization. Source: Capital IQ and JKC research.
goods orders (which are
non-defense and exclude aircraft) In 2022, U.S. crude oil exports
Reference
comes after January’s 0.8% gain averaged 3.6 million barrels per
1. The S&P Return
was revised to just 0.3%. The day, a record high. U.S. crude oil figures are
recent run-rate for core orders is a exports in 2022 were 22% higher provided by
0.3% annualized rate over the past than in 2021. Increased U.S. crude Capital IQ.
three months. oil production, releases from the
Jordan, Knauff
The price of Brent crude oil U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve & Company is an
jumped to $84.93 a barrel after and more global demand for crude investment bank
Saudi Arabia and other members oil from countries other than Russia, based in Chicago
that provides
of the OPEC+ group said they all drove the growth in U.S. crude oil merger and
would reduce oil production. The exports. Decreased demand for U.S. acquisition advisory
production cut pushed crude prices crude oil exports to India and China services to the
pump, valve
6.3% higher, the biggest one-day was more than offset by increased and filtration
percentage gain since March 2022, demand from other destinations, industries. Please
when Russia invaded Ukraine. OPEC particularly Europe. Despite visit jordanknauff.
com for further
producers say they will cut daily declines in exports to India and information. Jordan,
output by more than 1.1 million China, Asia and Oceania remained Knauff & Company
barrels beginning in May. Cartel the regional destination, receiving is a member of
FINRA.
members haven’t always followed the most U.S. crude oil exports in
through on promised production 2022 at 43%.
These materials were
cuts in the past. However, oil prices On Wall Street for the month of prepared for informa-
tional purposes from
still stand lower than they did a March, the Dow Jones Industrial sources that are be-
month ago and are well below the Average gained 1.9%, the S&P 500 lieved to be reliable but
which could change
pandemic closing high of more than Index rose 3.5% and the Nasdaq without notice. Jordan,
Knauff & Company and
$125 a barrel posted in March 2022. Composite was up 6.7%. Pumps & Systems shall
not in any way be lia-
ble for claims relating
to these materials and
makes no warranties,
express or implied, or
representations as to
their accuracy or com-
pleteness or for errors
or omissions contained
herein. This informa-
tion is not intended to
be construed as tax,
legal or investment
advice. These materials
do not constitute an
offer to buy or sell
any financial security
or participate in any
IMAGE 3: U.S. PMI and manufacturing shipments.
investment offering or
Source: Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Report deployment of capital.
on Business and U.S. Census Bureau
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PRESENTERS
During his 25 years with Bently
Nevada, Evans has held a variety
of roles in manufacturing,
engineering, and sales. He is
experienced in the entire Bently
Nevada portfolio, allowing him
to understand the importance
of plantwide solutions. Evans is
a graduate of the University of
Nevada, Reno with a degree in Darren Evans
mechanical engineering.
Sales Manager
Enterprise Solutions
During his more than 20 years
with Bently Nevada, McMillen
has held a variety of roles within
engineering, project management,
mergers/acquisitions/integrations,
and leadership. McMillen is the
senior product line manager for all
Bently Nevada sensors and edge
devices. McMillen is a graduate
of Washington State University
Chris McMillen
in Pullman, Washington, with a Sr. Product Line
degree in mechanical engineering. Manager
Edge Devices and
Sensors
Before coming to Bently
Nevada, Murray was a chief
technical advisor for a major
oil and gas technology licensor
where she commissioned,
started up, troubleshot, and
optimized gasoline complex and
hydroprocessing technologies.
Murray held a sales role at Bently Sequoia Murray
Nevada before becoming the
global customer success leader. Global Customer
Murray is a graduate of Purdue Success Leader
University with a degree in
chemical engineering. Machine Health
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