Move difficult solids-bearing fluids with submersible pumps

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Power; (United States)

OSTI ID:6026345

Pastore, P R

This article describes how, alone or combined with versatile horizontal mixers, the submersible pump has significant advantages when the worst powerplant slurries have to be moved. The ever-growing need to deal with slurries and other solids-bearing liquids has directed attention to the pumping systems necessary to deal with the high diversity and large volumes of what are often wastes. Many powerplant services and locations, including coalpiles, sumps, and ash handling, call for pumping of solids-bearing liquids. In nearly every case, the wastes are not directly connected with the plant's economic function of power generation but nevertheless consume power and call for heavy capital and maintenance sums. For this reason, powerplants benefit from improved handling of these materials. There are basic differences between pumping of the two-phase slurries and wastes, especially when open reservoirs are part of the flowpaths, and pumping of the traditional, comparatively clean, single-phase liquids of the powerplant. Supply of liquid to the pump is one significant differences. Placement of conventional pumps for slurry service is another problem. Pumping from a closed system, such as a tank, can call for extra space, with a dry pit to hold a lineshaft pump. A conventional pump motor at a low level in a pit is in danger of flooding. An alternative solution to the problem of pump and drive type for the powerplant's difficult solids-bearing liquids is the submersible pump. This type has an entirely sealed motor and can be easily moved and reset advantageously for pumping at any time. Designed to operate with pump and motor fully submerged for long periods, the submersible pump can nevertheless also be mounted in a dry well next to a tank. The pump's ability to run submerged protects the system if the dry well should become flooded.

• OSTI ID: 6026345
• Journal Information: Power; (United States), Vol. 137:9; ISSN 0032-5929
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
PUMPS
SLURRIES
MATERIALS HANDLING
HYDRAULIC TRANSPORT
WASTE TRANSPORTATION
DISPERSIONS
MANAGEMENT
MIXTURES
POWER PLANTS
SUSPENSIONS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRANSPORT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
200104* - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Components
200200 - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Waste Management