Heavy-duty flap pumps by Sandpiper improve manufacturer’s DAF system

Sandpiper pumps can reduce damage and maintenance in DAF applications.

Sandpiper air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pumps are available in Canada from York Fluid Controls Ltd. These pump solutions have solved issues for many manufacturing companies over the past 57 years. One example: an industrial producer that needed to replace a series of inadequate progressive cavity pumps in its Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) system.

By recommending its HDF2 model of heavy-duty flap valve pumps, Sandpiper helped to simplify maintenance and minimize damage for the customer.

Smaller footprint, easier installation

With multiple locations worldwide serving the food-processing, meat-packing, oil and gas, chemical, and pulp and paper sectors, this manufacturer was among the first to institute DAF systems in their plants to reduce the burden on municipal wastewater-treatment facilities. These systems also use air to remove suspended matter from the wastewater surface. The DAF process creates a viscous sludge that poses high challenges to all pumps. Many manufacturers use progressive cavity pumps for sludge transfer in these systems, since they can handle viscous liquids with entrained solids in the best conditions.

But in less-than-ideal conditions, as the customer’s plant had, the system suffers from air bubbles and voids that cause the pumps to run dry, resulting in damage to stators, rotors, and mechanical seals. The manufacturer could not control when or whether these air bubbles would be present. There were additional maintenance problems because of difficult setup and alignment of the pump shaft to the motor, mechanical seal installation, and bearing lubrication. For an alternative, the customer installed the HDF2 series.

These AODD pumps have flap check valves that allow both solids and viscous fluids to pass through easily, and they can run dry with no damage to the pump. Other key advantages of this series include the smaller footprint it leaves, the ease of installation, and the simplification of ongoing maintenance.

So the customer tried out the HDF2 line – and found it to be the perfect solution. All of their progressive cavity pumps were replaced as a result. With the assistance of York Fluid Controls, these AODD pumps can improve any DAF system in the industry.

For more information, contact York Fluid Controls.

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