What is the Dredge Pump and How Does it Work?

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What is the Dredge Pump and How Does it Work?

What is the Dredge Pump and How Does it Work? Dec. 11, 2023

Dredge Pumps

Dredge pumps are one of the most robust equipment for moving material. Dredging utilizes these high-powered pumps to transfer solids and liquids through a pipeline over a set distance and often involves working in sensitive or harsh conditions. The dredge pumps are abrasive-resistant, making them ideal for grinding through rocks, sludge, sand, slurry, and many other objects.  

Selecting the correct dredge system is critical for the success of a project. With decades of experience, Pumps manufactures reliable dredge pumps that continuously transfer large solids with little mechanical downtime, and at affordable prices. The open impeller design and powerful suction of the dredge pumps allow for easy passage of large solids. Thus, our dredge pumps lead the industry in durability and power. The hi-chrome body with a Brinell hardness of 600, offering the ultimate wear protection. They grind through with ease the material that typically clogs, wears, and breaks other dredge pumps.

Dredge pumps can be configured hydraulically, electrically, or diesel-driven to fit all your dredging needs. As a result, we make a variety of dredging systems to choose from. Check out our robust selection of cable-deployed dredge pumps, excavator-mounted dredge pumps, pontoon dredge pumps (mini dredges), and diver-operated dredges and pumps. The versatile cable-deployed and excavator dredge pumps are interchangeable and can be configured to your specific requirement accordingly.

What is the Dredge Pump and How Does it Work?

A dredge pump is a horizontal centrifugal pump and is the heartbeat of a dredge.  It is designed to handle abrasive granular materials and solids of limited size in suspension.  Without the dredge pump, a cutter suction dredge would not be able to transport slurry.

The dredge pump is designed to take in sediment, debris, and other harmful materials from the surface floor into a suction pipe, carrying the material to a discharge site through a pipeline.  The pump must be able to handle common solid fragments of various sizes that are capable of passing through the pump, minimizing downtime required for cleaning. 

 

Differences between Centrifugal, Positive Displacement, Slurry, Dredge, Self-Priming & Submersible Pumps

 

 

Introduction

Pumps are essential equipment used in various industries, including agriculture, chemical, construction, mining, oil and gas, and wastewater treatment. There are different types of these available in the market, each designed for a specific application.

Choosing the right type for your industry is crucial in ensuring the success of your operations. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss the differences between centrifugal, positive displacement, slurry, dredge, self-priming, and submersible pumps. Also, various examples of industries that use them, and top US companies that produce them.

 

What are Centrifugal, Positive Displacement, Slurry, Dredge, Self-Priming, and Submersible Pumps?

 

1. Centrifugal Pump:

It’s the most common type used in various industries. This uses centrifugal force to move fluid through an impeller. This generates kinetic energy, creating pressure which forces fluid out of the discharge port.

These products are suitable for fluids with low viscosity. They are perfect for high flow rate and low-pressure applications, like water supply, irrigation, and HVAC systems. Most centrifugal products may operate with a suction lift if they require priming.

 

Figure: Centrifugal stainless steel pump

2. Positive Displacement Pump (pd pump):

This works by trapping fluid. These are designed by using two or more mechanical parts. The fluid is then moved through the pump’s chambers for positive displacement work.

These are ideal for thick fluids. They can manage liquids with a high concentration of solids, like food items, chemicals, and oil. It’s also used in applications where the flow rate needs to be constant, such as dosing and metering.

 

 

Figure: The structure of positive displacement from researchgate.net

3. Slurry Pump:

This is built to withstand abrasive and corrosive liquids, such as mud, sand, and gravel. These fluids are typically found in mining, dredging, and wastewater treatment applications. These use impellers with wider vanes to reduce clogging. Also, reduces wear and tear from solids, ensuring a more extended service life.

 

Figure: Slurry with horizontal/vertical application

4. Dredge Pump:

This is designed primarily for dredging applications. They can push large volumes of solids, such as sediment in rivers, lakes, and harbors.

These are built to handle high-density slurries, including sand, gravel, and rocks. They are commonly used in the mining and construction industries.

 

Figure: Diver operated dredge electric powered by Eddy Pump

 

Figure: Diver operated dredge hydraulic powered

5. Self-Priming Pump:

It is mainly built to automatically create a suction vacuum to prime themselves without external intervention. The location of the tool should be above the fluid level for it to operate. These
include water transfer, drainage, and sewage treatment.

 

Figure: Trailer Mounted Self-Priming Slurry

6. Submersible Pump:

It is designed to be fully submerged in the fluid they are taking out. They are suitable for applications where fluid needs to be lifted. Examples include deep wells, boreholes and mines. They’re also used in sewage treatment, irrigation, animal waste, and drainage applications.

 

Figure: Submersible, dreamstime.com

The material and chemistry of the stainless steel pump offers greater chemical resistance. The addition of molybdenum to steel during production makes the steel more resistant to corrosion and oxidation.

 

How One Type of Pump is Different from the Other?

Centrifugal and positive displacement are two different categories that operate based on different principles.

The first is used to transport liquids. It does this by rotating an impeller, which increases the pressure and flow of the liquid.

Positive displacement pump works differently. They use a mechanical process to move liquid. This process involves trapping a fixed amount of liquid and then pushing it through the equipment.

Submersibles are built to work underwater. They are commonly used to push water out of flooded basements or water wells. Self-priming ones prime themselves. This creates a vacuum which allows them to draw water from below the suction line of the equipment.

There is a wide variety of submersible and self-priming. Centrifugal and positive displacement can also be either submersible or self-priming.

Dredge and slurry are similar in that they both can transport fluids with a high solids content. However, there are a few key variations among them.

Dredges are commonly used when pushing a mixture of water and solids. This mixture is too heavy to be moved by other types of equipment. Slurries are used for a different purpose. They transport a mixture of water and solids that have similar particle size and density.

These come in three varieties: positive displacement, centrifugal, and submersible.These are designed specifically for dredging applications.

Dredge typically has a higher flow rate and can handle bigger particles than other types. Positive displacement and centrifugal are beneficial for applications with a consistent fluid that don’t have microscopic solid or liquid. Large solids can disrupt the process, making these types of equipment less suitable. Submersible is used when it needs to operate underwater.

Self-priming is used when the equipment needs to prime itself before drawing out the solid and liquids.

  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

1. What is the primary difference among positive displacement and centrifugal pumps?

Positive displacement draws fluid into a cavity. They then displace the fluid and force it out using suction.
Centrifugal and aerodynamic use a rotating impeller. This impeller draws the fluid into the pump and pushes it out of the pressure point at a higher speed.

 

2. What is the difference between a centrifugal and self-priming pump?

Centrifugals are not made to remove air from the suction line to a liquid level. This liquid level must have a geodetic height higher than the pump’s height. In contrast, self-priming is able to get rid of air from the suction line without external auxiliary equipment.

 

3. What is the difference between a submersible and centrifugal pump?

A submersible needs to be underwater in order to work. In contrast, a centrifugal pump must be above the water level for it to function.

 

4. What is striving or What is a suction lift?

This simply means that the maximum level of the pumped liquid is physically below the centerline of the pump impeller. Most centrifugal pumps can be operated at this condition if they may be primed first.

 

5. Why are pumps manufactured with stainless steel?

The advantages of using stainless steel is that stainless steel is strong, corrosion resistant. It has high heat resistance and requires little maintenance. This makes it an ideal material for surface and submersible ones.

 

6. What is the difference between a slurry and dredge pump?

Dredges are often employed in situations where the water and solids mixture is too heavy for other equipment. Examples include slurry, positive displacement, self-priming, centrifugal and submersible pumps. Slurries primarily transport a mixture of water and solids that have similar particle size and density.

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