What You Need to Know About Flooded Suction Pumps

Learn about the advantages and deployment options for flooded suction pumps in addition to how they are different to submersible pumps.
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The EDDY Pump is ideally suited for flooded suction applications that are typically found in the chemical, oil and gas, water/wastewater, pulp and paper, food and beverage, and countless other industries.

This article includes:

This article includes:

  • A Common Types of Flooded Suction Applications
  • What is a Flooded Suction Pump
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Flooded Suction Pumps
  • Flooded Suction Pump Applications

A Common Type of Flooded Suction Deployment

A flooded suction pump, like any other pump, is used to move liquids from one point to another. The major difference between a flooded suction and submersible pumps is that the flooded suction pump is gravity fed and mounted outside of the tank or hopper which holds the slurry or fluid. The flooded suction pump is typically positioned at the bottom or underneath the tank or hopper so that gravity will constantly feed the pump fluid while the pump is in operation. This ensures the pump is always primed and ready to operate without losing prime or taking in too much air.

Flooded suction pumps can be used in many different pump applications. They also have their advantages and disadvantages, which must be taken into consideration when making a slurry pump selection for your application.

Flooded suction pumps maintain a prime. When the pump’s operating mode is switched from off to on there is no delay in the fluid exiting the discharge port of the pump; fluid exiting the discharge happens immediately. Pumps that are not in a flooded suction application require an undetermined amount of time to prime the pump with fluid and then discharge the fluid through the discharge of the pump. Flooded suction pumps should always be fitted with a valve before the inlet of the pump so that the fluid coming from the flood suction source can be closed when the pump is not in use.

What is a Flooded Suction Pump?

A flooded suction pump is designed to work by being gravity-fed the fluid that is to be pumped. This type of pump does not require a method of priming the fluid. There are numerous types of flooded suction pumps. A flood suction pump application is unlike a submersible pump application. In a flooded suction pump application, the pump and the pump motor are located outside of the fluid to be pumped. Whereas, in a submersible pump application the pump and the pump motor are located inside of the fluid that is to be pumped. In flooded suction pump applications it is common that electrically driven pumps with a variable frequency drive (VFD) or soft-start are used. A VFD makes sure that the pump startup is monitored correctly and can also monitor the speed or rpm of the pump in order to control the flow and pressure of the pump. A less common power source for a flooded suction pump is a direct drive diesel-driven pump. This can be found in outside hopper pump applications for sand and gravel pumping, mining, drilling mud pumping, etc.

It is important to make sure the material that will be pumped is not too thick or viscous, otherwise, it may have a hard time correctly feeding to the pump, resulting in air pockets. The fluid needs to be constantly feeding the pump to prevent damage to the pump and equipment. If the material is too thick, a vacuum pump or self-priming slurry pump may be necessary to help the fluid flow into the pump to prevent too much air buildup.

Flooded Suction Slurry Pump Guide

Advantages and Disadvantages of Flooded Suction Pumps

The flooded suction pump offers several major advantages over other types of pumps:

Priming: They don’t have to be primed. They are automatically primed because the fluid they will be pumping is gravity fed directly into the pump, always keeping it primed.

Efficiency: When a pump is submerged there is positive fluid pressure at the inlet of the pump. This condition can increase efficiency due to the less energy required to move fluid through the liquid path of the pump.

Maintenance & Accessibility: When the pump is located outside of the fluid being pumped, the pump can be easily accessible for routine maintenance. A shut-off valve should be positioned before the inlet of the pump which will allow the fluid to the pump to be shut off, then, the pump can be easily removed from the application.

There are also some disadvantages to contend with:

Potential to lose Prime: If the slurry mixture is too thick or viscous, it may not easily feed into the pump which can cause the pump to lose prime. Thus, the mixture needs maintain adequate fluidity to constantly feed the pump and prevent this from happening.

Corrosion: Prolonged exposure to a liquid of any sort will lead to corrosion. Submersible pumps are often used to handle liquids that are corrosive and abrasive. Seals are especially prone to corrosion, which leads to leaks and damage to the motor. To counteract corrosion these pumps need to be made of corrosion-resistant material, which can make them more expensive than other types of pumps of the same capacity.

Wherever possible, flooded suction pumps should be inspected as often as possible. In this way, any necessary repairs can then be carried out to prolong the life of the pump.

Flooded Suction Pump Applications

Flooded suction pump applications can be found in most industries. Anytime there is a need to locate a pump in a manner that the fluid to be pumped is positioned above the pump, and the pump is not located within the pumping fluid (submersible application), this would be considered a flooded suction application. EDDY pumps are ideal for flooded suction applications for pumping slurry, high solids, extremely viscous material, high abrasives (sand & gravel), and material filled with solids. For Access to the Complete EDDY Product Line Go to: https://eddypump.com/products/ Or Call Us!

EDDY Pump Deployment Options

Flooded Suction Pumps

With flooded suction pumps, the fluid to be pumped is positioned above the pump. With the pump positioned below, gravity can feed the fluid into the suction of the pump and keep the pump primed.

Submersible Pumps

Pumps that are completely submerged in the liquid are called submersible pumps. By being submerged in the fluid to be pumped, there is no need for priming.

Self-Priming Pumps

With a self-priming unit, the pump and power unit are not submerged. The suction hose goes into the slurry and the unit acts like a super-sized wet dry vacuum. Can be trailer mounted for added mobility.

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