A water ring pump is also known as a liquid ring pump, which is generally made to function as a vacuum pump, but it can be put into use as a gas compressor in the chemical industry. The working of these pumps follows the positive displacement principle, which pumps fluids restricted in a closed volume. The working volumes are periodically increased and lessened by the displacement bodies, transferring the required energy to the fluid in the process. In addition to this, the water ring pumps are also used for priming centrifugal pumps.
In addition to the fact that water ring pumps acts as a medium for compression, it is capable of performing two other tasks as well, namely:
1. Any contaminants that might have been added to it during the process are absorbed and washed out.
2. Absorbs the heat generated due to friction, or compression, or due to the incoming vapor’s condensation.
Normal ranges of operations of these pumps when water is used is generally 15-degree centigrade or 59 Fahrenheit. The pumps can be of various types.
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| Water Ring Pump |
Illustrated below points is the procedure, which helps these pumps work:
- An impeller is seated inside the water ring pump and attached to its center are blades. The impeller is star-shaped and rotates intermittently in a casing, which is filled partially with the liquid producing a liquid ring, which has a free surface. The vanes of this impeller immerse into the water ring at different depths during the revolution. Thus, it cause alternate increase and decrease of the cavities.
- Now the void space, that is the area without the liquid is enclosed between the impeller blades and the liquid, known as the impeller cell. If this cell is observed from the top in a counter clockwise fashion, the liquid can be seen to decrease in height working as a piston to create a cell that is larger in size. This results in drawing in gases, water vapors, and air through the inlet port and happens because of the suction of the water ring pump.
- When there is a complete evacuation of the suction line, that is the gas feed stops, the water ring pump starts to pump the liquid. In this mode of operation, the pump efficiency is in general moderate. Thus, this is the main reason why self-primed marine pumps are made to stop automatically or manually when done with the evacuation process. The suction line filled with water completely is isolated from them and is vented. Thereby, this entire process makes it possible to cut down on the power input invested for the working of the star impellers.
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| Water Ring Pumps |
Bear these points in mind to ensure the smooth working of these pumps:
- The pump has to be filled with the service fluid but ensures that it is not overfilled at any cost. It should not cross the centreline of the shaft. As long as immediate service after the starting is ensured, it can be initiated with a low level of service fluid, as well.
- Check for yourself by turning the shaft manually once. If it is seized or binding, then something is not right.
- Never let the pump run without the shaft seal fluid and the service liquid.
- Discharge the lines by opening any valve in the suction.
These water ring pumps are most beneficial when the gas to be pumped can be compressed or humidified without the temperature being increased.
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