Pumps Flow Meter Valves Fire Pumps Seals Home About Us Services Industries Careers News By Flow-Tech Industries Search for: RECENT POSTS Operating Principle for Rotary Lobe Pumps Selecting a Cooling Tower Boerger / Borger What Are Jockey Pumps and How Do They Work? History of Myers RECENT COMMENTS ARCHIVES June 2017 January 2017 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 January 2015 March 2014 CATEGORIES Fire Pumps Offshore Rotary Lube Uncategorized Water Technologies META Log in Entries feed Comments feed WordPress.org Operating Principle for Rotary Lobe Pumps Posted on June 5, 2017 by Bobby Johnston Operating Principles of Rotary Lobe Pumps There are Two (2) intermeshed rotors affixed to gear driven shaft. The shafts rotate in opposite directions. The rotating motion of the rotors create an expanding cavity on the suction side. Allowing fluids & solids to enter and fill the suction side of the pump. The rotors carry the fluid around the housing to the discharge side where it is expelled out of the pump by the closing cavity. Rotary Lobe Pumps can: *Reverse flow direction at any time. *Run dry for extended periods of time. *pump most any hard solid object that fits within the cavity between the rotor and casing. *pump shear-sensitive liquids *pump highly viscous liquids *Can pull a suction lift over 20′. The precise amount of lift depends on the viscosity of the liquid. *Robust Rotary Lobe Pumps Designed for Viscous Liquids, Heavy Solids & Abrasives Vogelsang is the market leader in the design and manufacture of rotary lobe pumps and systems. For over 80 years, we’ve been responsible for the major innovations and advances in positive displacement rotary lobe pump design. There developments such as the multi-wing convoluted rotary lobe, adjustable housings and the InjectionSystem ensure long life and efficient operation. Vogelsang Rotary Lobe Pumps are sold by: Flow-Tech Industies inc. Servicing the industrial market along the Texas Gulf Coast. Posted in Rotary Lube, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Operating Principle for Rotary Lobe Pumps Selecting a Cooling Tower Posted on January 13, 2017 by Bobby Johnston The following design data is required to select cooling towers: Flow Rate in GPM Range of cooling in °F (T1 – T2) Area Wet Bulb Temperature in °F (Twb) The Design Heat Load is determined by the Flow Rate, and the Range of cooling, and is calculated using the following formula: Heat Load (BTU/Hr) = GPM X 500 X ° Range of cooling If the Heat Load, and one of the other two factors are known (either the GPM or the ° Range of cooling) the other can be calculated using this formula. GPM = Heat Load (BTU/Hr) / 500 X ° Range of cooling ° Range of cooling = Heat Load (BTU/Hr) / 500 X GPM The Design GPM and the ° Range of cooling are directly proportional to the Heat Load. For More information on Delta Cooling towers go to Flow-Tech.com Then click on the sizing Chart. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Selecting a Cooling Tower Boerger / Borger Posted on September 19, 2016 by admin There are two spellings for the spelling of this company, who manufacturers some amazing products. The USA spells it Boerger and Germany spells it Borger (2 .. over the O). Either way they manufacturer a rotary lobe pump and a macerator pump. There is also a pump that can be designed to fit on a trailer and be used as a Fire Fighting pump. Equipped for all types of applications! In this case: Boerger didn’t invent the rotary lobe pump – we just made it into something special. Each mobile unit is something special – especially manufactured in our own plant in proven Boerger quality according to customer requirements. Requirements for Boerger mobile units are as varied as all the design options available. Mobile units can be used as an aid to pumping stations, for flood control, for drainage purposes and anywhere where a universal pump can be used. The Boerger mobile unit was the result of many years of dialogue between our customers and our own experience of manufacturing many different kinds of mobile design. The mobile unit is equipped with a high-quality Boerger Rotary Lobe Pump, a combustion engine with sound shield, an intelligent control unit, a frame with in-built fuel tank and a fixed roof with tarpaulin and straps. Many more detailed options are available such as hose holder, toolbox and suction filters. Benefits of the Boerger Rotary Lobe Pump Self-priming, no extra suction required On-site servicing; all wetted parts can be replaced using the quick-release cover (MIP) Adjustable pump capacity up to 1:5 Handles highly-viscous sludge Short-term dry-run capability Snore operation Technical data Pump output max. 16,000 liters/minute (100 bbl/min) Drive-related pressure up to 10 bar (145 psi) Individually replaceable lobe tips for rotors used in waste water applications Optional 360° pivoting connectors Ease of maintenance with MIP Posted in Fire Pumps, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Boerger / Borger What Are Jockey Pumps and How Do They Work? Posted on August 29, 2016 by admin Image courtesy of Todd A. Stephens A jockey pump, also known as a pressure-maintenance pump, is a small apparatus that works together with a fire pump as part of a fire-protection sprinkler system. It is designed to keep the pressure in the system elevated to a specific level when the system is not in use, so that the fire pump doesn’t have to run all the time and the system doesn’t go off randomly. It can also help prevent the system from damage when a fire happens and water rushes into the pipes. These devices consist of a three-part assembly. In many places, there are governmental guidelines and recommendations for installing these devices to make sure they work properly. How Jockey Pumps Work To understand how a jockey pump works, it’s important to understand how a fire sprinkler system works. Sprinkler systems consist of pipes with pressurized water in them and heads that are designed to open when they reach a certain temperature. When the heads open, the water pressure in the pipes drops, since water is flowing out of them. When this happens, a large device called a fire pump starts to send more water through the pipes so that the system can continue to put out the fire. The purpose of the jockey pump is to keep the water pressure in the pipes within a specific range when there’s not a fire, so that the sprinklers won’t go off randomly. Since pipes leak, over time, the water pressure inside them automatically goes down. The jockey pump senses this, and then fills them back up to normal pressure. If a fire happens and the pressure drops dramatically, the jockey pump won’t be able to keep up, and the drop in pressure will trigger the large fire pump to start sending water. Secondarily, this pump prevents sprinkler systems from being damaged when the fire pump begins sending water. If a system does not have a jockey pump keeping it pressurized, it may have a relatively low pressure. When the fire pump starts sending highly pressurized water through the pipes, the sudden change in pressure can damage or destroy the system. Posted in Fire Pumps | Comments Off on What Are Jockey Pumps and How Do They Work? History of Myers Posted on August 22, 2016 by admin The company was founded in 1870 by brothers Frances and Philip Myers in Ashland, Ohio. The brothers began by building farm implements, then engineered and manufactured the first double-acting hand pump. From this modest beginning, the Myers pump line grew and evolved over the decades to include wastewater removal and industrial pumps and systems. In 1960, the Myers family sold the business to the McNeil Corporation of Akron, Ohio. In 1986 Pentair, Inc. of St. Paul, Minnesota, acquired Myers, which now is part of the Pentair Pump Group. The Ashland operation includes over 410,000 square feet of warehouse, manufacturing, distribution, foundry and office facilities and employs approximately 600 people dedicated to supplying quality products. Myers combines manufacturing expertise and understanding of applications to provide a pump with strength and versatility for any demanding high-pressure job. Myers industrial high pressure pumps are designed, developed, manufactured, assembled and tested in Ashland, Ohio, U.S.A. Myers-Aplex Overview In 1996, Aplex products were added to the Myers industrial line. The Aplex product line dates back to the 1960’s oilfield pump industry. The Myers-Aplex pump line has since grown to be one of the most highly recognized and accepted pumps offered in a variety of industries. Our pumps are utilized in, but not limited to, the oil & gas, directional drilling, sewer cleaning, water treatment, steel mills, and other industrial markets requiring a pumps that stand up to demanding and hostile applications. The Myers-Aplex pump has a myriad of features that sets it apart from its competitors. These are mostly centered around ease of maintenance and “user friendly” designs. A wide range of optional configurations are used on each application to tailor fit each customers needs to furnish a pump for long-term dependable performance for years to come. Each pump is also available with a variety of options including integral hydraulic drives, base mountings and a wide selection of auxiliary e quipment to address each unique installation. Myers-Aplex builds the most reliable medium and heavy-duty reciprocating pumps in the world. We produce products that outwear the others in both domestic and international markets. In addition, we deliver service and technical support that outshine the competition worldwide Posted in Water Technologies | Comments Off on History of Myers What Types of Meters Are Used in Custody Transfer Posted on August 11, 2016 by admin Metering Methods Custody transfer is one of the most important applications for flow measurement. Many flow measurement technologies are used for custody transfer applications; these include differential pressure DP flow meters, turbine flow meters, positive displacement flow meters, Coriolis flow meters and ultrasonic flow meters. Differential Pressure Flowmeters Differential pressure (DP) flow meters are used for the custody transfer of natural gas to measure the flow of liquid, gas, and steam. The DP flow meter consists of a differential pressure transmitter and a primary element. The primary element places a constriction in a flow stream, while the DP transmitter measures the difference in pressure upstream and downstream of the constriction. In many cases, pressure transmitters and primary elements are bought by the end-users from different suppliers. However, several vendors have integrated the pressure transmitter with the primary element to form a complete flow meter. The advantage of this is that they can be calibrated with the primary element and DP transmitter already in place. Standards and criteria for the use of DP flow meters for custody transfer applications are specified by the American Gas Association (AGA) and the American Petroleum Institute (API). An advantage of using a DP flow meters is that they are the most studied and best understood type of flow meter. A disadvantage of using a DP flow meters is that they introduce a pressure drop into the flow meter line. This is a necessary result of the constriction in the line that is required to make the DP flow measurement. One important development in the use of DP flow meters for custody transfer applications has been the development of single and dual chamber orifice fittings. Turbine Flowmeters The first turbine flow meter was invented by Reinhard Woltman, a German engineer in 1790. Turbine flow meters consist of a rotor with propeller-like blades that spins as water or some other fluid passes over it. The rotor spins in proportion to flow rate (see turbine meters). There are many types of turbine meters, but many of those used for gas flow are called axial meters. The turbine flow meter is most useful when measuring clean, steady, high-speed flow of low-viscosity fluids. In comparison to other flow meters, the turbine flow meter has a significant cost advantage over ultrasonic flow meters, especially in the larger line sizes, and it also has a favorable price compared to the prices of DP flow meters, especially in cases where one turbine meter can replace several DP meters. The disadvantage of turbine flow meters is that they have moving parts that are subject to wear. To prevent wear and inaccuracy, durable materials are used, including ceramic ball bearings. Positive Displacement Flowmeters Positive displacement (PD) flow meters are highly accurate meters that are widely used for custody transfer of commercial and industrial water, as well as for custody transfer of natural gas and many other liquids. PD flow meters have the advantage that they have been approved by a number of regulatory bodies for this purpose, and they have not yet been displaced by other applications. PD meters excel at measuring low flows, and also at measuring highly viscous flows, because PD meters captures the flow in a container of known volume. Speed of flow doesn’t matter when using a PD meter. Coriolis Flowmeters Coriolis flow meters have been around for more than 20 years and are preferred in process industries such as chemical and food and beverage. Coriolis technology offers accuracy and reliability in measuring material flow, and is often hailed as among the best flow measurement technologies, however, significant limitations exist in conventional Coriolis meters for custody transfer. This is because Coriolis meters have not performed well in measuring two-phase flow conditions, which involve a combination of gas and liquid. Flow is measured using Coriolis meters by analyzing the changes in the Coriolis force of a flowing substance. The force is generated in a mass moving within a rotating frame of reference. An angular, outward acceleration, which is factored with linear velocity is produced due to the rotation. With a fluid mass, the Coriolis force is proportional to the mass flow rate of that fluid. A Coriolis meter has two main components: an oscillating flow tube equipped with sensors and drivers, and an electronic transmitter that controls the oscillations, analyzes the results, and transmits the information. The Coriolis principle for flow measurement requires the oscillating section of a rotating pipe to be exploited. Oscillation produces the Coriolis force, which can be sensed and analyzed to determine the rate of flow. Ultrasonic Flowmeters Ultrasonic flow meters were first introduced into industrial markets in 1963 by Tokyo Keiki (now Tokimec) in Japan. Custody transfer measurements have been around for a long time, and over the past ten years, Coriolis and ultrasonic meters have become the flow meters of choice for custody transfer in the oil and gas industry. Ultrasonic meters provide volumetric flow rate. They typically use the transit-time method, where sounds waves transmitted in the direction of fluid flow travel faster than those travelling upstream. The transit time difference is proportional to fluid velocity. Ultrasonic flow meters have negligible pressure drop, have high turndown capability, and can handle a wide range of applications. Crude oil production, transportation, and processing are typical applications for this technology. The use of ultrasonic flow meters is continuing to grow for custody transfer. Unlike PD and turbine meters, ultrasonic flow meters do not have moving parts. Pressure drop is much reduced with an ultrasonic meter when compared to PD, turbine, and DP meters. Installation of ultrasonic meters is relatively straightforward, and maintenance requirements are low. In June 1998, The American Gas Association published a standard called AGA-9. This standard lays out the criteria for the use of ultrasonic flow meters for Custody Transfer of Natural Gas. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What Types of Meters Are Used in Custody Transfer How Often Should You Test Your Industrial Fire Pump? Posted on July 20, 2016 by admin Image courtesy of Flickr As a building owner or facilities manager, you must regularly test your fire pump to make sure it’s ready in an emergency. Your state may legally obligate you to follow the requirements for industrial fire pump testing set by the National Fire Protection Association. Keep in mind that most states have this requirement, and you might find that it is indirectly specified through building codes or a fire code. As you know, some states or jurisdictions may not adopt the newest edition of the NFPA 25 or have additional requirements. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to check your local guidelines often to prevent an accidental violation. National Fire Protection Association Annual Testing Requirements The 2017 NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems states that you must test your industrial fire pump every year with a flow test. If you’re a veteran facilities manager, you probably know that this requirement has remained standard for each edition of the NFPA 25. Due to the rarity of fire pump flow tests, you may want to consider hiring an expert contractor to conduct one. The NFPA does issue a publication of frequently asked questions that tackle how to administer and interpret certain fire pump tests. For example, this year’s publication explains what to do if your fire pump’s peak performance was slightly less than the annual acceptance test results. Additional Fire Pump Testing Requirements While the annual fire pump flow test is important, you still need to commit to additional tests to ensure your pump’s reliability. When the NFPA was first drafted, you were responsible for conducting a weekly no-flow test for your fire pump as well. That standard persisted for 15 years. However, as electric-driven fire pumps became more common, the NFPA decided to amend these guidelines. The 2017 NFPA continues with the 2014 edition guidelines for your fire pump. If your building has a diesel pump, conduct an operating test every week. If you have an electric-driven fire pump, you may be able to test once a month. Consult the official NFPA 25 for more information. However, if your building is a high rise or has a vertical turbine, or your pump is fitted with a limited service controller, a weekly operating test is still required. Conduct a risk assessment to decide if you should recommend more frequent testing. When conducting a weekly operating test, verify that the pump runs regularly for the fully allotted time, and has normal suction and discharge pressure. Observe the pump to make sure there aren’t any vibrations, unusual noises or overheating around the pump case, bearings or packing box. Possible Changes to 2020 NFPA 25 Testing Requirements Concerns over water waste in areas of drought prompted the technical committee drafting the 2017 NFPA 25 to authorize further research into the fire pump testing requirements. A task force will submit information regarding water usage to the committee responsible for drafting the 2020 NFPA 25. Under particular scrutiny is the annual flow test requirement, which critics say wastes substantial water. Therefore, consult the new edition standard for any possible changes, especially if you live in an area suffering a drought. Every three years, the National Fire Protection association sets the legal requirements for industrial fire pump testing, so it’s important to review your state’s testing obligations regularly. Of course, the standards set by the NFPA are just minimums, so you can choose to test your fire pumps more often should your building risk assessment require it. For more information on Industrial Fire Pumps and Fluid Handling Equipment, please call 713-690-7474 or use our Contact Form. Posted in Fire Pumps | Comments Off on How Often Should You Test Your Industrial Fire Pump? Abbreviations for Fire Pumps Posted on January 30, 2015 by admin My, my, how things have changed. When I entered the business 35 years ago, if you said FIRE, everyone ran. Now, its common to see FIRE spelled out, and you are most likely seeing an abbreviation of something like Financial Independence Retire Early, or Free Internet Roleplay Experiences. Even though it is much easier to remember and sometimes faster to say it, rather than abbreviate it, I assume our fast pace society contributes to trying to get the word out as fast as possible and move on to something else. However; with all the regulation in todays FIRE PUMP industries, it is almost impossible to keep up with them all. With important acronyms like; *NFPA 1 through 8501, you have to have a chart near by to distinguish the difference between NFPA 13 for Sprinklers and NFPA 20 for pumps. Then add in the other acronyms like *UL/FM, *ABS, *TEFC or *ODP, *NEMA, *API, *ANSI, etc. etc. Added to all the everyday abbreviations we use, we tend to forget the full meaning of our short cuts to some very important terms. I ask our guys here at Flow-Tech Industries, Inc. to exercise their thinkers, and remind themselves of the full meaning of the acronyms they use each day. Like the phone numbers we use to know by heart, are now programed into our phones, and we have long forgot the number. If you have any questions, or are in need of a Listed NFPA 20 Fire Pump System, Please contact sales@flow-tech.com. Standard packaged system *National Fire Protection Association, American Bureau of Shipping, United Laboratories, Farmer Mutual, Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled, National Electrical, Manufacturers Association, American Petroleum Institute, American National Standards Institute. Posted in Fire Pumps | Comments Off on Abbreviations for Fire Pumps Offshore Vertical Turbine Fire Pump Systems Posted on March 13, 2014 by admin Offshore Vertical Turbine Fire Pump Systems can be intricate. From material codes, to the listing agencies like UL and FM, NFPA 20, Coast Guard Regulations, ABS, DNV, and customer specifications. Then, of course, there is the seawater itself; did you know that certain metals can react differently and last longer in colder seawater than they will in warmer seawater (and vice versa)? Material codes for offshore pumps are always complex, and that’s why at Flow-Tech, we pride ourselves on our Industry experience and the ability to help find the most cost effective solution available. Offshore fire pumps come in 2 forms, listed and none listed. Non listed would be Fire Water pumps, built in accordance to NFPA 20, and not holding the stamps of UL or FM, and listed would be Per NFPA 20 and holding the stamps of UL and/or FM. Coast Guard regulations come into play when still in US waters, and working with a company familiar with building a skid that can accommodate both NFPA 20 and coast guard will be key, as they weren’t written with one another in mind at the time. Making certain that the company you are purchasing your Vertical Turbine Fire Pumps from has ABS or DNV type certs is never a bad idea, this tells you that the pumps you are purchasing have a marine and offshore classification. Having the right Industrial Fire Pump Company is very beneficial, especially in the offshore marketplace! Do you have an offshore vertical turbine application you need assistance with? Contact us at Sales@flow-tech.com or 713-690-7474 Diesel Driven Offshore Vertical Turbine Fire Pump Posted in Fire Pumps, Offshore | Comments Off on Offshore Vertical Turbine Fire Pump Systems Published in Mining and Power Magazine For Groundbreaking Application! Posted on March 4, 2014 by admin Have you read the article Published in Mining and Power Magazine on Flow-Tech and Pentair North Aurora’s Strategic Partnership in the Industrial Fire Pump marketplace? The article is featured around the unique relationship built over the last 25 years between our 2 great companies, our growth together and some of the groundbreaking work we’ve been able to do together Fire Pump Packaged Systems, building the very first ever Listed and Labelled Class 1 Division 2 Hazardous Duty pump house Rated for Fire Service with UL Listing FM Approval per NFPA 20 Standard. We at Flow-Tech, in conjunction with our vast number of proprietary distribution partnerships take great pride in those difficult applications that many may not be so quick to take. Do you have an application that others have turned down? Having trouble finding a solution to a flow equipment problem? Need help with an industrial Fire Pump conundrum? We may not have all the answers, but we’ll do everything we can to help you find them, and get you with the right pumping solution. so contact us at sales@flow-tech.com and be sure to visit our fire pump website. www.firepumpshouston.com Posted in Fire Pumps | Comments Off on Published in Mining and Power Magazine For Groundbreaking Application! Pumps Flow Meters Valves Fire Pumps Houston 1515 W. 13th Street Deer Park, TX 77536 Phone:281-479-9700. E-mail: flow-tech@safetyfire.com Site Map