Peristaltic pumps answer sump challenges

Philip Bolton explains why the peristaltic pump is the best option for sump emptying in accordance with the Environment Agency's Pollution Protection Guidelines.

The Environment Agency's Pollution Prevention Guidelines provide clear instructions for dealing with trade effluent.

However, complying with these regulations can be hindered by the notorious unreliability of the pumps used in the waste disposal process.

This article investigates the issue and the types of pump available for the process.

The sump provides an unglamorous yet essential function in any industrial process or facility.

The removal of wastewater and process liquids maintains a clean and safe working environment, as well as allowing plants to comply with the EA's Pollution Prevention Guidelines.

Businesses have a duty to ensure that the waste they produce is handled safely and lawfully, and must prevent the escape of waste by storing and transporting it in a controlled and secure manner, so that it cannot enter surface water drains.

With the sump situated at the lowest point of a process to allow waste to flow in freely, it is also the site where other debris will inevitably end its journey.

The liquid in the sump therefore often contains grit, plastic, rags and various solids washed into it.

For many pump types, abrasive grit causes severe wear on the pump, and other debris may block it altogether, potentially causing the sump to overflow.

The submersible is just one type of pump that can be used for this application - others include diaphragm pumps and progressive cavity pumps.

These pumps are often the first choice simply because operators know how to handle them, but they are less than satisfactory for sump applications due to the demands outlined above.

An increasingly popular solution to the problem is the peristaltic hose pump which is designed to handle difficult applications where its self-priming and noncontact design wins over other pump types.

Where conventional pumps use valves, vanes and impellers to push liquid through them, peristaltic technology employs rollers or pressing shoes to compress and release a flexible hose containing the fluid.

This means that there is an absolutely clear flow path and therefore nowhere for debris such as rags and stones to get stuck.

Peristaltic pumps self-prime and can be mounted at ground level.

This makes them comparatively much easier to access than a submersible pump which has to be kept under the fluid level.

Likewise, peristaltic pumps can safely run dry, so complete emptying of the sump is possible.

An occasional blockage caused by a particularly large solid can usually be cleared simply by reversing the pump, as flow can be redirected simply by changing the rotation of the rollers.

The pump itself is not affected by the substance and maintenance is limited to replacing the hose.

With sumps performing such an important function in any process, plants simply cannot afford for them to fail.

So all our customers have been incredibly pleased and relieved to have finally found a reliable sump emptying solution that enables them to comply fully with the requirements of legislation.

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