http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?fid4ct=24676 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:04:00 EST Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:00:50 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss RapidFeeds v0.1 -- http://www.rapidfeeds.com In November 2009, China's overall social power consumption reached 328.39 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), an increase of 27.63 percent year-over-year, according to the monthly report published by China Electricity Council on December 14, 2009. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4738770 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4738770 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:02:00 EST Scottish and Southern Energy plc (Perth, Scotland) has announced that work on the new 840 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station at Marchwood, near Southampton, has been completed. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4738769 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4738769 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:01:00 EST Engineering, construction and service company KBR Incorporated (Houston, Texas) has been awarded a contract for basic engineering and associated services for KBR's phenol technology for the Rabigh II project in Saudi Arabia. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4738768 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4738768 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST Fifteen offshore energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects are to get a vital financial boost as the European Commission (EC) this week approved more than 1.5 billion euros ($2.21 billion) in funding. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4695005 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4695005 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:31:00 EST Nine countries have signed an agreement to build a European offshore supergrid in the North Sea and Irish Sea. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4695004 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4695004 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:31:00 EST In an attempt to increase its footprint in Germany, GDF Suez SA (Paris, France) plans to develop a gas-storage facility and power plants in the country. The company is currently developing an 800 MW coal-fired power plant in Wilhelmshaven and plans to develop power-generating facilities in Brunsbuttel and Stade. However, the firm is reported to have sold an undisclosed stake in the Wilhelmshaven power plant to WSW Energie & Wasser AG (Wuppertal, Germany) in August. The plant is scheduled for commissioning in 2012. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4695003 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4695003 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:30:00 EST For the past few years, Spain has been committed to the development of a larger green-based power generation matrix. Spain has been prompted to make these investments because of the country's dependence on conventional fossil-fueled sources of energy. As Spain has little of its own fossil-fuel resources, the country is highly dependent on imported fuel for power generation. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4657649 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4657649 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:37:00 EST According to a report released by India's Central Electricity Authority (CEA) (New Delhi), India has missed its power capacity addition target of 6,462 MW for April to September 2009, the first six months of the current fiscal year, by 2,029 MW. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4657644 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4657644 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:37:00 EST Vietnam's plans to build nuclear power plants received a boost recently, when the country's national assembly approved a nuclear development plan. The government had proposed and recommended the plan in 2007 and had been awaiting clearances from the national assembly. This was followed by the passing of a general nuclear energy policy in 2008. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4657643 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4657643 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:37:00 EST Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (Tokyo, Japan), Japan's largest chemicals producer, is likely to acquire beleaguered resins maker Mitsubishi Rayon Company (Tokyo) for $2.24 billion. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4614188 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4614188 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:28:00 EST In October 2009, China's overall domestic power consumption reached 313.42 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), an increase of 5.87 percent year over year. From January to October, the nation's accumulative domestic power consumption reached 2.98 trillion kWh, an increase of 2.79 percent year over year. However, the average use of power generation equipment reached 3,735 hours, a drop of 240 hours, or 6 percent year over year, according to the monthly report published by China Electricity Council on November 12. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4614187 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4614187 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:27:00 EST There are signs that the depressed solar energy market is on the rebound, with solar suppliers, industry associations and market analysts predicting a brighter future. Strong results from leading photovoltaic (PV) panel suppliers, combined with increased solar activity in leading markets such as Germany, indicate that the solar market is recovering from the huge slump that occurred earlier this year. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4614186 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4614186 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:27:00 EST The 200,000-barrel-per-day (BBL/d) Lindsey Oil Refinery in Grimsby, England, soon will have its HDS-3 Diesel Hydrotreater and associated units running. The plant is owned by Total SA (Paris, France) and operated by subsidiary Total UK Limited (Hertfordshire, England). http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4569632 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4569632 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST Turkey has pulled the plug on the country's first nuclear power plant by cancelling the contract with a Russian consortium led by Inter RAO UES (Moscow, Russia) and Atomstroyexport (Moscow). http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4569631 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4569631 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:34:00 EST Licenses for Russia's first civil nuclear power and heating plant have finally been granted. The plant will be constructed in Seversk, in the Tomsk Oblast region of southwestern Siberia. Seversk, with about 100,000 inhabitants, was known as Tomsk-7 in the Soviet era. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4569628 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4569628 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:33:00 EST Jordan has decided to undertake capacity expansion operations at the refinery owned by Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company Limited (JPRC) (Amman, Jordan), at an estimated investment of $2.2 billion. After exploring several options, including total dependence on imports as well as greenfield ventures, the government decided to augment the capacity of the existing refinery. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4520275 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4520275 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST The installed capacity of China Datang Corporation (Beijing) reached 99.56 GW--which is four times the installed capacity the company had when it was established seven years ago--following the commissioning of the second 300 MW combined heat and power unit of Tangshan Fengrun Thermal Power Plant in North China's Hebei Province on November 10, 2009. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4520274 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4520274 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST The U.K. government may have promised a faster planning process for new windfarms and nuclear plants, but it will very much fail in meeting established emissions-reduction targets, according to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) (London). http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4520273 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4520273 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:34:00 EST Q. What is an acceptable amount of residual unbalance in an impeller after it has been balanced? http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4467250 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4467250 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:22:00 EST The world's first osmotic power plant is scheduled to begin operations just outside Oslo, in Tofte, Norway, at the end of this month. Although at this stage the plant is only a prototype with limited production capabilities, a commercially viable unit could exist within a few years, possibly as soon as 2015. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4467248 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4467248 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:22:00 EST After losing out on the original auctions for potential nuclear sites in the United Kingdom, a consortium led by GDF Suez (Paris, France) is back in the race following the £70 million ($115.5 million) purchase of a site near Sellafield in Cumbria. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4467247 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4467247 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:22:00 EST Falling energy demand has forced E.ON (Dusseldorf, Germany) to postpone the commissioning of the 800 MW coal-fired Berezovskaya plant in Siberia. The company has also revealed that it has all but given up on plans to build a planned 1,200 MW gas-turbine electric power plant with OAO Gazprom (Moscow) in the area of Lubmin in Germany. The decisions come as E.ON is already under fire for the construction of a new 1,050 MW coal-fired plant in Datteln, Germany, which a court just ruled had been constructed without proper planning permits. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4332158 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4332158 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:23:00 EST n August 2009, China's overall social power consumption reached 346.22 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), an increase of 8.22 percent year over year, according to the monthly report published by the China Electricity Council on September 14. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4332157 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4332157 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:22:00 EST Offshore wind could become one of Europe's most important renewable energy sources, supplying more than 10 percent of total electricity demand in the coming decades. This is the key finding from the European Wind Energy Association's (EWEA) (Brussels, Belgium) 'Oceans of Opportunity' report, presented to the European Commission this week in Stockholm, Sweden. The report states that more than 100 GW of offshore wind projects are in development or being planned in the E.U.-15 alone. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4332153 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4332153 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:22:00 EST A farmer has brought German energy giant E.ON's (Dusseldorf, Germany) plans for a new 1,050 MW coal-fired plant to a halt following a successful court battle. The Higher Administrative Court for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia could now order Germany's largest utility to stop construction of the plant in Datteln in northern Germany. The court claimed that the plan submitted by the local authorities of Datteln did not comply with conditions laid out by the state parliament for the use of renewable energy. The news will come as a severe blow to E.ON, as the 1.2 billion euro ($1.74 billion) plant is almost complete and was scheduled to start operation in 2011. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4303036 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4303036 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:53:00 EST GNL Quintero SA's (Santiago, Chile) liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal is currently receiving the facility's second shipment of LNG. The 150,000-cubic-meter tanker Neo Energy arrived from Equatorial Guinea on September 2 and will stay in port for three weeks. Located in Quintero Bay in Chile's fifth region, the LNG project emerged as a necessity after Argentina's supply conditions were changed in 2004. The new situation forced Chile's government to find a different and more open supply system in which other suppliers besides Argentina could supply LNG. The plant received the first LNG shipment from Trinidad and Tobago in June. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4303035 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4303035 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:52:00 EST Fluor Corporation (Irving, Texas) recently announced the completion of the Olefins II ethylene and derivatives project in Shuaiba, Kuwait, with a safety record of 42 million safe hours without any lost-time incident as of June 2009. The plant is located about 25 miles south of Kuwait City. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4303034 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4303034 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:52:00 EST The Indian power sector is hampered by a shortage of funds of about $102 billion in power-generation projects. The Indian Minister of State for Power, Bharatsinh Solanki, presented the grim scenario while addressing "India--Electricity 2009," a three-day trade fair organized in New Delhi late last week by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) (New Delhi). Solanki said that the country's power sector is facing several obstacles, including threats of relatively less expensive Chinese equipment being dumped in the country, the lack of a level playing field in India's power sector, the high cost of debt, and disparities in duties and taxes. Other issues that plague the Indian power sector include viability of projects, marketing risks, operational inefficiencies, and inadequate fuel supplies. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4279920 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4279920 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:11:00 EST According to news reports published by Mehr News Agency (Tehran, Iran), India has removed itself from the $8 billion Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline project that was to be developed for importing natural gas from Iran to India via Pakistan. Mehr says the Ambassador of Pakistan to Iran, Muhammad Bux Abbasi, is the source of the news. Abbasi is reported to have said that Pakistan intends to increase the quantity of crude oil that it imports from Iran. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4279918 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4279918 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:10:00 EST CEZ Romania, part of CEZ Group (Prague, Czech Republic), has contracted GE Energy to provide 101 wind turbines for the second phase of Europe's largest onshore windfarm project at Fantanele and Cogealac, in the Dobrogea region of Romania. GE Energy, a division of General Electric Company (Fairfield, Connecticut), will supply 101 of its 2.5xl turbines, rated at 2.5 MW each, for the 252.5 MW phase, or Cogealac phase, of the project. The company was commissioned by CEZ in March to provide 139 of the 2.5xl turbines for the first 347.5 MW Fantanele phase. The first phase is expected to be running by the start of 2010, and a completion date of 2011 is promised for the whole facility. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4279917 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4279917 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:08:00 EST A major concern of U.S. petroleum refineries and chemical process plants is regulatory compliance. Federal, state, special regulatory district and consent decree mandates require compliance of all regulations with the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA). Petroleum refineries were an early priority target for the EPA. It is likely that chemical process plants will become the next focus of EPA attention. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4240957 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4240957 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:03:00 EST Packing friction plays an important role in the sealing of pumps and valves. Ideally, sealing is accomplished with the lowest practical frictional drag. Some frictional losses occur when the packing is compressed axially in the stuffing box to produce the radial contact that controls leakage. This radial load has to produce a contact pressure on the shaft or stem and bore high enough to overcome the process fluid pressure. The equipment shaft, spindle or stem drive mechanism has to readily overcome static and dynamic or running friction during operation. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4240956 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4240956 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:03:00 EST In today's economic climate, it has become increasingly important to reduce processing costs. Premature pump failures can easily lead to thousands of dollars in maintenance and operations losses. Site surveys conducted in numerous process plants across North America have concluded that 70 percent of all pump failures are attributed to some form of misalignment. Detailed failure evaluations performed at specific plant sites have revealed that the cause of more than 80 percent of chronic failures involved pipe strain. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4240955 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4240955 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:02:00 EST The October 2008 Sealing Sense discussed new optical infrared technology authorized by the EPA for finding leaks. This month we will review in more detail the background, basis and future of this new way to monitor fugitive emissions. Background Method 21 is the current work practice (CWP) required by the EPA to detect and quantify leaks from components handling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Method 21 has been in use for more than 20 years. On April 6, 2006, the EPA published a voluntary alternative work practice (AWP) in the Federal Register. This new AWP allowed the use of optical gas imaging to monitor equipment such as pumps, valve, connectors, flanges, etc. After response to public comment, the final rule was published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) on December 22, 2008. Needs Analysis The road to the final rule started in 1991 with a study performed by the American Petroleum Institute (API). From 1991 to 1996, API analyzed 11.5 million fugitive emission measurements from leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs. The intent of the study was to determine if certain components or applications were more prone to leaks. The analysis revealed that about 5 percent of the components were responsible for 90 percent of the fugitive emissions. Nearly all of the 90 percent were due to leaks documented to be more than 10,000 ppmv. This small number of leaking components responsible for almost all of the emissions was random as to component type, process unit and application. Although no clear criteria to predict the occurrence of leaking components emerged from the study, it did become evident that a method was needed for detecting large leaks to repair more easily and quickly. As a direct result of the API study, development began on the use of optical leak detection methods. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4240953 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4240953 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:56:00 EST Most shaft seals are typically placed in bores made of steel, cast iron or other common ferrous metallic material. These ferrous, or iron-containing materials, are compatible with both metal cased and rubber covered seals. Alternatively, bores made of non-ferrous materials or softer alloys like aluminum require special consideration, especially when subjected to temperature extremes. For instance, when a shaft seal with a carbon steel case is fitted to a bore made of aluminum and exposed to high temperatures, the result is a loose fit and seal failure because of the differential rates of thermal expansion between the steel cased seal and the aluminum housing. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187423 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187423 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:47:00 EST Maintaining equipment uptime in a mining operation is essential. For one of South American's largest sulfurated copper mining organizations, unreliability simply wasn't acceptable, so they turned to one seal manufacturer to develop a pump sealing system improvement program using the Six Sigma methodology. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187422 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187422 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:46:00 EST With a population of more than 8 million, New York City generates a lot of wastewater. In fact, the Department of Environmental Protection for New York City (DEP-NY) processes an estimated 275 million gallons daily at the Wards Island facility alone, and 13 others operate at maximum capacity. Each facility runs all day, every day. The sheer volume of wastewater alone would be challenging, but wastewater facilities face many other tough operating conditions. Equipment is exposed to water and chemicals, high shock loads, constant operation and extreme temperatures. Since much processing occurs outdoors, equipment is barraged by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which can damage surfaces and cause premature failure. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187421 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187421 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:46:00 EST Multiphase pumping applications, also referred to as tri-phase, have been growing during the past several years, especially due to increased oil drilling activity. For example, in Canada the drilling and refining of tar sands often requires the use of multiphase pumps since the fluid stream can be a mixture of gas, liquids and solids. In addition, the economics of multiphase production is attractive to upstream operations as it leads to simpler, smaller in-field installations, reduced equipment costs and improved production rates. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187420 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187420 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST In hydraulic cylinders, used in everything from precise positioning equipment in machine tools to heavy earth moving machinery in the toughest working environments, the requirements for sealing are varied and difficult. The applications are dynamic, often operating at high speeds and significant pressures. A single seal is rarely a good enough solution, and a sealing system with a configuration of seals is often required. For example, proven solutions to today's hydraulic applications include U-Cups with back pumping ability in combination with a double-acting scraper (single configuration) as well as Stepseals® in Tandem configuration. One of the most important requirements for hydraulic seals is a long operating time without leakage. No leakage means reduced maintenance and repair costs and protection for the environment. Unfortunately, extended pressure, frequency and speed rates limit the reliable performance of standard sealing systems. Extreme temperatures and high demands on chemical resistance are also part of the challenging demands for sealing systems. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187419 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187419 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST Given public health concerns, the pharmaceutical industry must carefully choose sealing process equipment, particularly for cleaning and sterilization processes. Fortunately, internationally recognized organizations regulate and publish guidelines for specific seal design attributes, material requirements and mechanical seal selection for pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment. These organizations frequently conduct committee meetings of equipment manufacturers, users and consultants to review industry best practices and acknowledge the latest technological advancements. It is their goal to ensure that industry professionals are aware of the safest and most commercial viable techniques. This article will outline some of those major specifications related to mechanical sealing in pharmaceutical processing equipment. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187416 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187416 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:44:00 EST The first step in selecting environmentally responsible sealing solutions is to define the term, environmentally responsible. This is not as straightforward as it sounds, since it can be defined in regulatory terms, by corporate policy, or by moral and ethical standards. The term can also be extended to include resource conservation, as well as emissions reduction. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187415 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187415 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:44:00 EST Running component wear life and failure are primary cost drivers in the rotating equipment industry. Great effort has been expended to provide dry running capability, reduce friction and wear to extend life, MTBM and MTBF. Most of the improvements in component design have come in the form of material advancements. The earliest forms of low friction materials were carbons and soft metals, but they had no dry running capability. Harder materials have run the gamut from metals to tungsten carbide to ceramics. This evolution has essentially stopped at silicon carbides. After 25 years of maturity, they are now the standard in many heavy duty applications of mechanical seals, mag drive bearings and shafts. While these materials are robust when lubricated, they are extremely unforgiving when run dry or in other upset conditions. With 40 percent of mechanical seal failures attributable to operational failures associated with lubrication (Christopher Little, Pumps & Systems, May 2008), significant value can be gained if running faces can survive dry running conditions. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187414 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187414 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:43:00 EST Pump engineers have a wide range of sealing options available that cater to diverse pump applications. In designing pumps and other associated equipment like compressors and valves, elastomers are one flexible sealing option. An elastomer's ability to return to its original, un-deformed shape after the removal of force (unlike rigid sealing materials like PTFE) helps the pump designer prevent leakage under demanding pressures and operating environments. Pump users need maximum operating efficiency from their investment, and sealing solutions have to be designed to function between long service intervals. Users may also seek to run equipment for extended periods and often under greater working demands given current global economic pressures. These conditions often create increased chemical, thermal and pressure related stresses on the pump and seals, multiplying the risk of seal failure and pump leakage. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187413 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187413 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:43:00 EST Dynamic sealing technology has continued to advance in recent years, changing from off-the-shelf radial lip seal commodities to high-tech engineered products. As asset uptime and governmental requirements become more demanding, the need for high quality engineered sealing solutions increases. Seal design advances include contact lip seals and non-contact labyrinth seals. For labyrinth seals, commonly known as bearing isolators, the intricate path and advanced design features are important factors to ensure consistent and reliable sealing. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187412 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4187412 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:42:00 EST When you think about it, getting people and businesses to acknowledge the benefits of increasing energy efficiency is an easy sell. Are there any people or companies hoping that their utility bills-heating, water or electricity-continue to go up? No. The hard part is finding the best way to implement these energy efficient improvements. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163861 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163861 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:55:00 EST Rotary pumps are available in a broad range of flow and pressure, which is why they are recognized by users as the solution for their specific pumping needs. Recent enhancements have increased the reliability and operating envelopes of rotary pumps. They are increasingly recognized for their efficiency in today's energy conscious environment. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163860 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163860 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:54:00 EST During the mid-1970s, Dr. Adriano Mischiatti, Ph.D., C.E., conceptualized a magnetically coupled turbine pump in his college thesis. The concept has proven extremely reliable, addressing low flow applications with the perfectly balanced mag-drive design. Hydraulically balanced impellers are a key design aspect to both low flow turbine and high flow centrifugal process pumps. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163859 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163859 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:53:00 EST The Water Industry is a $90 to $100 billion collection of businesses engaged in the treatment and delivery of water. This age-old industry has recently become more dynamic due to technological advancements and scarcity. Whether for personal, industrial, or agricultural use (and in each application), water must be clean enough and provided in enough volume to complete each process. While the total water market should grow at close to 5 percent long-term, we believe the infrastructure and equipment segment will grow faster. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163858 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163858 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:53:00 EST Q. Simplicity and low cost make rotary pumps a good choice for some applications. Is there a simple guide to the maximum flow rate and discharge pressure for which such pumps can be used? A. The Hydraulic Institute has recently published a revised standard, ANSI/HI 3.1-3.5-2008, Rotary Pumps for Nomenclature, Definitions, Applications and Operation. Included in this standard are charts for discharge pressure versus flow rate for both metric and U.S. customary units. These charts include 11 different coverage lines in color for the 11 different rotary pump types. The chart in U.S. customary units is shown in Figure 1. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163857 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163857 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:52:00 EST Within the personal care products industry, changing formulations on a frequent basis to meet marketing requirements can be costly and time consuming in terms of material use and production downtime. When personal care products have essentially the same basic ingredients, the most cost efficient production method may be to manufacture a base material (a master batch), add the various differentiating ingredients and customize the finished products as required. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163856 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163856 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:51:00 EST The ancient Greek philosopher Plato is credited with coining the phrase, "Necessity is the mother of invention." It is unknown whether that phrase was going through Jim Wilden's head as he watched water from a ruptured pipe gush into a shop at a steel factory in San Bernardino County, Calif., 50 years ago. Legend has it that a foreman trying to plug the leak yelled to him, "Hey, Slim, you would make a million dollars if you could invent a pump to get this stuff out of here." http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163842 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163842 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:51:00 EST Organizations affected by regulatory requirements to remove lead from pipes, faucets and plumbing fixtures are likely well-down the path of investigating material options to adhere to new legislation. Organizations not directly affected by legislation should still take a broader view and consider how "getting the lead out" could deliver benefits to their business. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163841 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163841 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:50:00 EST Singapore's Energy Marketing Authority (EMA) is likely to release information in October or November this year on potential sites in the east Singapore for large power stations. The EMA already has investigated several possible sites in the east and will include this information in the annual Statement of Opportunities report this year or the next, depending on when the information is finalized. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163840 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163840 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:50:00 EST The March 2009 Sealing Sense concluded that pipe strain can cause failure of the packing or mechanical seal since they are both sensitive to misalignments introduced by pipe strain. A further study in the same article found that up to 70 percent of pump failures could be attributed to excessive strain on pump casings. Unacceptable strain was defined in the study as any forces from the pipe that will cause equipment deformation of more than 0.002 in. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163839 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4163839 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:49:00 EST Looking for a time- and cost-saving solution to a constantly leaking lobe pump, Rock-Tenn Company found the answer in eccentric disc pumps. With more than 9,500 employees from 92 facilities spread across 26 states, as well as Canada, Mexico, Chile and Argentina, Rock-Tenn Company (Norcross, Ga.) is one of the world's leading manufacturers of packaging products, merchandising displays and bleached and 100 percent recycled paperboard. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133607 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133607 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:49:00 EST If you think hydraulic theory can be a tricky subject, consider the contemporary branch of physics known as string theory. It attempts to explain all of the fundamental physical theories, including relativity and quantum mechanics, as a single theory. The core hypothesis is that space, time and matter are composed of tiny string-like particles that vibrate at resonant frequencies. If it can be proven, we will have a single unified theory that explains everything! You are probably wondering what the heck this has to do with pumps. It turns out that resonant frequency is the common thread (or string in this case). http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133606 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133606 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:48:00 EST The concept of solar and wind energy as a "green" source is not new. However, it is one thing to talk about it, and another thing to actually do something with it. The difficult part, as with any technology, is how to start. Private investors hesitate to take a risk on anything that is nothing less than an absolute guarantee, and the governments, even with all good intentions, are usually caught in bureaucratic red tape. The solution appears to be when the government and private sector work together to launch the technology, and then the private industry takes control. Government helps alleviate the financial risk, but leaves the actual implementation to the private contractors, who, while they appreciate the altruistic side of it, still need to make money to stay in business. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133605 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133605 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:48:00 EST Being "green" and environmentally friendly are more than buzzwords these days. Now that alternative energy has caught the attention of Silicon Valley, investors are pumping cash into a wave of technologies-some better known than others, but all indicative of a shift from the norm. Despite the sluggish economy, alternative energy start-ups received a record $2 billion in venture capital funding in the second quarter of 2008, a 58 percent increase from the previous year, according to Cleantech Group, a market research firm. Today, clean energy accounts for 20 percent of all venture capital funding and continues to attract interest. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133604 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133604 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:47:00 EST From the front office to the factory floor, Lean initiatives (and more advanced Six Sigma training) can help companies increase production, improve quality and contribute to a more viable bottom line. Some companies have employed Lean manufacturing programs for more than a decade. Others see it as one way to ride out a turbulent economic wave. Regardless of the motivation, experienced Lean practitioners say believe these initiatives can directly affect a company's production, efficiency and balance sheet. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133603 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133603 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:46:00 EST While recent news about the engineering labor force has been grim, experts say that unemployed engineers should not lose hope about future job prospects in the pump or related industries. In this current challenging time, unemployed engineers can look to growing industries for potential employment and consider the prospect of job openings in more established industries in the future. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133602 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133602 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:45:00 EST Your pump company is embarking on new marketing campaigns to boost sales in India, China, Russia or other newly booming marketplaces. In addition, your manufacturing and purchasing teams are looking globally for low cost suppliers in many of these same regions. Are you concerned about the Intellectual Property (IP) rights you hold in your products? If not, you should be! http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133600 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133600 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:44:00 EST A large refinery or power plant may operate up to a dozen units of the same design, all installed 20 or 30 years earlier. In this mature equipment environment, some level of reactivity is a fact of life, at least initially. The trick is to react proactively, with tools that raise the plant's long term equipment reliability level. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133598 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133598 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:44:00 EST Within the overall $25 billion pump industry, several market sectors are currently experiencing very active periods. According to Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, TX), there are currently 90 new plants under construction in the food and beverage industry, 84 in the pharmaceutical and biotech sector, 82 in alternative fuels, and 79 in the power industry. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133597 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133597 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:43:00 EST Construction of China National Petroleum Corporation's (CNPC) 1 million-ton-per-year aromatics project in Urumqi, Xinjiang, is in full swing. The project boasts the world's largest aromatics unit, one of the most technologically advanced units in the world. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133596 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133596 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:39:00 EST The pump is a 300-hp integrally geared propylene product pump in a Gulf Coast olefins unit that operates at 25,000-rpm and produces 6000-ft of head (see Figures 1 and 2). The suction and discharge pressures of the pump are 250-psig and 1500-psig, respectively. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133595 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4133595 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:38:00 EST In response to the substantial flood damage that New Orleans, La., sustained from Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hurricane Protection Office awarded a $85 million design and build contract to Weston Solutions, Inc. in February 2007. The goal of the project was to increase the pumping capacity at two outfall canals, allowing for additional storm drainage to be pumped out of the city and into Lake Pontchartrain. Specifically, the 17th Street Canal's total pumping station capacity was to be increased to 7,600 cubic feet per second (cfs), and the London Avenue Canal's total station capacity to 5,000 cfs. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4077962 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4077962 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:29:00 EST Water is an essential substance to sustain life and one of the most valuable resources a nation can possess. Most of what is available, however, is of little use in its natural state. Water seems readily obtainable since it covers more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface, but clean, fresh drinking water comprises barely a fraction of all available water. In fact, 97.5 percent of the world's water is saline. Of the remaining 2.5 percent, 70 percent is locked up in the polar ice caps, and 30 percent resides in underground aquifers. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4077961 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4077961 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:28:00 EST In the October 2007 issue of P&S, we looked at how several units of measure differ in a linear versus a rotational environment. For example, that simple linear unit called force (f) becomes far more complex in a rotating system. Its rotational counterpart, torque, not only consists of force but also the radius and angle at which that force is applied. This increased complexity also applies to another important unit-inertia. Why is inertia important? There are times when we need to calculate the amount of torque that will be required to start or stop a rotating machine. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4077960 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4077960 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:28:00 EST While recent news about the engineering labor force has been grim, experts say that unemployed engineers should not lose hope about future job prospects in the pump or related industries. In this current challenging time, unemployed engineers can look to growing industries for potential employment and consider the prospect of job openings in more established industries in the future. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4077959 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4077959 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:27:00 EST In China, police raid a remote warehouse basement and seize more than 300 million pirated DVDs. In India, sellers in outdoor bazaars daily offer knockoffs of Gucci handbags and Rolex watches starting at about $1 apiece. Malaysia launches a crackdown on counterfeit computer software, at a time when officials estimate that almost two-thirds of that country's software is pirated, compared to a rate of about one-third worldwide. Even fake Viagra is sold in overseas bazaars. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4077958 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4077958 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:26:00 EST Some may question if this is an appropriate topic for a pump magazine. While I do admit that I am a staunch conservative, this column is not about the political left. Instead, it addresses a very different left-the left side of a centrifugal pump's performance curve. When it comes to centrifugal pump politics, I believe that both the far left and far right should be avoided! Personally, I am a card carrying member of the BEP party, which is a bit to the right of center. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4047004 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4047004 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:01:00 EST Figure 1 plots the clearances specified for wear rings in API 610 (1) and in the Pump Handbook (2) as a function of the ring diameter. To obtain optimum (hydraulic and mechanical) performance, manufacturers want to provide centrifugal pumps with minimum clearance between wear rings. To reduce the chance of galling and seizing between mating rings, users want the clearance to be large. Users often do not fully realize the negative impact of increased ring clearance on the hydraulic and mechanical performance of a centrifugal pump. A plant repair shop will sometimes increase ring clearances the first time a pump is serviced. This usually does reduce the chances for ring seizure, but it has numerous undesirable side effects. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4047002 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4047002 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST Here is Pump Puzzle #1. Start up your calculators! Statement of Problem: A vertical pump has a 400 hp motor. As can be seen in the pump performance curve, the pump motor gets overloaded at certain flow ranges. It is decided to trim the impeller diameter to ensure the motor is never forced to deliver more than 400 hp. Given: Pump manufacturer original performance curve for the installed impeller with 19.625 in diameter http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4046999 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4046999 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST The City of Hammond, Ind., recently received a large prefabricated housed booster system that will increase flow capacity for nearby residents by pressurizing the potable water from Lake Michigan. Two 6 million gallon reservoirs take filtered Lake Michigan water and feed the 93,000 lb booster system, which pressurizes and distributes the water in the city. Energy-saving variable speed controls operate four 125 hp horizontal close coupled, end suction pumps that each pump water at 3,500 gpm at 105 ft TDH for a total system output of 14,000 gpm. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4046997 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4046997 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:58:00 EST 3-D laser scanning is a relatively new technology that yields a three dimensional virtual record of a real object. The concept is simple and similar to police radar, but requires the power of modern day computers to collect and process enormous amounts of discrete data instantaneously. The basic operation of laser scanning involves projecting a beam onto an object. An optical sensor similar to the kind in digital cameras records the reflection of the beam as X, Y and Z point coordinates in 3-D space. The end result is a 3-D record of the object of interest. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4046992 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4046992 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:58:00 EST In a recently published report titled "Renewable Chemicals Market (2009-2014)," market research and consulting firm MarketsandMarkets (Wilmington, Delaware) forecasts that the global renewable chemicals market will grow from $45 billion in 2009 to $59.1 billion in 2014, with a compounded annual growth rate of 5.3 percent. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4046990 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4046990 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:56:00 EST A range of wastewater treatment solutions and new odor/VOC control technologies have recently been launched in the U.S. marketplace. Many of these technologies use peat for the treatment of wastewater odor and VOC air emissions. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4046988 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4046988 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:56:00 EST Commerce, Texas, relies on nearby Lake Tawakoni for supplying water, but falling lake levels were creating problems for its vertical turbine pumps. When lake levels dropped, the pumps were exposed to air and could not reliably pull water from the lake. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4014161 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4014161 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:18:00 EST The extensive application of pumps to hydrocarbon services in the first half of the 20th century produced numerous observations that centrifugal pumps handling liquid hydrocarbons were able to operate satisfactorily with less NPSH available than when pumping water, and the NPSHR was less when pumping lighter hydrocarbons than when pumping heavier hydrocarbons. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4014160 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4014160 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:17:00 EST Thanks to everyone who submitted answers to Pump Challenge #1 (P&S, July 2009). We will discuss this problem by reviewing the Pump Affinity Laws (PAL). PAL shows that when the impeller diameter trimmed, every point on the head-capacity curves changes. Flow, head and power are reduced, but in what proportion? http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4014159 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4014159 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:16:00 EST The Chemical Processing Industries of the UK and Ireland are in decline. There is little major new capital investment, and investment is mainly limited to new small products or maintenance. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4014158 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4014158 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:16:00 EST Many publications discuss the causes and cures of cavitation, but few address the reason those bubbles are so destructive. Boiling is the precursor to cavitation in a centrifugal pump. Boiling is not necessarily a bad thing, but if those bubbles don't burst, a very powerful force can arise. Boiling is one way that a liquid can undergo a "change of state" and transform itself into vapor. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4014157 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=4014157 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:15:00 EST Many troubleshooting guides and charts have been developed to help us understand the nature of pump failures. Although beneficial and well constructed, these handy guidelines focus on the physical cause of pump malfunctions and breakdowns. These tools can can make a user believe that pump failure is always related to the individual physical components of the equipment. Based on this mindset, the user often changes or repairs parts to eliminate or mitigate the incident. However, premature pump failure is not merely limited to defective parts; it can also occur from poor maintenance strategies or even inappropriate operational practices. The user can fail to consider that inappropriate human interventions-at any point in the process-can be the true causes of an undesirable event. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980305 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980305 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:50:00 EST Your pump company is embarking on new marketing campaigns to boost sales in India, China, Russia or other newly booming marketplaces. In addition, your manufacturing and purchasing teams are looking globally for low cost suppliers in many of these same regions. Are you concerned about the Intellectual Property (IP) rights you hold in your products? If not, you should be! These common scenarios generate high enthusiasm, but if not properly planned and executed, they can result in knock-off pumps from low cost regions becoming instant competitors, typically offered at much cheaper prices to boot. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980304 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980304 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:49:00 EST A large refinery or power plant may operate up to a dozen units of the same design, all installed 20 or 30 years earlier. In this mature equipment environment, some level of reactivity is a fact of life, at least initially. The trick is to react proactively, with tools that raise the plant's long term equipment reliability level. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980303 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980303 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:49:00 EST Water has certainly caught the attention of our nation's policymakers and the public at large, as reports of water main breaks, emerging contaminants, droughts, and water quality deterioration are appearing in headlines and being broadcast across the airwaves. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980302 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980302 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:47:00 EST The amount of power generated in the UK from renewable sources rose to 5.5 percent of total electricity generation in 2008, an increase of 4.9 percent over 2007. According to the statistics published in the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2009 (DUKES), published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), on a renewable obligation basis, 5.4 percent of electricity came from eligible sources, which is nearly triple the 1.8 percent achieved 2002. Overall, UK energy consumption in 2008 decreased 1.1 percent. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980301 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980301 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:46:00 EST Packing technology has developed rapidly through the years. Packings have historically evolved from the simple, lubricated, square braided, asbestos commodity material to a more complex, diagonally braided design made from high-tech materials specifically designed for application requirements. Today, packings can be constructed from the same aramid fibers used on bulletproof vests and carbon fibers used in the aerospace industry. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980300 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3980300 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST It is no revelation that maximizing equipment life directly impacts the bottom line. When it comes to profitability, every dollar saved on equipment maintenance is a dollar earned. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3949845 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3949845 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:54:00 EST India's industrial production sector recorded a growth of 2.7 percent in May this year, after almost eight months of dismal performance. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3949844 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3949844 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:54:00 EST Proper installation and adjustment can make the difference between the success and failure of a packed pump. By keeping in mind the fine points of a few key principles, the chances of success are greatly increased. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3949843 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3949843 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:53:00 EST Fluid handling requirements and methods in the biopharm industry are in transition. For example, the industry's primary technical trade group, the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (www.ISPE.org), is readily debating and analyzing these changes at all levels. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3903883 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3903883 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:28:00 EST Plans to harness the solar power of the Saharan desert took a decisive step forward this week when 12 of Europe's largest blue chip companies signed up to participate in the world's most ambitious solar energy project. The Desertec project, unveiled last month, aims to build massive solar thermal power plants across the North African desert and then transport the electricity to Europe, where it will eventually supply up to15 percent of the total power demand. About 80 percent of the power produced will be used by the countries in which the solar farms are located. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3903882 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3903882 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:28:00 EST Valves used in flotation cells, dewatering service, cyclone separators and tailing applications tend to wear out quickly, so mining companies spend thousands of dollars replacing expensive valves and parts. One solution to this dilemma is elastomer-lined valves, including pinch valves and slurry knife gate valves. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3903881 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3903881 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:27:00 EST In a recent press release, Verband der Chemischen Industrie (VCI) (Frankfurt, Germany), the German Chemical Industry Federation, stated that at the end of 2008, Germany's Chemical Processing Industry reached the very bottom of the downward spiral brought on by the global economic slump. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3879369 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3879369 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:21:00 EST When we start the pump selection process for a particular application, one of our major concerns is efficiency. If several different models of similar quality meet our conditions, we will usually select the one with the highest efficiency. After all, higher efficiency reduces the cost of electrical power. There are times, however, when efficiency can take a backseat to the true, overall cost of operation. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3879357 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3879357 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:18:00 EST In its bid to boost the country's nuclear program to meet growing power demand, the United Arab Emirates has signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with South Korea. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3852539 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3852539 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:03:00 EST The corner stone laying ceremony for a 52,000 barrel per day (bpd) diesel hydrogenation unit and associated support facilities of Sinopec Luoyang Petrochemical Company (Luoyang, Henan), a regional subsidiary of China Petroleum & Chemical Company Limited (Sinopec) (Beijing), was held in Luoyang City of central China's Henan Province on June 29, 2009. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3852538 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3852538 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:02:00 EST Last month, we discussed applications of low head axial flow pumps ("Field Testing: Theory vs. Reality," Pumping Prescriptions, May 2007). Knowing your system is very important for these types of units. For example, consider a recent application where neglecting the system caused problems. http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3852537 Pump System News http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=3852537 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:04:00 EST