Factors Affecting Floating Pump Performance

The float pump is an emergency water supply for fire service vehicles when hydrants are unavailable. It can also be used to transfer water for irrigation and wetlands management. It is light enough to be carried in most rescue vehicles, and the float folds down for easy storage in the apparatus compartment.

Flow is the amount of water that the pump moves at a given pressure. The higher the pressure, the more the pump can move. It is important to understand how to calculate pump capacity when selecting a pump for your application. Pump curves provide a good starting point, but there are many factors that affect the performance of any pump.

Some of these factors include impeller size, speed, and design. Intake screens, check valves, and the condition of the shaft seal can also affect head and discharge performance. Site-specific aquifer characteristics, well depth, and suction and discharge pipe sizes can all impact pump performance.

Another factor that can have a significant effect on pump efficiency is disc friction in the impeller. This is especially true when the specific speed (NS) is low. Proper wear ring design, materials selection, and running clearances can greatly improve overall pump efficiency.floating pump