Joint Mécanique PSS logo

PSS CASE STUDIES

FPI Propeller Pump Project

How Do Axial Flow Pumps Work?

Diagram of axial flow pump

An axial flow propeller pump is a common type of pump that’s equipped with an impeller in a pipe. This impeller is typically driven directly by a motor that’s sealed in the pipe. It can also be driven by electric motor or gas and diesel engines that are mounted onto the pipe from the outside.

High velocity is generated by the impeller, which flows liquid straight parallel to the impeller shaft. The PSS Shaft Seal is located on the propeller shaft and prevents water from escaping the pipe.

Images courtesy of FPI Pumps Inc.

FPI pump installation
fpi-pump-2
fpi-pump-3

How Did The PSS Seal Benefit FPI

FPI’s axial flow pumps are able to handle large volumes of water, ranging from 1,000 to 120,000 gallons per minute. FPI needed a seal for the propeller shaft that could handle that kind of a work load. PYI Inc. was able to provide a very cost effective solution that is easy to install, reduces maintenance / shut down on their pumps and durable enough to withstand the harsh environment they are often subject to.

Kenosha Water Utility Project

General Water Treatment Process

There are numerous methods of water treatment for our public drinking water to remove disease causing agents. The diagram below shows you the most common steps taken.

Water treatment process.

1. Coagulation

Very small particles in the water stick together to form larger particles as the coagulant alum is mixed into the water.

5. UV Disinfection

To remove pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia the water passes through UV reactors, where high intensity UV light inactivates pathogens.

2. Settling Basin

A process where solid particles "settle out" and thus are removed from the water.

6. Chlorine Disinfection

Chlorine is added to the water as a secondary disinfectant. Providing extra protection from harmful microorganisms.

3. Fluoridation

Controlled addition of fluoride to the water supply to improve dental health.

7. Finished Water Storage

The treated water is stored in deep underground tanks and pumped as needed.

4. Filtration

Water is flitered slowly through granular carbon and crushed sand to remove the very small particles.

8. Corrosion Control

To control the corrosion of pipes, a phosphorous compound is added. This prevents lead and copper from leaching into the water.

Where The PSS Mechanical Seal Fits In

The PSS mechanical seal are used on the horizontal mixer shafts in the mixing basin. The original mixer shaft drives a propeller / impeller which mixes the coagulant alum in the water. Images below are of the completed installation of the PSS seal and Flange & Bladder System in the Kenosha water utility plant.

Images courtesy of Kenosha Water Utility

pss-seal-kenosha-water-treatment
pss-seal-kenosha-water-treatment-2
pss-seal-kenosha-water-treatment-3
pss-seal-kenosha-water-treatment-4
pss-seal-kenosha-water-treatment-5

How Did The PSS Seal Benefit The Kenosha Water Utility

Kenosha Water Utility (KWU) has completed the PSS Shaft Seal retrofit of the old stuffing box type configurations on their mixing basin / horizontal mixer shafts at their water purification plant. KWU was looking for a solution to replace the constantly leaking and worn out traditional seals with something that will last, reduce cost, reduce pump down time due to seal maintenance and eliminate leaking, and the PSS Shaft Seal was their number one choice. PYI provided pressure resistant PSS Shaft Seals as well as mounting flanges for this retrofit project.

The water treatment system and PSS seals run 24/7 providing water to more than 110,000 persons in the greater Kenosha Metropolitan area, including the City of Kenosha, Village of Pleasant Prairie, Village and Town of Somers and Village of Bristol. The PSS Shaft Seal’s durability, reliability, simplicity, flexibility, ease of installation and maintenance along with PYI’s ability to customize mechanical sealing solutions in a very short period makes this a beneficial solution for any surface water utility using horizontal mixers on their flocculation / mixer basins. The Kenosha Water Utility team noted the installation "could not have been more straight forward, easy and resulting in very minimal down time".

"The new seals eliminate the need for rope packing and the packing gland. In our case the stuffing boxes were worn out which made them hour glass shaped. Being there was more room inside the stuffing box than the packing could compress and make the seal the shafts leaked a lot. We used the old stuffing boxes as a mounting surface for the new flange. We also replaced all of the stub shafts from the outer pillow block bearings thru the wall to flanges inside the tank. The reason we replaced all of these were to provide a clean new surface for the PYI seals to be mounted on."

- Bob Wienke, Lead Operator

TOP

Crop Image