About Air Operated Diaphragm Pumps
SELF-PRIMING PUMPS SAVE TIME AND SIMPLIFIES THE PUMPING PROCESS
As a leading supplier of industrial pumps in Australia and New Zealand, Hunter Pumps Industrial has built a reputation for delivering the best equipment on time and to specification. We specialise in providing a wide range of pump solutions, including the best self-priming pumps from some of the world’s most trusted brands. Our expertise lies in understanding the unique needs of our clients and offering tailored solutions that enhance operational productivity and efficiency.
What Is a Self Priming Pump?
A self-priming pump is a specific type of liquid pump designed to be installed high and dry above the fluid level. It operates by removing air from the suction line and filling its cavity or pump body with liquid without manual priming. This process enables the pump to function quickly and efficiently, eliminating the need for a foot valve or a hydraulic column of fluid in the suction line.
Self-Priming Pumps Features and Benefits
- Can handle a variety of liquids
- Excellent at handling solids up to 3 inches in size
- Continuous pumping of fluid without being submerged
- Eliminates excessive back pressure at the discharge
- Prevents syphoning
- Maximises pump efficiency at reduced power requirement
- Skips time-consuming start-up procedures
- Eliminates the need for expensive foot valves
- Handles air/gas mixed with fluid, maintains primed state
- Prevents backflow, maintains primed state
- Works well with slurries, suspended solids, and corrosive liquids
- More accessible and significantly simpler to maintain and repair
- No wet well access or heavy equipment is needed, reducing operator risk
How Does a Self-Priming Pump Work?
Keep in mind that self-priming pumps are designed to contain enough water to self-prime before being energised. Running a self-priming pump empty can lead to mechanical seal failure and damage to internal components.
When starting an empty self-primer, it must be primed manually, ensuring adequate water is present in the pump housing.
The self-priming pump operates in two stages:
- Priming mode
- Pumping mode
In the priming mode, it works as a liquid ring pump. The pump impeller, powered by an electric motor or engine via a shaft, begins rotating. This rotation creates a vacuum in the impeller’s eye, drawing external high-pressure air from the suction line into the pump.
Simultaneously, this air forms a cylindrical liquid ring within the pump housing, establishing an air-tight seal preventing air from re-entering the suction line from the discharge line.
Air bubbles, trapped within the fluid inside the impeller blades, are transferred to the outlet valve, where the air expels, allowing the fluid to return to the reservoir or “suction chamber” under gravity.
As the air is removed, the fluid gradually rises in the suction line, replacing the air until the suction line and pump are full. At this stage, the normal pumping mode commences, and fluid discharges.
If the discharge valve cannot expel the air, a bypass line may be employed to empty it. Once turned off, the pump retains enough water for the next operation, priming itself until it is fully primed again.
Methods of Priming
The priming of a pump, which can be done by an external source, through design considerations, or using a self-priming pump, is a crucial process to ensure optimal operation. There are several methods of priming, including:
Manual Priming
- Involves manually pouring water into the pump's inlet valve. Once all air escapes from the outlet valve, normal pumping operation begins.
Priming with Vacuum Pump
- In this method, a small self-priming or positive displacement pump prime the primary centrifugal pump. The suction line of the vacuum pump connects with the pressure line of the main centrifugal pump, sucking all the air out of the suction pipe and the primary pump.
Priming with Separator
- ere, an air-water separation chamber is placed on the pump outlet side, and a curved suction tube is partially placed at the pump inlet side, ensuring some water always remains in the pump. This design is also part of some self-priming centrifugal pumps.
The priming of a pump, which can be done by an external source, through design considerations, or using a self-priming pump, is a crucial process to ensure optimal operation. There are several methods of priming, including:
Industry Applications for Self-Priming Pumps
- Petrochemical
- Mining
- Construction
- Dewatering
- Water Management
- Effluent and Sewage Treatment
- Stormwater and Flood Control
- Agricultural Wastewater Applications
- Industrial Wastewater Applications
- Pulp and Paper Industry
- Tanker Offloading
- Pit Emptying
WHY CHOOSE HUNTER PUMPS
Premium Self-Priming Pumps at Hunter Pumps Industrial
Hunter Pumps Industrial is your go-to source for premium self-priming pumps from globally trusted brands. We’ve partnered with industry leaders like Gorman Rupp, known for their superior self-priming centrifugal pumps, and Remko, a top Australian manufacturer of high-quality self-priming pumps.
Our extensive selection also includes readily available spare parts for emergencies. And our team of trained and experienced experts stands ready to provide quick and effective field servicing for your Self-priming Pump needs.
Connect with us for assistance with pump selection.
Ask our team of specialists
Get in touch with Hunter Pumps to schedule your free pump assessment
- Pump design assessment
- Hazard & risk assessment
- Identification of signs of wear & tear
- Advice & recommendations
- Free assessment report
- Complimentary quotes
- Assistance in developing a preventative pump maintenance plan
Contact Hunter Pumps today
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Self-priming pumps are built to handle fluids with solids or air, reducing maintenance needs. However, regular maintenance is still necessary for optimal efficiency. Maintenance tasks may include cleaning the impeller, checking the suction line for clogs, and inspecting the pump for signs of wear or damage.
Self-priming pumps can save labour by eliminating manual priming, which can be time-consuming and labour-intensive. With their ability to automatically prime and re-prime, they require minimal human intervention, freeing workers to focus on other tasks. This saves time and reduces labour costs, making self-priming pumps a cost-effective solution for various applications.
Hunter Pumps Industrial partners with some of the world's most trusted brands to supply a wide range of self-priming pumps. We proudly offer robust pumps from Remko and Gorman Rupp, designed with unique capabilities to suit a variety of applications. For more specific brand information, please visit our website or contact us directly.
Indeed, this self-priming pump can be set up in a dry zone above the sump as long as the suction lift height doesn't surpass 8m. A surface-mounted pump presents numerous advantages compared to a submersible pump, with one key benefit being its accessibility and ease of maintenance.
Fundamentally, all positive displacement pumps are self-priming. This prominently includes rotary gear pumps (both internal and external), lobe pumps, vane pumps, and diaphragm pumps. In all positive displacement pumps, a common feature is the use of close-tolerance parts to prevent fluid from flowing back from the discharge side to the suction side.
