We are fortunate in the United States that we can rely on having clean and safe municipal water pumped directly to our homes and businesses.
Much of the infrastructure for this water delivery system, however, is getting old. Unlined iron pumps and pump casings become corroded over time, often developing extensive tuberculation (knob-like mound byproducts of corrosion) on the interior casings of the pumps. While cement linings have been applied to the inside of iron pipes for the past 50 years to prevent corrosion, older systems suffer from decreased efficiency due to hydraulic drag.
The Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) are running a 5-year study on the effects of refurbishing their pumps. The surprising results are that by sandblasting and applying ceramic-filled epoxy coatings to the pump casings, the overall performance of the pumps was more or less restored to original manufacturer’s pump curve specifications.
This is an excellent way for municipalities to deal with their aging water systems. Instead of incurring the cost of replacing entire systems, they could simply have their pumps sandblasted and coated.
Maple Grove Enterprises has worked on a number of similar projects. Our customers noticed a drastic improvement in the efficiency of their pumps that resulted in reduced energy costs and substantial savings.
Pump Housing with ceramic-filled epoxy coating
This finding is very interesting.
Why has the performance of the pumps improved?
Does the ceramic transfer the heat more effectively to lover the temperature and increase efficiency?
Maple Grove Enterprises is simply the applicator of these products, but I do understand that these coatings are hydrophobic and reduce the friction (drag) caused by the water passing through a pump housing that is rough and worn.
For more detailed information, you can read an article printed in WaterWorld Magazine of a study completed by Paul Maier of the Monroe County Water Authority, which documents the amazing results achieved by refurbishing their pumps:
http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/article-display/271671/s-articles/s-waterworld/s-volume-22/s-issue-9/s-editorial-feature/s-study-shows-anti-corrosion-coatings-increase-pump-efficiency.html