According to the Oxford Dictionaries February 2013 update, the word ‘schlumpy’ now has official status in the dictionary. Schlumpy means slovenly or scruffy, and although pumps are expected to work effortlessly in schlumpy environments, they do wear out over their lifetime to become, well, schlumpy themselves. It joined other new words including ‘onesie’, ‘braggadocious’ and ‘tweetable’.
Just as obsolete words are leaving the dictionary and newer alternatives are being added, the same applies to pumps and their technology. So it’s out with the old and in with the new in the world of pumps.
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Perhaps, instead of sending out engineers in overalls to fit a new pump, we should send them out dressed in a ‘onesie’. I don’t think we would go for anything as flimsy and garish as Nick Clegg’s favoured attire though.
New pump technology should be part of any process engineer’s dictionary, so instead of sweating an old asset like a progressing cavity (PC) pump that keeps breaking down because it can’t handle debris, they would be aware that by replacing it with a Verderhus pump instead, they could ensure smooth, uninterrupted and reliable operation.
This is not to say that Verder does not make PC pumps – not wishing to be too ‘braggadocious’ (another new word – Ed), we make the best quality PC pumps available on the market.
PC pumps are used for slurry and sludge, often in waste water sites, food industry and are particularly good for viscous media.
PC pumps can be installed in all positions and are self-priming. However, because their biggest weakness is that they can’t handle debris, they are typically used in conjunction with a range of accessories such as rotor-choppers, macerators and filters.
A Verderhus pump can handle all the types of fluid, slurry and sludge that a PC pump can – but can also handle solids, thanks to its open impeller and corkscrew design. In industries like food waste, waste water, anaerobic digestion, agricultural and paper pulp, we would recommend it being gravity fed with the tank above the pump so there is no suction required.
Now that is definitely ‘tweetable’.
