This question leads all the others, and the answer is not quite so easy. The best way to answer it is like this…how long will your shoes last? Do you run marathons in them, or just wear them to church on Sundays? It all depends on the usage. Your packing life is totally dependent on the application, and factors such as chemical compatibility, pressure, and stroking speed all contribute to the life span of a set of packing.
Are pneumatic pumps still the best way to go, especially taking into account the rising cost of gas?
Pneumatic, or gas driven pumps, still have a place in the world. While several factors are starting to dictate switching to other types of pumps, sometimes pneumatics have still got to be the choice. Generally speaking, pneumatics have a greater capability of pumping against some of those high line pressures that still exist. Amplification ratios tend to give the pump the ability to convert higher supply gas pressures into higher working pressures.
There are still locations which do not have electrical service accessibility, and these remote locations require other power sources. Available gas pressure or solar energy are options when power is not available.
While the rising price of gas is definitely a factor to consider, there is growing concern about the impact pneumatic pumps are having on the environment. Every time a pneumatic pump strokes, it has to exhaust gas into the atmosphere, and while the amount of gas exhausted is minute in volume, the cumulative volume of many pumps can be significant.
Do Texsteam pumps have the capability to lift liquids and become
a self-priming pump?
Several factors affect a positive displacement pump’s ability to take on self-priming characteristics. Factors such as liquid viscosity, temperature, elevation, specific gravity of the liquid, and the distance from the centerline of the pump head to the liquid source all affect the ability of a Texsteam pump to self-prime.
In a perfect self-priming situation, the suction line must be absolutely tight with no leaks. If this happens, the ability of our types of pumps is at best minimal. It is best to assure the liquid source to be above the pump, and this way the pump will provide years, and yes, even decades of reliable service.
Finally, our types of pumps, under perfect conditions still can lift only a few feet.
