Pump skid systems or packaged pump skids generally consist of a pump and a driver mounted on a steel base. They’re often assembled by the manufacturers, but if a buyer wishes they can buy the components and assemble the system themselves.
Read on to see more details of the pump skid system including its components, its industrial application, and the advantages of using one.
What is a Pump Skid?
A pump skid is a system that consists of a pump; most often a centrifugal pump, and a driver which can either be a diesel engine or an electric motor. It handles applications like fire suppression, chemical dispensing, water pumping, and metering processes.
Supported on I-beams, it has electrical panels used for controlling the motor. It’s also typically piped for the medium it’s intended to pump and the necessary electrical and signal processing.
Components of Pump Skid
The specific components of a pump skid system depend on the specific industry and their needs.
The following are some of the main components that you will find in pump skids in general, as well as their specific purposes.
The Pump
A pump is used to move the fluids in the process from one place to the other through mechanical action. Pumps come in different sizes, and they dictate the flow rate. The capacity helps one know the maximum flow rate possible to achieve. Measured in gallons per hour or GPH, this helps you get the right size to attain maximum performance. If dealing with a fluid that has a high viscosity, heat, or a significantly abrasive nature, it’s better to get an oversized pump as this will help to get the required flow rate.
The Driver
The driver or engine of a pump skid is the power behind the system and the method that’s used to move the fluid from one point to another. Sodimate can advise you on the most efficient driver for your industry once you describe your needs.
There are a few drivers that you may choose from and they include:
- Three-phase alternating current motors, which are powered by electricity and have different rotational speeds.
- Steam turbines, ideal for large gas pumps with boilers and which need to drive large pumps.
- Hydraulic and expansion turbines, which are mostly used in high-pressure process streams to recover the pressure that’s reduced for further processing.
- Gas turbines, a popular replacement for steam-powered turbines and great for large pump drives with minimal operator attendance.
- Internal combustion engines, ideal for situations in which there’s no alternative power source or it’s necessary to have a standby energy source.
A Piping Network
This needs to be designed with the overall process in mind for it to work effectively and help avoid repeated and premature failure. The suction piping should be short, and there should not be elbows on or close to the pump’s inlet nozzle.
The Frame
The Frame supports the entire system and works best when it is industrial powder coated and fabricated out of steel. It supports the whole system while it works for maximum safety and efficiency.
Industrial Applications of Pump Skid
Pump skid has a number of applications in different industries. These include:
- In the oil and gas industry where the oil and gas produced are moved from one place to another during the sourcing of the product.
- In crude oil refineries where the oil is moved after processing from one point to another.
- In water and wastewater treatment, purification, and even harvesting of rainwater.
- In the chemical industry for pumping, mixing, blending, injecting liquids and chemicals.
- In different stages of production of pulp and paper. In such instances, a metering pump skid is the most ideal.
Advantages of Pump Skid
If you’re wondering about whether pump skid has benefits over other methods of fluid transfer and control, it does, and here are a few of them.
- They have a compact layout that ensures minimum space is used up by the entire system.
- They offer efficiency throughout the process to ensure that minimum energy is used to finalize the process.
- They have a variety of options and are customizable to a high degree, which makes it possible to use them in different applications with effectiveness each time.
- They improve the safety of the industry in which they’re used and are therefore extremely beneficial for industries that involve caustic and abrasive chemicals or liquids at high temperatures.
To make sure you get the right pump skid system, get in touch with Sodimate for guidance on the way forward. We will provide you with a solution that works and that will help you make the most out of your pump skid needs.
