What Is a submersible pump?
A submersible pump also called an electric submersible pump, is a pump that can be fully submerged in water. The motor is hermetically sealed and close-coupled to the body of the pump.
How does Submersible pump work ?
the pump pushes water to the surface by converting rotary energy into kinetic energy into pressure energy. This is done by the water being pulled into the pump: first in the intake, where the rotation of the impeller pushes the water through the diffuser. From there, it goes to the surface.
Submersible pump diagram
Below image shows typical Electrical Pump system and main components.
Advantages of Submersible pump
The major advantages of pump is that
- it never has to be primed, because it is already submerged in the fluid.
- it is very efficient because they don’t really have to spend a lot of energy moving water into the pump.
- Water pressure pushes the water into a pump, thus “saving” a lot of the pump’s energy.
- Also, while the pumps themselves aren’t versatile, the selection certainly is.
- Some submersible pumps can easily handle solids, while some are better for liquids only.
- Submersible pumps are quiet because they are underwater, and cavitation is never an issue because there is no “spike” in pressure as the water flows through the pump.
Disadvantages of Submersible pump
There are a few disadvantages of submersible pumps,
- The seals can become corroded with time. When that happens, water seeps into the motor, rendering it useless until it is repaired. Also, that seal makes the pump a bit difficult to get into for repairs.
- The other main disadvantage is that one pump does not fit all uses.
- Single-stage pumps are used for most home and light industrial pumping.
- This includes aquarium filters, sewage pumping, or sump pumps for drainage.
- Multiple stage pumps are used for anything underground, such as water wells or oil wells. Also, pumps are made to work with thin liquids like water, or thick ones like sewage.
- Caution must be used with submersible pumps; they must be fully submerged.
- The water around a pump actually helps to cool the motor. If it is used out of the water, it can overheat.
Applications of Submersible pump
Application of submersible pumps are
- irrigation,
- drinking water supply,
- oil production, and dewatering.
- slurry pumping,
- sewage pumping,
- water wells,
- oil wells,
- seawater handling,
- sewage treatment,
- fire fighting,
- deep well drilling,
- irrigation,
- mine dewatering,
- artificial lifts and offshore drilling rigs.