Diesel Engine Driven Self Priming Pump for Fire Fighting

Today we are going to be talking about a project we worked on with a recent marine client.

The company contacted us looking for a multi-purpose engine-driven self-priming pump. They wanted to use this in conjunction with a water tanker for various washdown procedures, or as a pump for firefighting.

This was a project which would need a great deal of thought as there are several important factors to take into account when specifying and configuring a diesel engine-driven self-priming pump.

6 key points to consider:

1. Engine emissions – what are tiers and stages?

At North Ridge Pumps and across the pump sales and supply industry, we often talk about tiers and stages when discussing engines.

Both these terms actually relate to emissions standards. These are the government regulations which set the maximum level of pollutants an engine can emit to comply with legal requirements.

So what’s the difference between the two terms?

In a word, nothing. They mean broadly the same thing but are used in different territories of the world.

One thing they have in common is that they both refer to emissions legislation applying to engines for non-road mobile machinery or NRMM with a 37Kw to 560KW power rating.

What is Non-Road Mobile Machinery?

This is any mobile machine, item of transportable industrial equipment, or vehicle with or without bodywork that isn’t designed to carry passengers or goods on the road. It is also fitted with a combustion engine - either a compression ignition (CI) diesel engine or an internal spark ignition (SI) petrol engine.

Some examples of Non-Road Mobile Machinery include pumps, generators, bulldozers, construction machinery, mobile cranes, industrial trucks, generators, fork-lifts and garden equipment like hand-held chainsaws and hedge trimmers.

Engines installed in NRMM are split into categories for spark ignition (SI), compression ignition (CI), and then engine power rating. Each category is then given limits for the amount of pollutants that can legally be emitted, more commonly known as the engine's 'stage'.

As you can see, the term stage is used here in the UK. It’s also in use across the EU. So, pump manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, engineers and so on would refer to a Stage IV engine for example in these geographical areas, and emissions regulations are set by the UK government and the European Union.

While ‘tier’ is the word used in the USA and Canada, and these areas are certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or US EPA. Here, people will talk about a Tier 4 engine for example.

What about other parts of the world & Offshore?

Countries and regions other than the US and Canada and the UK and Europe will comply with just one or both of these environmental regulations. When units are installed offshore other tiers can apply to those installed on land.

So engines can be certified to meet both sets of regulations or just one, and some territories have their own guidelines and timelines for meeting older stages or tiers. Some have no regulations, and China has its own standard called China Stage (number).

So manufacturers and specifiers need to know which system applies in the country the pump is to be used in, and make sure it’s rated to the correct set of regulations.

2.       Is a fuel tank needed?

Normally, engine-driven self-priming pumps are supplied without a fuel tank attached. But if there isn’t one present on site, pump units can also have a tank coupled to the pump and sized to supply fuel for the required hours of operation.

Say for example, a pump is needed to operate in a remote area where there’s flooding and intensive dewatering needs to be carried out.

The pump might have to give 20 hours of uninterrupted operation on site. At the performance level required, the engine burns 4 litres of fuel every hour. This means that the pump has to be big enough to accommodate 80 litres of fuel to ensure that the pump set works continuously for at least 20 hours.

3. Is an enclosure needed?

Many pumps and motors coupled in a set are specifically designed to be enclosed in a unit that protects them from the environment and other potential hazards.

This is not only to provide protection to the pump and motor against harmful dirt, abrasive dust, liquids or vapours, as well as accidental damage caused by a stray spanner, hammer or screwdriver. It is also to prevent harm coming to operatives using the equipment.

Some enclosures are designed to be completely watertight or weather-resistant in exposed open areas, or even explosion-proof or fire-resistant. Or an enclosure may be required if a pump set is going to be working in areas where compliance with noise limits is required.

The enclosure has to be big enough to accommodate the pump, the motor and any attached components like fans or valves. It should also have a drip tray to ensure that fuel or the liquid being pumped doesn’t leak and contaminate the local environment.

4. Is remote pump monitoring and automation required?

Sometimes diesel engine-driven pumps operate in extremely isolated locations well off the beaten track with difficult weather conditions in the local area.

In these cases, the pump set may need to be supplied with remote pump monitoring and automation systems. These allow for real-time data collection on a range of performance parameters including pump status, motor temperature, flow rates and water levels.

This gives complete control of the pump set and supports efficient operation, better maintenance and reduced costs through regular monitoring and remote alerts.

In fact, if pumps have to operate unattended for long periods of time, this feedback from the pump set can prove invaluable. Knowing if the pump needs servicing, is experiencing an issue or has stopped working altogether can ensure that urgent situations don’t escalate into something much more serious and costly.

5. What’s the right self-priming design?

•  Standard self-priming – here the pump head has to be filled before first use which enables the pump to prime up to 8m. This design is ideal if manpower is available locally on-site during operation. But it’s not the best option if the pump is standing unused for long periods and then started up without being inspected first

•  Vacuum assisted self-priming – these pumps can automatically prime themselves by using a vacuum pump to draw liquid into the pump and suction line. They can do this even if the pump casing and suction line are empty, thereby removing the need for manual priming. 

 There are other inferior designs which have a membrane-type priming pump. These however, have to be maintained after every 1000 hours of use, meaning that they will need to be strictly monitored and maintained.

6. Does the pump have to be mobile?

For additional flexibility and versatility in use, diesel engine-driven pump sets can be made mobile in a variety of ways.

The options include being baseplate mounted and lifted into place using lifting hooks. With or without lifting eyes, the units can be lifted and positioned either by crane with lifting hooks, by forklift or telehandler.

Engine-driven self-priming pump sets can be mounted on trailers purposely designed to be road legal for UK or European roads up to a set speed limit.

Or on more rugged trailers for use off-road in or in locations around the world that don’t require a particular grade of trailer. These can be moved by personnel without using a vehicle or made towable for pulling by agricultural machinery

What self-priming pump set did we choose for this client?

At North Ridge Pumps, we are not restricted in the type of pump we can specify. As the UK’s biggest pump supplier with over 25 years of successful trading, we are expert at specifying pumps for a wide range of applications.

In fact, we draw on our deep specialist knowledge and wide-ranging experience to come up with the right specification for every client. We don’t just provide a standard solution straight off the shelf. Just as important, we specify the pump which offers the most cost-effective long-term option.

For our marine client, we supplied a 3” engine-driven self-priming pump which will deliver around 110m³H at 34m head. This was coupled up to a Tier 3 fan-cooled Yanmar diesel engine complete with an integrated 120L fuel tank giving up to 20 hours of continuous use.

The whole diesel engine-driven pump set was mounted on a stainless-steel baseplate with lifting eyes for extra mobility.

The XR325 pump we chose for this particular application can prime in under 30 seconds and handle solids up to 30mm x 15mm in size. In short, it’s an extremely versatile pump as it can be used with both electric motors or diesel engines to suit a range of on-site conditions.

If you have an application requiring any kind of pump for any kind of fluid transfer, and need guidance on the best option for you, speak to North Ridge Pumps to see how we can help.

For more information on Diesel Engine Driven Self Priming Pump for Fire Fighting talk to North Ridge Pumps Ltd