North Ridge Falco Side Channel Pump

A pump must be primed in order to operate correctly, this means that the pump casing and inlet pipe must be filled with fluid and the air removed before operation. This needs to be done manually by the pump operator for a non-self-priming pump each time the pump is used to avoid damage from dry running. A self-priming pump removes these issues by completing the priming process automatically. The air is removed from the inlet pipework and pump casing when the pump is activated. Self-priming pumps are particularly useful for installations with a suction lift on the inlet side of the pump, the pump will draw the fluid up the pipework by creating a vacuum and removing any air that is present. In ideal conditions, a self-priming pump can lift fluids up to around 8m on the inlet side, however this figure is affected by fluid viscosity, pipework bore and other installation conditions, therefore this figure can be much lower from case to case. Allowances must also be made for wear and tear; suction lift capabilities will be much lower for older and worn pumps.

Side channel pumps cannot handle solids, all fluids entering the pump must be clean and free of particles.

Due to their unique design, Side channel pumps are capable of handling fluids containing up to 50% gas content.

Firstly, always check the compatibility of the materials available against the fluid being pumped. The main materials to check are the pump casing, impeller, o-ring and mechanical seal. It may be that more than one material is suitable for your fluid and selection could be based on the application type. For instance; cast iron, bronze and stainless steel are all suitable for fresh water. If it is a simple transfer application, then the most cost-effective material cast iron will be best. However, if it is a sanitary application, then stainless steel or bronze are better choices.

These pumps are available with single mechanical seal, double mechanical seal or magnetic drive. It is best to speak to a member of our sales team if you are unsure which sealing arrangement is best for your application.

ATEX is an abbreviation of “Atmospheres Explosibles”. It is a regulation set out by the European Union to ensure the safety of products that are used to handle flammable products or are installed in environments containing flammable gases, vapours, mists or combustible dusts. For instance, if the pump is being installed in an explosive environment, then only the motor needs to meet the Atex standard stopping it from causing a spark during operation and igniting the atmosphere. However, if the fluid being pumped is flammable, then the pump will also need to meet Atex standards to ensure that no sparks are caused inside the pump itself when the fluid goes through it. It is crucial that an Atex rated pump or motor are used for applications involving explosive environments or flammable fluids, using a non-Atex pump or motor in these situations is extremely dangerous and contravenes health and safety standards.

NPSH is an acronym for Net Positive Suction Head. NPSH measures the absolute pressure present in a fluid.

There are two main ways that NPSH is expressed in a pump system

NPSHa - This is the amount of Net Positive Suction Head available at the pump inlet. NPSHa demonstrates the amount of pressure acting on a fluid as it enters the pump. This measures the amount of pressure between the liquid staying in its current state and forming vapour bubbles (beginning to boil).

NPSHr - This is the amount of Net Positive Suction Head that the pump requires to operate without experiencing the damaging effect of cavitation, thus causing a dramatic reduction in pump performance.

It is very important to pay attention to these values when making a pump selection. Selecting a pump that requires more NPSH than is available in your system will cause fast and long-lasting damage to the pump and thus you will incur large repair costs and downtime.