Pumps & Systems Podcast

The Pumps & Systems podcast returns with a visit from Rodney Howard as we get into the basics of positive displacement pumps and how they are used in blending applications. Topics covered include: What is a positive displacement (PD) pump? Why use PD pumps in food and beverage applications? What’s the best way to use PD pumps in a metering application? What other components should be included in the system? What common mistakes do you see setting up or operating these systems?

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Eric Petersen, who was named director of the Turbo Lab in March following the retirement of Dr. Dara Childs. Pumps & Systems magazine is at Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia 2018 (TPS). Come see us at Booth 1117. This interview was conducted on Monday, Sept. 17, in Houston. The event runs from the 17-20 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Petersen talks about the importance of TPS for Texas A&M students and industry workers. We hear from Petersen on the direction of the Turbo Lab as he takes on this new challenge, and how he will use his background to enhance Turbo Lab. Visit the TPS 2018 website at tps.tamu.edu. Visit pumpsandsystems.com/podcasts to hear all episodes, and subscribe on Apple podcasts, SoundCloud, Stitcher and Castbox.

Flowrox president Todd Loudin joins the Pumps & Systems podcast to talk about the basics of peristaltic pumps. Some topics covered include: What situations are the best fit for a peristaltic pumps? What are some common issues with peristaltic pumps? What are the different types of peristaltic pump designs? How have peristaltic pumps changed in the last fifteen years? What do you wish more pump users knew about peristaltic pumps? Subscribe to the Pumps & Systems podcast on Apple podcasts, SoundCloud, Stitcher and Castbox. Share with your friends in the industry and leave us a rating and review. Contact host Drew Champlin at dchamplin@cahabamedia.com.

Kevin Clark, vice president of Fluke Accelix, joins the Pumps & Systems podcast to cover the use of connected reliability to bring the high-level idea of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)to the plant floor for working men and women charged with maintaining assets in plants or other facilities. Among the questions Clark answers: What does connected reliability mean? What are some examples of IIoT? Can people use IIoT without realizing it? How can connected reliability make maintenance easier? Common pain points in plants What kind of teams should be considering connected reliability and what should their first steps be? What are the requirements for a true connected reliability strategy? Check out pumpsandsystems.com/podcasts for previous episodes of the Pumps & Systems podcast.

Dominik Fry of Engineered Software joins the Pumps & Systems podcast to discuss the Thai Cave Rescue, including the engineering challenges and how pumps were used. Among the topics discussed: How difficult was it for the team on-site to get the pumps into the cave? How often is the ideal pump used in this situation? What is the ideal pump? How were engineers able to increase the flow rate to get water out of the cave quicker? How would handheld submersible pumps have worked? How can piping software help experts prepare for emergencies? How do technical experts look at events like the Thai Cave Rescue? What similar events can you compare this to?

In Episode 3 of the Pumps & Systems podcast, Drew Champlin speaks with systems engineer and longtime Pumps & Systems contributor William (Bill) Livoti on why pump systems are poorly designed. Livoti, who is retired full-time from the pump industry but still doing some training, explains why he is passionate about the issue and his P&S column, Pump System Standards. Livoti explains why he isn't seeing General Scope Documents that meet today's needs and common mistakes he sees when designing a system or purchasing assets. Other topics Livoti addresses include why we are behind in the United States in addressing these issues, life cycle cost vs. first cost and what he would recommend to end users as a path forward. The next podcast with Livoti will focus on the General Scope Document. Check out Livoti's columns at https://www.pumpsandsystems.com/tags/william-livoti

Mark Hassman of Crane Engineering joins the podcast to discuss his team's development of a waste treatment system viable in areas where poor sanitation poses the greatest risk to human health. This is spurred by a $4.2 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Crane Engineering built a Mobile Septage Treatment System prototype in 2016, and it was tested in 2017. Hassman goes in depth on his passion for the project and his team's trip to Ghana and Uganda, where they saw the problems first-hand. He also speaks on where Crane Engineering is with the project. SEPCO is the presenting sponsor of this podcast. Visit sepco.com, email info@sepco.com or call 800.633.4770 for your sealing system solution needs and tell them you heard about SEPCO on the Pumps & Systems podcast.

Patrick Hogg of Nidec Motor Corporation joins the podcast to discuss how motors run on VFDs and how these two components interact. Some discussion points from within the podcast: Why is this a hot topic to cover and why would people be interested? How a drive affects a motor and how to protect the motor from those effects. What to consider when installing the components together. Does the interaction of the components affect efficiency? Do pump users need to make any changes to their pump before adding a variable speed drive system? What are some worst-case scenarios for installations? SEPCO is the presenting sponsor of this podcast. Visit sepco.com, email info@sepco.com or call 800.633.4770 for your sealing system solution needs and tell them you heard about SEPCO on the Pumps & Systems podcast.

Welcome to the Pumps & Systems podcast. I'm your host, Drew Champlin, managing editor of Pumps & Systems magazine. Follow us through the journey as we talk to pump experts worldwide.