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We
often hear people speaking of Pumps, Valves and Systems in one
breath. That arouses a curiosity to find out the reason for
it.
It
seems that the synergy between Pumps, Valves and Systems is
providential. One can see synergy of systems in evolution of
life. Darwin’s theory of evolution seems to focus primarily on
evolution of animal life. Sir Jagdishchandra Bose studied
plant life. It then stands out that it is the system of
circulation of blood, which is distinctive in animal life and
becomes conspicuous by its absence in plant life.
The
system of circulation of blood, as present in animal life
really endorses the thought that the synergy between Pumps,
Valves and Systems is providential.
Basically, the system of circulation of blood is a SYSTEM.
Central to the system is the heart, which is a pump, a
diaphragm pump, with valves built in. Circulation reaches all
across the body through arteries and veins. Heart gets energy
for pumping from the respiratory system. Both the systems,
that of circulation of blood and the respiratory system, are
voluntary. The automation and microprocessor control of both
the systems happens in the brain.
The
narration above of the system of circulation of blood,
supplemented by the respiratory system and the automation and
control brings out really the comprehensiveness of it all.
Human body systems have a threshold frequency and also a
limiting frequency to limit the stress within limits of
tolerance. This applies as much to mental stress and the
nervous system, as to physical stress and the respiratory
system.
People often ask very naively a question, enquiring of average
life of pumping systems. One can relate this question to
demographical concepts of rates of infant mortality and
average life expectancy. Whether for machineries or for
societies, life-expectancy is related to patterns of stress
and the stress-levels, provisions or options for relieving the
stresses.
Long time back, there was an article by late Mr. S. G.
Tolpady with the challenging title, “Ten Ways to Murder a Good
Pump”.
A Typical Pumping System
A
very commonplace pumping system is that of an agricultural
pump on a well of a farmer. It has –
1.
a suction pipe
2.
a foot valve
3.
an electric motor to drive the pump
4.
a switch-board
5.
the delivery pipe
6.
a non-return valve and
7.
maybe, also a gate valve.
When
electric power was not available all across the country,
driver of the pump used to be an engine, which did not need
any starter and switch-board, because the engine was to be
started by cranking and for governing of the engine, there is
the throttle, which also is basically a valve.
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The simplest
and most commonplace system thus has six or seven components
as noted above.
Larger the system or more critical the application, more
complex it becomes.
For
example, an urban water supply system will have a battery of
pumps, some as standbye pumps, a large network of pipes and
valves all across the city. The waste water system will also
be a network spread all across the city, involving
intermediate pumping, in case gravity flow can not ensure all
waste water flowing into the sewage treatment plant.
At
the sewage treatment plant, the sewage cannot be allowed to
accumulate too long, lest it turns septic, nor should the pump
suffer start-stop cycles being too frequent. And the waste
water has variety of contaminants, which would corrode all
components of the system. Some solids entraining in the flow
of waste water can be abrasive also. These aspects are
mentioned, primarily to bring out how the considerations start
becoming complex.
Types of Valves
There is already a mention above of three types of valves –
foot valve, non-return valve and gate valve.
In a
hydraulic circuit valves serve the same function as the
resistors and switches do in an electric circuit.
A
switch is an isolator. So is a valve. Resistors cause
resistance. So do valves. Hence one needs to select and use
valves judiciously.
Different types and sizes of valves have different
characteristics. Different processes would need different
characteristics, linear or equal perecentage or quick opening.
Since the plug of a globe valve is amenable to be profiled, it
offers the best option to get the characteristics as desired
in a process.
Automation, Safety And Reliability
Every user is concerned with reliability of the equipment, of
pumps, valves, motors and every other item of a system.
Automation helps to make the operation safe against human
error, apart from eliminating the rigours of manual operation.
There is some magnanimity in the adage, “To err is human”. But
an error in a complex system can be hazardous and costly.
Even
for a commonplace domestic pumping system to raise water from
ground level reservoir (GLR) to the overhead reservoir (OHR),
it proves prudent to have level controls in both the
reservoirs. The pump should not start, if the level of water
in GLR is low enough to expose the footvalve and/or cause the
pump to run dry. Also the pump should stop, if the level in
OHR has reached the overflow level.
Synergy of Technologies
A recent case
reported that in the state of Uttaranchal, a wireless system
based on GSM network has been installed to get data logging
into a computer in Dehradun from 33 bore well pumps, the
farthest pump being 300 km away from Dehradun. The system not
only gets data
logging in, but also
can switch the pumps on or off remotely through the SMS
messages, which work as signals to the switching circuits of
each pump. This is a magnificent synergy of information
technology, communication technology, electrical technology
and pump technology!!
This
is impressive, though, what synergy between blood circulation
system, respiratory system, nervous system, God has provided
in human body is much beyond human endeavour. Actually human
body system is further more complex, because the heart not
only pumps the blood for circulation across the body, it also
sends out the impure blood for purification, receives the
purified blood and pumps out only the purified blood. Heart is
a two-in-one pump. On one part, it receives the impure blood
and pumps it out to the purifier and on the other part it
receives the purified blood and pumps it out across all the
body. The blood circulation system also has synergy with the
system of digestion, which contributes to rejuvenation and
augmentation of supply of blood. Needless to mention that
blood circulation system also has synergy with waste disposal
systems of perspiration, urination and excretion. More
fascinating is its synergy with the reproductive system, which
takes care of birth of a whole new life right inside the womb
of mother.
Synergy and Obsolescence
The
essential message of this study of synergy is that in the
ever-emerging synergy of technologies, one ought to be alert
and open-minded towards all the emerging trends. By not being
open-minded, one would find oneself deprived of the
fascinating experiences and also find one’s own sphere of
knowledge becoming obsolete.
Synergy is providential. God has created the world, weaving
synergy among systems. It is only logical that technologies
also emerge through synergism.
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