All centrifugal pumps contain rotating impellers within stationary casings. As a pump impeller spins, it exerts a centrifugal force on the liquid flowing through it and expels the liquid through the casing volute channel at a higher pressure. However, some of the liquid will recirculate back between the impeller and the casing running clearance, resulting… Read More ›
Pumps are manufactured in an immense variety of sizes and types and are applied in numerous fluid-handling applications. Pumps often provide service in severely corrosive or severely abrasive environments – and sometimes in both such environments simultaneously. To maximize pump life, the utilization of proper materials in pump construction is vital. Namely, the pump should… Read More ›
Accurate, precise, and well-documented balancing of centrifugal pump impellers is necessary for optimal performance, longevity, as well as proof that proper service has been completed. Proper dynamic balancing of impellers directly results in increased pump efficiency and lifespan through reducing vibration, heat, and noise. Almost all pump repair shops use outdated and imprecise static balancing… Read More ›
Although we had a good 2018/2019 ski season for snowfall, warm and dry weather is bound to strike again. Effective snowmaking equipment and systems are necessary to ensure a successful season no matter what conditions Mother Nature decides to bring our way. Now is the time for winter resorts to begin auditing their snowmaking pumps… Read More ›
At Nickerson, often times our clients come to us with a broken or worn down pump, concerned that they will need to buy a brand new pump for their facility. However, this is not always the case, in fact it’s quite common that their pump, while worn down or leaking, simply needs a part or… Read More ›
Mechanical horsepower is a unit of work, and is defined as 550 ft./lb. per second, or more commonly in pumping applications as 33,000 ft./lb. per minute. The work performed in moving a liquid is a function of the weight of the liquid and the total head or differential pressure output within in a given amount… Read More ›
If you sell, manufacture, or distribute potable water treatment or transfer products in North America you are required by law to comply with NSF/ANSI 61: Drinking Water Components—Health Effects (NSF 61). First published in 1988, NSF 61 established the requirements to control adverse human health effects from potentially dangerous products or materials that may come… Read More ›
A Brief Overview of Frequency and AC Frequency is defined as the number of crests of a wave that move past a given point in a specific amount of time. The most common unit of frequency is hertz (Hz), meaning one cycle per second. Generally, all power supplied to homes and businesses in the United… Read More ›
Understanding Power Phase Understanding power phase is integral in the process of choosing the pump configuration that is right for you. Unlike direct current (dc) power, which provides constant levels of voltage, alternating current (ac) power follows a waveform alternating between positive and negative voltage. Because ac power is easy to produce and transmit, it… Read More ›
Machining the Parts to Keep Your Pumps Humming At Nickerson Company, we work with just about any type of centrifugal pump you can imagine, big or small, new or old. Most centrifugal pumps are built with future repair in mind. It’s no surprise then that often our customers are using older pumps that, when repaired… Read More ›