Pump, Mechanical Device to Circulate Coolant Through Water-Cooled Engines

Submersible and centrifugal pumps, which one is better for you?

A submersible pump is a pump that rests fully submerged in water. The motor is watertight sealed and close-coupled to the body of the pump. It also goes by the name of electric submersible pump. A submersible pump pushes water to the surface by converting rotary energy into kinetic energy into pressure energy. The pump pulls water into first in the intake, where the rotation of the impeller pushes the water through the diffuser pushes it to the surface.

Advantages
One major advantage of a submersible pump is that it never has to be primed since it is already submerged in the fluid. It is also very efficient because it does not require using a lot of energy moving water into the pump. Water pressure naturally pushes the water into a submersible pump, thus “saving” a lot of the pump’s energy.

Another benefit is its versatility. It can easily handle liquids as well as solids. However, some are better for liquids only. Submersible pump is operationally quiet because it is under water. Thus, cavitation never becomes an issue, because there is no “spike” in pressure as the water flows through the pump.

Disadvantages
There are a few disadvantages associated with this type of pump. The seals can become corroded over time. When that happens, water seeps into the motor, rendering it useless until it is repaired. In addition, the seal makes it difficult to get into for repairs.

The other main disadvantage is that one pump does not fit all uses. Most home and light industrial purpose use a single stage submersible pump. This includes aquarium filters, sewage pumping, or sump pumps for drainage. Multiple stage pumps are used for anything underground, such as water wells or oil wells. Also, pumps are made to work with thin liquids like water, or thick ones like sewage.

As the name calls it, submersible pump must be fully submerged. The water around the pump actually helps cool the motor. If it is used out of water, it can overheat.

Difference with centrifugal water pump
Other type of popular pump is centrifugal pump. The main difference between submersible and centrifugal pumps is that centrifugal pumps are an above ground installation while submersible pumps are a type of centrifugal pump that must be installed under the water body. Other differences between the two are outlined below.

Location. Submersible pump must be installed under the water body. Centrifugal pump is installed on the ground. They operate from a significant suction height. Therefore, if you want the pump to operate in a place where it needs to be out of eyesight and earshot, submersible pumps would be the optimal option.

Security. Submersible pump does not have to deal with security and safety issues. They encounter the problem of the water acidity, salinity and other contaminants. Centrifugal pump is more prone to face security and safety issues. As a ground installation, this type of pump must face the abuse of strong wind, rains, thunderstorms, heat, freezing cold temperatures, etc. Along with that, in comparison to submersible pump, it is more likely to deal with the problems of theft and vandalism.

Maintenance: Submersible pump does not require any special maintenance or priming efforts due to its watertight body. Centrifugal pump, on the other hand, being less shielded from the environmental abuse, require regular priming and sometimes, manual priming to keep it in optimal working condition.

Efficiency: Because it has water readily available and only has to push it forward, submersible pump demands less energy to pump a similar amount of water than a centrifugal pump. However, centrifugal pump rates better when it comes to power and overall efficiency. It can be bigger in size and carry more power. It can easily pump large amounts of water quickly compared to submersible pump that has a limited efficacy and water carrying power.

Over-heating problems: Submersible pump has a watertight compartment, which means it has a higher chance of overheating and burning out on the application when it uses too much power. Centrifugal pump that is more exposed to the surrounding air has compartment that can be easily opened and allowed to cool off fast. In general, centrifugal pump deals with electrical issues more conveniently than the submersible pump.

For better utilization of your water pump, a Mactron specialist is ready to assist with your planning.