This story is contributed by Australian Pump Industries Chief Engineer, John Hales. John comes from an agricultural background and has been instrumental in driving the design team at Aussie Pumps to build what are arguably the best self-priming centrifugal pumps of their kind in the world.
Flooding rivers and streams don’t only just damage fences and kill livestock but can wash out fertiliser and seed that has already been sown for the coming season. It is tragic to imagine the cost of diesel fuel, seed, fertiliser, not to mention labour.
BIG PUMPS WORK
The inevitable floods that we will receive in this wonderful island continent are worse because of the lack of government harnessing that water, even though they know the next flood is coming sooner or later. Since both Federal and State governments seem to be reluctant to address the harvesting and management of water, it seems to be up to the farmers to do it themselves.
That is why at Australian Pump we started working on designs for high flow pumps that were both reasonably priced and highly effective. Aussie’s 4” pumps are powered by Honda GX240 8hp engine, capable of pumping 1600 lpm and can move water fast.
A portable Honda powered 6” pump is also available. Like all Aussie pumps, these units are self-priming with excellent priming characteristics, backed by a five-year warranty on the pump end. For example, the 4” pump mentioned above can lift water through a vertical suction of 8.2 metres. Even the 6” pump, model QP602, has a priming suction of 7.4 metres.
These pumps are all built to the highest first world quality standards with cast iron impellers that are high SG and pre coated against corrosion before being assembled. Engines are either Honda petrol or Yanmar diesel.
The diesel engine we chose is the Yanmar L series single cylinder. For the 4” pump we put it with an L70 engine, making a very compact, reasonably priced 4” pump that will deliver loads of water. For higher pressure 4” pumps, what we call the Brigade Boss series, we use a 13hp Honda petrol engine or if diesel is required, a 10 hp Yanmar L100 engine.
The beauty of the drives we select is they are available for service and support throughout Australia, the South Pacific and even customers in South East Asia.
ULTIMATE WATER MOVERS
When it comes to serious water management and flood protection, the company has produced 6” pumps, capable of pumping up to 6,000 litres per minute. Selected by the United Nations for controlling the Nile River in South Sudan, these big pumps are self-primers, simple to use with minimal components!
It’s a big lump of iron with huge shoulders which make self-priming easy. They will prime from 7.6 metres vertical lift and have loads of other benefits as well. For example, the mechanical seal is a titanium tungsten oil bath type seal, designed to pump even dirty, sandy liquids.
The huge open impeller is capable of passing solids in suspension. There is a clean out port built into the front of the pump, to make it easy to clean the pump out if necessary.
For a big pump like that, we use a Deutz air cooled diesel engine, 80 hp, set up with a panel mounted control box. These big pumps were the choice of Winton Shire Council when they bought four of them on heavy duty trailer mounts, delivered some months before the current floods.
AUSSIE’S FERT FEVER
The Aussie team are preparing for massive requirements for fertiliser pumps so farmers can catch up on fertilising what may be washed out paddocks. These are called Smart Pumps because the pump ends are manufactured in 30% glass filled polyester to a recipe, compliments of the US government’s NASA space program. They are matched to Honda petrol engine drives or Yanmar diesel engines and even hydraulic motors.
THE VITON OPTION
Aussie make the pumps in three different configurations of elastomers. Selecting the appropriate elastomer is crucial as it can directly impact the quality and performance of the pump.
Viton is the most universal seal and can handle most liquid fertilisers. EPDM seals will handle milder solutions.
Buna N is designed for diesel fuel or seawater. These versions are often used in professional fishing boats, ferries and even the Royal Australian Navy. They are virtually corrosion free.
The pumps are available in 2” and 3” and are simple to maintain and repair. The 2” is designed for pumping up to 835 lpm, that translates to being able to fill a 5,000-litre tank in around six minutes. For faster speed, the 3” version of the same pump can deal with larger flows of up to 1,010 lpm. These pumps are extremely popular for fast filling sprayers, saving time and improving spraying efficiency.
AUSSIE SUPPORTS REGIONAL AUSTRALIA
Aussie’s Fert Pump Program has never been bigger than it is this year. The demand is already starting, and we are already increasing the quantities for production, running four production lines in the new state of the art Norwest, Sydney factory. When farmers are in need we respond in a very positive way.
For further information including a chemical compatibility chart for pump selection scan the QR Code or visit aussiepumps.com.au
