Useful Tips On Choosing the Right Sand Dredging Pump

Sand dredging involves pumping water, sand and other impurities out of the bottom of bodies of water, such as rivers, estuaries, harbors, and bays. The water is then drained, and the sand and impurities are transported to a shore to allow the water to be returned to its original state.

Sand dredging pumps are widely used by companies worldwide, and choosing the best sand dredging pump is an important decision.

Sand dredging pumps come in various styles and sizes, so it’s essential to do your research before choosing your next sand pump. This article will cover what you need to look for when in the market for an adequate pump to dredge sand.

What Is Sand Dredging?

Sand dredging has been done for centuries and is still used today, albeit with far more high-tech solutions that dramatically increase efficiency and safety.

Sand dredging can also be done by hand, but it takes a lot of time and effort to get the desired result. Dredging is done in shallow water sections of lakes, waterways, and oceans for land reclamation, flood mitigation, and the construction of new or expanded ports. 

Dredge Pumps are used in a variety of sectors, including construction, mining and oil and gas extraction. The most productive method of dredging sand that is full of impurities is by using sand aggregate pumping.

While typical sand pumping involves building up piles of sand and aggregate that require a constant stream of trucks to cart it away, this can be inefficient.

Fortunately, some innovative businesses have developed systems that enable their pumps to filter out most debris and send it directly to the processing plant. So with this in mind, what do you need to look for if you require a sand dredging pump?

Ensure the Pump Is Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly

In recent years, energy prices have increased dramatically, along with general environmental concerns, making it necessary for businesses to reduce their costs and environmental impact. Therefore, when selecting a dredging pump, you need to be aware of several factors:

• How much energy it uses: There is no getting around the fact that industrial pumps that dredge large areas will use a lot of energy. However, modern pumps can be made more efficient as long as you use the correct size for the size of the job. In other words, if you avoid overworking your machine, it will require less energy.
• What impact it has on the environment: Any pump you select should have minimal impact on the surrounding area. You can achieve this by choosing one that requires very few hazardous chemicals or lubricants.
• How the waste is processed: The very act of dredging will produce a lot of waste slurry. Therefore, your pump and accompanying machinery should be able to process the excess waste and filter impurities sustainably. You should also have a plan to process waste in an environmentally responsible manner.

Ask Yourself Some Initial Questions

As with everything in life, you should take a step back and ask yourself some relevant questions pertaining to the purchase. When it comes to dredging pumps, these questions include:

• What kind of material needs to be pumped? In this case, it will be sand, but you will inevitably run into other materials during your feasibility studies. These feasibility studies are essential to avoid environmental degradation and to ensure that your machinery can handle whatever materials it comes across. Any pump you end up with should be capable of pumping whatever you need to put through it.
• What are the flow rate goals? Pump flow rate measures the volume of liquid moved by a pump in one minute. It is calculated by multiplying the number of strokes per minute by the width of the outlet. The higher your flow rate goal, the stronger pump you will require.
• How long is the pipeline? The length of the pipe you pump the sand through will also determine the pump strength you need, i.e., the longer the line, the stronger it will have to be. This will also impact the amount of energy required to force the slurry to its end destination.
• What is the elevation rise of the pipeline? Similar to the last question, elevation will play a massive role in how powerful your pump must be.
• How dense and viscous is the material? The density and viscosity of the sand being dredged will impact how hard the pump needs to work and whether any additional machinery is required for successful job completion.

Ensure You Select an Industrial Option

This initial step might sound obvious, but there are some significant differences between industrial and consumer pumps. If you are a homeowner who needs to dredge sand from a water source for whatever reasons, your needs will probably be met by a basic pump.

In fact, because these machines are so specialized, it is perhaps best for non-industrial users to simply lease the machine for however long they need it, as this will be the most cost-effective solution.

Conversely, industrial pumps will be more durable and able to process more significant amounts of sand. They will, however, cost far more. Nevertheless, if your business involves dredging, an industrial solution will save you considerable amounts of money long-term and enable you to get on with the job of dredging without worrying about downtime due to breakages.

Moreover, by selecting a pump that can handle industrial applications, you will be making a longer-lasting purchase, which is key to reducing unnecessary industrial waste.  

Know What Slurry You Are Pumping

Slurry is a term that refers to the mixture of liquid and solids, which in the context of sand dredging refers to sand, water, and whatever else is in the mix. In order to understand how slurry can affect a dredging pump, you need to understand the operation of a dredging pump.

A dredging pump is used to remove sediment from the bottom of a water body. It works by pumping water in and out of the body at high speeds. The pressure in the body forces the sediment up and out of the way so that it can be removed.

In order to do this effectively, the pump needs strong suction power, which is created by different sized blades that are attached to an impeller. Using high-pressure water, the blades cause sediment to be sucked up from below and pushed towards the outlet nozzle, where it is discharged from the body.

However, slurry can cause damage to a dredging pump if you fail to use the correct pump for the job. It can clog the suction nozzle or cause corrosion of the impeller housing. The slurry must also be removed from the pump before using it again.

Therefore, it is vital that you know exactly what type of sand and contaminants are present before selecting a pump for the job.

Understand the Critical Flow Rate

One of the most important factors to consider when selecting a pump is the critical flow rate. This is the maximum amount of liquid that can be pumped per minute.

Critical flow rate is defined as the minimum flow rate needed for the proper operation of a pump. If it falls below this value, then it can cause damage to the device or even lead to its failure.

Pumps with a higher critical flow rate can handle more pressure and are more efficient. When you know how much sand you need to dredge, you can calculate the critical flow rate and select a pump accordingly.

Abrasion Resistance

Sand and water are often used to cut through solid metals, which should indicate how abrasive this mixture can be. Therefore, your chosen pump should be robust enough to handle an adequate amount of abrasion before parts begin to wear out.

Sand pumping is an important key step in the process of sand dredging. Therefore, you should choose a reliable, powerful sand dredging machine that meets your requirements. Hopefully, the facts in this article will give you a good starting point.

Feature image: lo fidelion; Image 1: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers