Vincenzo Salmeri, an international senior executive with nearly thirty years of experience within Schneider Electric, has been appointed as the new president of Current/OS, the independent global nonprofit foundation bringing together manufacturers, technology leaders, and electrical experts to enable the safe and large-scale deployment of direct current (DC) in electrical distribution systems. His appointment marks Current/OS’ transition into a new phase of international development to accelerate the safe, scalable and interoperable adoption of Direct Current.
Salmeri’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the energy transition. As electrification accelerates, driven by renewable energy, storage, electric mobility, digital infrastructure and the rapid growth of data centers, DC is emerging as a key enabler of more efficient, flexible and resilient electrical architectures. Current/OS aims to provide the shared rules, reference architectures and interoperability framework needed to make DC systems safe, repeatable and scalable across the market.
Salmeri has held several global and regional leadership roles across Europe and Asia. His career has spanned product management, business development, digital transformation, commercial strategy and the development of international teams and ecosystems.
Enverus announces the acquisition of four exchange platforms from PDS Energy Information: The Frac Interference Exchange, Well Data Exchange, Production Data Exchange and AquaTrade.
Enverus already operates two of the energy industry’s largest commercial exchange networks. EnergyLink and OpenInvoice collectively support more than 500 operators, 40,000 suppliers and 250,000 receivers, representing more than $500 billion in annual transaction activity across revenue, joint interest billing and procurement. With this transaction, Enverus expands from commercial workflows into the operational data flows that drive completions, well data, production and water logistics.
The acquired platforms are operating infrastructure for the U.S. upstream industry. An estimated 80 percent of U.S. completions, production and drilling data is exchanged through the PDS network, connecting nearly 800 participants. The Frac Interference Exchange alone has more than 400 operators.
“PDS built exchange infrastructure that sits inside real work the industry executes every day,” says Manuj Nikhanj, CEO of Enverus. “Adding these platforms to the networks Enverus already operates is a natural step, and it opens up possibilities for customers.”
Yaskawa America, Inc. has earned Interaction Metrics’ Outstanding CX Award for its 2025 customer experience, based on a third-party survey of their distributors, OEMs, and end users in the United States and Canada.
The survey, conducted by customer experience research firm Interaction Metrics, evaluated Yaskawa across 112 distinct performance dimensions, resulting in an overall score of 90 out of 100. Yaskawa’s Net Promoter Score (NPS), the standard measure of customer likelihood to recommend, created by Bain & Company, came in at 66, climbing over four points from the prior year and well into the “excellent” tier on Bain’s benchmark scale.
Several areas stood out not only for scoring well, but for being the dimensions most strongly correlated with overall satisfaction: Product Quality, Product Performance, Tech Support Problem Resolution, Application Engineering Technical Skills, and Training Instructors. In other words, Yaskawa scored highest on the things customers cared most about.
“I am delighted with the progress we’ve made, and clearly our customers are pleased as well,” says Dennis Fitzgerald, vice president of customer satisfaction at Yaskawa America.
Taking place June 17, E Tech Group, a leading provider of industrial automation and systems integration, will be hosting an online live session, “AI-Ready or Not: The Hidden IT/OT Risks Blocking AI in Manufacturing.” The session will explore the often-overlooked infrastructure and data challenges manufacturers must address to successfully deploy artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives at scale. Below, E Tech CEO Matt Wise explains what manufacturers may be missing when assessing AI’s usefulness.
MPT: What are some of the challenges manufacturers are facing while we’re still in the early stages of AI adoption?
Matt Wise: As manufacturers accelerate investments in AI and advanced analytics, many encounter unexpected barriers rooted in their existing IT and operational technology (OT) environments. Challenges related to data quality, system integration, and infrastructure readiness remain key obstacles. Issues such as unstable network architecture, fragmented systems, inconsistent data, and gaps in historian strategy can significantly limit the effectiveness of AI-driven solutions.
MPT: Could you tell me a bit about your live session, “AI-Ready or Not: The Hidden IT/OT Risks Blocking AI in Manufacturing”?
Matt Wise: This live session is designed to help manufacturing leaders identify and address these foundational challenges before they derail AI initiatives.
Manufacturers are under pressure to adopt AI, but many are trying to build on a foundation that isn’t ready. Without a secure, well-architected IT/OT environment, organizations risk stalled initiatives and missed ROI. This session will help leaders better understand the risks and take a more strategic approach to AI readiness.
The session will be led by E Tech Group subject matter experts Eric Medecke, director of IT/OT solutions, and Kevin Romer, industrial IT specialist, who bring deep experience in industrial cybersecurity, network architecture, and IT/OT convergence. Together, they will guide attendees through real-world challenges and practical solutions for strengthening the infrastructure required to support AI.
MPT: What goals have you set for attendees of the live session?
Matt Wise: During the session, attendees will identify common IT/OT risks that hinder AI deployment in manufacturing environments, evaluate the readiness of their infrastructure, data architecture, and systems integration, participate in an interactive “AI-Ready or Not?” diagnostic to benchmark their current state, and learn practical strategies to improve data reliability, system connectivity, and scalability
One of the presenters, Eric Medecke, stated he wants to give manufacturers a clear picture of how their systems, networks, and data environments are performing and where vulnerabilities exist.
MPT: How does this live session fit within E Tech Group’s overall mission?
Matt Wise: With deep expertise in industrial automation, digital transformation, and systems integration, E Tech Group helps manufacturers bridge the gap between IT and OT ensuring data flows securely and reliably from the plant floor to enterprise systems. This integrated approach enables organizations to move beyond pilot programs and successfully scale AI initiatives across operations.
The session is intended for professionals across manufacturing organizations, including leaders in IT, operations, engineering, and maintenance who are responsible for driving digital transformation and operational performance.
E Tech Group is a global automation engineering and system integration firm with locations spanning eight countries across three continents. Backed by a team of over 800 professionals, the company delivers cutting-edge automation, control, and information solutions to clients in the life sciences, data centers, consumer products, food and beverage, and industrial sectors. For more information, and to register for the live session, visit www.etechgroup.com.
INDCO’s HSM-03V benchtop lift mixer features the speed and torque characteristics to complete challenging mixing and dispersion applications which normally require more than one mixer. Torque priority mode allows the mixing of high- or low-viscosity materials, or high-speed dispersions, so that a wide range of products and applications can be accomplished with a single mixer. A constant torque, 3-horsepower DC motor, two-pully belt-drive transmission, and electronic control mixes formulations exceeding 100,000 CPS at low speed with supplied bowtie style impeller. For more information, visit www.indco.com.
BOBCAT
PA375V Air Compressor with FlexAir
Engineered for productivity, the PA375v delivers 350 to 375 cfm at 125 to 150 psi, offering the flexible pressure and air flow needed for a wide range of operations. With FlexAir, the compressor automatically adapts output based on real-time workload demands, ensuring optimal performance and fuel efficiency. A clear 4.3-inch water resistant display provides intuitive operation with easy-to-read graphics for a user-friendly experience. Eco Mode further enhances efficiency and fuel savings during lighter workloads. Powered by a Bobcat engine paired with a robust fuel system, the PA375v delivers long-term reliability. For more information, visit www.bobcat.com.
DINKLE INTERNATIONAL
iO-GRID X Fieldbus Coupler
The iO-GRID X fieldbus coupler modules support major industrial Ethernet communications protocols at up to 100Mbps, including EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus TCP, and CC-Link IE Field Basic. Each interface module includes two RJ45 interface plugs and an integrated two-port Ethernet switch for convenient station expansion using daisy-chain cabling. LED indicators provide clear operational status information, and the module accepts firmware upgrades using a standard USB Type C connection. Over twenty types of I/O modules are available, accommodating varying I/O counts and signal types, with integrated indicator lights for easy identification of channel status. For more information, visit www.dinkle.com.
CIRCOR INTERNATIONAL
Allweiler AE‑RD/RE Hopper Pump
The new Allweiler AE‑RD/RE Hopper Pump is a progressing cavity pump engineered to handle highly viscous, non-flowable and solids-laden media in demanding industrial applications. The pump combines a two-part, large-scale casing design, optimized screw conveyor and vertical wall surfaces in the inlet hopper to enable trouble-free operation without separate bridge breakers, reducing equipment complexity and investment costs. Its flow-optimized stuffing box between the inlet hopper and rotor/stator helps ensure the best possible filling of the conveyor elements, prevents partial dry running and reduces wear, downtime and spare-parts consumption. For more information, visit our website www.pumps.circor.com/allweiler.
Sensaphone’s Sentry and Sentinel PRO remote monitoring systems help personnel detect issues such as pump failures, lift station problems, tank level changes and power outages before they lead to downtime, overflows or equipment damage.
The Sensaphone Sentry system provides an affordable monitoring solution for up to five critical conditions, including tank levels, pump status, power failure, and temperature. Using cellular and cloud technology, the system maintains a supervised connection to confirm that it remains online and actively monitoring. When conditions move outside preset limits, the Sentry sends alerts by phone, text or email, so operators can respond quickly.
Facility teams can view readings, adjust settings and manage multiple Sentry devices through a web-enabled device or mobile app. The system requires no software, includes built-in power failure detection, a rechargeable backup battery and GPS location features, and is housed in a durable aluminum enclosure.
For larger operations and multisite monitoring, the Sensaphone Sentinel PRO system helps teams centralize visibility across equipment and environmental conditions. Designed to integrate with programmable logic controllers (PLC) and building automation systems (BAS), Sentinel PRO supports twelve external digital or analog sensors for monitoring power outages, water leaks, temperature, humidity, equipment status and other critical conditions.
Available in Ethernet and cellular models, the Sentinel PRO alerts users by text, email, or phone call when sensor readings deviate from preset parameters.
In 2025, the 500,000th RV pump have rolled off the production line in Lutín, Czechia. A remarkable milestone for a pump that has redefined rotary vane (RV) vacuum technology. Trusted across a wide range of applications—from laboratory research and analytical chemistry to pharmaceutical processes, light industrial environments, such as coating, freeze drying or degassing, and OEM systems—the RV pump combines precision engineering with proven reliability to deliver performance customers can count on. This achievement is the result of both ambitious thinking and the engineering excellence to bring it to life.
BREAKING NEW GROUND: A PIONEER’S JOURNEY
Single-stage rotary vane pumps like the EM and E2M once dominated Edwards’ RV range. Yet the journey to innovation began when engineers saw more than just a gap in the market—they saw the potential to redefine what was possible.
“We saw this as an opportunity to make something new. Easy to manufacture, easy to maintain, and with longevity at its heart,” says David Goodwin, who has guided the RV project since the early 1990s and is now retired after four decades as product manager.
“The market for RV pumps had expanded to include laboratories and light-industrial users, alongside to traditional OEM and R&D customers. This shift created a demand for pumps that not only delivered better performance, but were quieter, reliable, easy to maintain, and wouldn’t look out of place on a lab workbench.”
FROM CONCEPT TO DRAWING BOARD TO PROTOTYPE
Alan Holbrook was the senior development engineer and led the team responsible for turning this vision into reality.
“One of the key challenges was making two pumps function as one. No one else had a two-stage RV pump capable of handling water vapor, and it was overcoming these obstacles led to one of the product’s key patents.”
Planning had begun in the late 1980s, but by 1990, Holbrook and his team were in full swing, deconstructing the design to its core principals and reimagining and well as reengineering it from the ground up.
“We initially set out to design a pump that could be built using a fully automated robotic system. While we achieved that, we also created a pump that was so much simpler to assemble that even manual production times were comparable to automation.”
The RV pump also introduced important features such as:
A mode-switch feature allowed users to seamlessly transition between high-vacuum and high-throughput operation
Fast acting inlet for system protection
A robust design built to withstand a variety of environments.
Launched in 1994, the pump was the first Edwards product to carry the ‘CE’ badge, signifying compliance with European standards.
RELIABLE, CONSISTENT WORKHORSE
While economic and industrial cycles have fluctuated over the past 40 years, the RV pump has sustained relatively steady year-on-year production levels and remains as relevant and viable today as it did when it first launched.
Renowned as a dependable workhorse, its lasting success speaks to the value it brings to customers, as demonstrated by it winning the ‘BOC Technology Award’ in 1993.
“The rotary vane pumping mechanism itself has been perfected close to the limit, making the RV pump a highly praised, universal, robust and reliable product.” notes Boris Marecak, the current product manager.
As the RV pump enters its next chapter, the industry faces a significant evolution: the transition from oil-sealed systems to dry alternatives. This “wet-to-dry” strategy represents one of the biggest challenges for oil-sealed pumps, as sustainability and carbon footprint reduction become central to product development.
“There is no single focus area going forward,” Marecak explains. “Sustainability and carbon footprint reduction are the forefront. We aim to optimize the product, localize production to reduce transportation costs, and develop new ways to lower power consumption, operational expenses, and total cost of ownership.”
This evolution is not about radical change, but about steady, thoughtful progress. The RV pump will continue to serve many of Edwards’ most valued customers, remaining a key solution in their operations. The future includes expanding and simplifying motor offerings and implementing smart features that deliver real value to users.
Oil-sealed pumps continue to hold a strong position in the market and remain essential for many customers. The outlook for this technology is promising, not through sudden revolution, but through steady evolution and a commitment to continuous improvement.
CELEBRATING THE PAST, ENGINEERING THE FUTURE
With over 500,000 units produced, the RV pump stands as a testament to Edwards’ legacy of innovation and reliability. As we look ahead, the RV continues to evolve—driven by sustainability, smart technology, and a deep understanding of our customers’ needs. The journey is not over; it is entering a new chapter, and the best may be yet to come.
Maria Leal is the global marketing communications manager for the Scientific Vacuum Division and can be reached at maria.leal@atlascopco.com. With over 100 years of rich heritage, Edwards is the partner of choice for tens of thousands of customers in critical applications around the world. Vacuum is required in diverse sectors, from the generation of power to the production of steel, to the challenging environments of space simulation and high energy physics research. Edwards is part of the Atlas Copco Group, a Sweden-based provider of industrial productivity solutions. For more information, visit www.edwardsvacuum.com.
With the successful deployment of an AI-driven optimization solution for Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, Emerson has begun a collaboration integrating of their Aspen Hybrid Models into Aramco’s existing refinery planning framework, resulting in the creation of one of the world’s largest multi-site, multi-period optimization models.
By combining first-principles models, deep domain expertise, and purpose-built industrial AI, Aspen Hybrid Models capture nonlinear relationships in yield and quality responses, significantly enhancing the accuracy of refinery planning models. The deployment has already achieved yield and quality prediction accuracy of up to 98.5 percent in key refinery units.
ENHANCING MODEL ACCURACY ACROSS PLATFORMS
These hybrid AI models have been implemented in Continuous Catalyst Regeneration (CCR) and Platformer Units, where they are enabling more precise feedstock blending, minimizing gaps between planning and execution, and improving the accuracy of margin forecasting across Aramco’s global refining network.
Current efforts are focused on expanding the hybrid modeling approach to hydrocracker units across Aramco’s assets. This expansion is expected to further enhance model accuracy and demonstrate the scalability and robustness of this AI-driven optimization strategy across the enterprise.
“This deployment represents a significant milestone in Aramco’s AI strategy and our long-standing relationship with Emerson,” says Ahmad Alkudmani, director of the global optimizer department at Aramco. “We are committed to leveraging innovative technologies for smarter, more efficient refining optimization. With improved model accuracy, we are enhancing planning decisions, reducing the manual adjustments required from our engineers, and uncovering new value across our global assets.”
REAL PERFORMANCE BENEFITS
Key benefits Aramco aims to achieve with Aspen Hybrid Models include:
98.5 percent yield and quality prediction accuracy: Substantially increasing yield volume and enhancing stream quality across diverse feedstocks, operating conditions, and throughputs
Efficiency through optimized feedstock blending: Diversifying feedstock selection and blending recipes to enable more profitable and sustainable operations
Reduced planning-execution gaps: Minimizing discrepancies between plans and actual plant performance, reducing the need for manual adjustments
Enhanced model accuracy: Capturing complex non-linearities in critical unit operations such as reactors
Improved operational efficiency: Automating model updates and reducing manual tuning requirements
Scalable global solution: Maintaining model applicability across a wide range of refinery operations worldwide
Aramco is using Aspen Hybrid Models built and deployed in Emerson’s AspenTech Performance Engineering and Manufacturing and Supply Chain product suites. As a result, Aramco was able to create highly accurate nonlinear optimizations using thousands of converged simulation cases built upon rigorous first-principles models calibrated with actual plant data. The approach provides Aramco with a scalable, robust tool for global refinery planning.
THE DRIVING FORCE OF DIGITAL INNOVATION
“Aramco continues to set the standard for operational excellence through digital innovation,” says Claudio Fayad, chief technology officer of Emerson’s Aspen Technology business.
“This deployment of AI-driven Aspen Hybrid Models to optimize complex, multi-site, multi-period planning workflows demonstrates the tangible value of combining deep domain expertise with advanced AI. We’re excited to expand our strategic relationship with Aramco as they advance their digital transformation goals.”
PARTNER PROFILE: ASPEN TECHNOLOGY
Aspen Technology formed from the Advanced System for Process Engineering (ASPEN) Project—joint research between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and U.S. Department of Energy. The team explored technical innovations in response to the 1970’s energy crisis, developing the chemical industry’s first computer-based modeling and simulation technology. The innovations developed in those initial days had a transformative impact, providing the foundation for decades of industrial optimization advancements.
Emerson is a global industrial technology leader that provides advanced automation. With an unmatched portfolio of intelligent devices, control systems and industrial software, Emerson delivers solutions that automate and optimize business performance. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Emerson combines innovative technology with proven operational excellence to power the future of automation. For more information, visit www.emerson.com.
Smart Joint Access with electric drive for stationary and factory-based installations
In demanding industrial environments, uptime and reliability are critical. Therefore, Seepex has introduced Smart Joint Access (SJA), a new inspection-friendly pump design developed to meet these conditions. Integrated into the BN progressive cavity pump, SJA combines a compact footprint with direct visual access to both joints via a large opening in the suction housing. This enables efficient condition assessment while ensuring precise handling of shear-sensitive, abrasive, or corrosive media.
Designed for space-constrained installations, the BN pump with SJA is particularly well suited for mobile manufacturing units, underground installations, and skid-mounted or stationary systems. Flexible integration and low-energy operation support reliable performance in applications where downtime is not an option.
Hydraulic-drive BN pump with Smart Joint Access, shown with the inspection opening open for direct joint inspection
ROCK BLASTING: PRECISION UNDER PRESSURE
Rock blasting plays a central role in mining, tunneling, and construction, requiring accurate and consistent loading of explosive emulsions to achieve controlled fragmentation and maintain productivity. In these operations, deviations in pumping performance can lead to blast inconsistencies, rework, or delays.
Seepex BN pumps with SJA are designed to meet these operational demands. Quick and easy access to the joints supports reliable emulsion transfer and precise dosing, making the pump well suited for blast hole loading and other critical chemical handling processes.
“Smart Joint Access enhances availability and operational efficiency for our customers,” says Magalie Levray, global business development manager mining at Seepex. “Operators gain direct access to the joints through the large inspection opening, reduce downtime, and rely on consistent, precise pumping of viscous, shear-sensitive, and abrasive emulsions. In rock blasting, where every borehole matters, this reliability is essential.”
Hydraulic-drive BN pump with Smart Joint Access, ensuring reliable operation with the inspection opening closed
INSPECTION-FRIENDLY DESIGN FOR HIGH AVAILABILITY
Smart Joint Access is designed to simplify inspection routines and save time. The inspection opening in the suction housing provides direct visual access to both joints, supporting shorter inspection cycles and high operational reliability.
An equal-wall stator enables high-pressure capability within a compact footprint. The pump can be equipped with a compact hydraulic drive for truck-mounted mobile units or an electric drive for underground or stationary installations. The low-displacement hydraulic option reduces oil requirements and contributes to a low total cost of ownership.
Seepex progressive cavity pump technology ensures stable, controlled flow and protects product integrity, even when handling highly abrasive or shear-sensitive emulsions. A wide range of materials is available, including stainless steel or steel housings, chrome-plated rotors, and stators in NBR, EPDM, or FKM, ensuring compatibility with a broad range of chemical emulsions.
Framework agreements support fast delivery and reliable availability, enabling standardized designs and fleet-wide rollouts with minimal downtime.
Smart Joint Access from Seepex: direct visual access to both joints through the suction housing.
APPLICATIONS
BN pumps with Smart Joint Access are suitable for rock blasting, shotcrete, mine dewatering, tunneling, civil works, dam construction, and other industrial processes requiring precise and reliable handling of chemical or abrasive media. In blasting operations, routine visual inspection of the joints combined with operational pressure testing is essential. Smart Joint Access allows operators to assess joint integrity quickly, supporting faster decision-making and continuous operation in uptime-critical environments.
Seepex has more than fifty years of experience delivering progressive cavity pump solutions for wastewater, mining, chemical, and industrial applications worldwide. Known for innovation and reliability, Seepex designs equipment that meets demanding operational requirements while minimizing total cost of ownership. For more information, visit www.seepex.com.
Oil and gas applications require pump technologies that are leak-free, dry-run capable, can handle solids, can operate off the BEP and can run without any cavitation-causing NPSH imbalances occurring. Sliding vane magnetic drive pumps can address all those challenges
The oil and gas industry continues to be the backbone of the global energy supply chain, powering economies and fueling innovation. This sector accounts for nearly 80 percent of the world’s energy use, according to the Energy Institute. Countries like India (89.2 percent), Russia (87.5 percent), China (81.5 percent), and the United States (80.5 percent) are leading consumers of these traditional energy sources.
Pumps play a pivotal role in this industry, ensuring the smooth transport of natural gas, oil and other liquids across various stages of production. Oil and gas applications, however, provide multiple challenges for pumps. The products that pass through these pumps range from natural gas and petroleum to crude oil and even biofuels.
These raw materials present pumps with a multitude of difficulties, such as the range of viscosities between crude oil and natural gas vapors for example. Some oil and gas liquids contain solids and particulates, creating additional processing challenges. Other times, there is not sufficient product passing through the pump, creating a dry run environment that can cause catastrophic damage over time.
Another challenge is keeping the valuable oil and gas liquids contained within the pump. Some pump technologies, especially those not well suited for a wider viscosity range, are prone to leaks. This may lead to potential safety risks, negative impacts on the environment, and ultimately a loss of product.
That’s why oil and gas operators should select a pump that can address the common pain points found in this sector. Not all pumps are created equal, leading some technologies to rise above the rest. This article dives into the game-changing role of magnetically driven sliding vane pumps (mag drive), exploring their unique capabilities and how they excel in even the most demanding environments.
Chemical transfer capabilities comparison for sliding vane, centrifugal and gear pumps.
COMMON PUMP CHOICES
There is no shortage of pump options for operators in the oil and gas industry. The range of applicable pumps means operators must consider the benefits and drawbacks of each pump before making their final decision.
The most common pump found in oil and gas operation is the centrifugal pump. These pumps use impellers with a radial outlet to transfer rotational mechanical energy to the liquid by increasing its kinetic energy, which is then used to transport the liquid to the discharge port. Centrifugal pumps excel at transferring low-viscosity fluids at high flow rates.
Despite their popularity, centrifugal pumps can struggle in oil and gas applications. While some models may offer a sealless and leak-free option, they struggle with solids, abrasive media and vapor mixtures. They also are not equipped for dry run operation and lose efficiency when pumping conditions change.
Centrifugal pumps operate most effectively at their best efficiency point (BEP), but their operating performance suffers when they deviate. This is especially true when centrifugal pumps fall out of their BEP when dealing with fluctuations in viscosity, pressure and flow rate.
Gear pumps are another common choice for oil and gas operations. This technology uses meshing gears to move liquids. Liquid enters the suction port within the teeth between a rotor gear and idler gear, creating an atmospheric vacuum that pulls the liquid into and through the pump. Two variations of this pump – internal and external – effectively process high-viscosity liquids.
Similar to centrifugal pumps, some gear pump models may provide sealless, leak-free operation, but they are not well suited for dry run operation or vapor mixtures. The wear parts on this pump also affect their longevity and effectiveness over time. The gears in gear pumps wear down over time, impacting flow rate performance.
The operating principle of sliding vane pumps ensures volumetric consistency through a number of self-adjusting vanes that slide in and out of the pump rotor, creating chambers that carry the same amount of fluid to the discharge port.
THE STANDOUT PUMP FOR OIL AND GAS
Magnetically driven sliding vane pumps stand above other pump technologies used in the oil and gas industry.
Sliding vane pumps feature self-adjusting vanes that ensure the pump functions at its optimal efficiency throughout its lifetime. These pumps use a rotor with sliding vanes that draw the liquid in behind each vane, through the inlet port and into the pumping chamber. As the rotor turns, the liquid is transferred between the vanes to the outlet where it is discharged as the pumping chamber is squeezed down. Each vane provides a positive mechanical push to the liquid before it.
Mag drive sliding vane pumps do not suffer from these setbacks. This technology does not contain dynamic seals, providing a leak-free pumping solution capable of handling pumping conditions that feature varying system pressure, near zero NPSHa, liquid/vapor mix and suspended solids.
The composition of some mag drive vane pumps allows them to provide indefinite dry-run capability. To achieve this benefit, operators should consider a variation that includes a non-magnetic containment shell, a non-cantilevered rotor design, self-lubricating vanes and sleeve bearings, optimized porting and clearances, and a lower running speed to create less frictional heat during a dry run event. When these operational features are in place, this type of sliding vane pump can run dry continuously with minimal risk of damage or failure.
While there is some skepticism about a pump’s ability to run dry for longer stretches, mag drive sliding vane pumps with composite containment shells don’t suffer the same drawbacks as competitive technologies. Those pumps that falter from longer dry run cycles tend to have bushings made from sensitive ceramics, temporary coatings or soft composites, all of which will suffer under extended dry run times.
Mag drive sliding vane pumps can also handle contaminants, with the ability to process liquids with suspended-solids levels of up to 20 percent. These pumps also function as a near zero-NPSHr solution, making them ideal for challenging pump inlet conditions. They can sustain optimal performance standards with liquids containing up to 20 percent vapor or air.
Sliding vane pumps do not contain dynamic seals, providing a leak-free pumping solution capable of handling pumping conditions that feature varying system pressure, near-zero NPSHa, liquid/vapor mix and suspended solids.
Viscosity fluctuations also do not impact these pumps the way they do with competing technologies. When mag drive sliding vane pumps include the characteristics that allow for extended dry run times, they can also handle a wide viscosity range from 1 cP to 4,250 cP, which is ideal for oil and gas applications.
Unlike competitive technologies, such as centrifugal pumps, their performance will not degrade in the liquid’s viscosity drops below 1 cP or rises above 1 cP. Other technologies can handle varying viscosities, but not as wide of a range, which the oil and gas industry encounters. That’s why sliding vane magnetic drive pumps excel in oil and gas applications. They are viscosity flexible.
CONCLUSION
Pumps will always play a pivotal role in the oil and gas industry when transporting raw materials from the wellhead to the city gate. Because of their importance, operators must select a pump that meets all their processing and transporting needs. While the options are plentiful, sliding vane magnetic drive pumps provide an array of performance benefits without the common pitfalls of competing technologies.
Michael Coburn is the director of engineering and product management for the Blackmer brand at PSG Grand Rapids. He can be reached at michael.coburn@psgdover.com. Blackmer is the leading global brand of sliding vane, gear, regenerative turbine, and centrifugal pump, and reciprocating compressor technologies for the transfer of liquids and gases. Blackmer is a product brand of PSG, a Dover company. PSG is the global pump, metering and dispensing-solution expert, enabling the safe and efficient transfer of critical and valuable fluids that require optimal performance and reliability in applications where it matters most. Additionally, PSG is a leading provider of flow meters designed to reduce waste and downtime while accurately measuring, monitoring and controlling the distribution of fluids. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, PSG is comprised of several world-class brands, including Abaque, All-Flo, Almatec, Blackmer, Cryo-Mach, Ebsray, em-tec, Griswold, Hydro, ipp, Malema, Mouvex, Neptune, PSG Biotech, Quantex, Quattroflow, and Wilden. For more information, visit www.psgdover.com.
