Submersible pumps are specially designed pumps that are immersed directly into the fluid they are intended to pump, such as water or wastewater. They are commonly used in wastewater treatment processes due to their effectiveness, efficiency, and space-saving design.
These pumps operate with an air-tight sealed motor and pump unit. This allows it to function even when submerged in a fluid. As the motor pump operates, it requires no additional cooling mechanisms as the fluid comes into contact with the pump casing and naturally cools it.
The submersible pump shown in the image above is made by Vaughan.
Applications in Wastewater Treatment:
Influent Pumping: They are installed in lift stations or collection wells to pump raw sewage or influent from lower to higher elevations, facilitating the initial transfer of wastewater into the treatment plant.
Primary Treatment: Submersible pumps may be used to transfer influent wastewater from screening and grit removal units to primary sedimentation tanks, where solids settle out of the water.
Secondary Treatment: They are employed to circulate and aerate wastewater in activated sludge tanks or biological reactors, providing oxygen to microorganisms for biological treatment.
Sludge Handling: Submersible pumps are utilized to transfer sludge between treatment units, such as from primary clarifiers to sludge digesters or from digesters to dewatering equipment.
Effluent Pumping: They are used to pump treated effluent from the treatment plant to discharge points, such as rivers, streams, or irrigation systems, ensuring proper disposal or reuse of the treated water.
There are a few advantages that submersible pumps have over non-submersible pumps.
They are highly space efficient as the pump goes straight into the liquid and doesn’t require surface space.
They operate efficiently due to the surrounding fluid touching the casing, which makes them both energy efficient and cost effective.
They require no maintenance because they are sealed in an hermetically sealed case that does not corrode or wear over an extended period of time.
The downside to this, however, is that if something does go wrong with the submersible pump, the downtime is extended due to the nature of the pump in comparison to a non-submersible.
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