LAKOS Separator Protects Pump Seals and Lowers Maintenance Costs
LAKOS Separator Eliminates Pump Seal Failures and Reduces Maintenance Costs
River water pre-filtration at an Ontario distillery
The Challenge
An Ontario distillery draws river water into a storage tank for plant processes. A downstream pump was experiencing mechanical seal failures caused by abrasive sediment. The existing basket strainers were not capturing enough of the fine, heavy particles responsible for the damage.
The Solution
A three-minute settling test showed that most particles settled within two minutes, indicating that centrifugal separation was suitable for the application. John Brooks installed a LAKOS Standard Separator in 304 stainless steel upstream of the existing basket strainers and pump to remove heavy, settleable solids before they reached the equipment.
The Results
- No further pump seal failures reported for more than 24 months
- Estimated annual savings of $40,000 in maintenance, parts, labour, downtime and related operating costs
- Reduced abrasive wear and improved pump reliability
- Less operator intervention through automatic, time-based purging
Technology utilized
LAKOS Standard Separato- 304 stainless steel construction
- Application flow rate of approximately 200 to 325 GPM
- Designed to separate heavy, settleable solids 74 microns and larger under suitable operating conditions
- Automatic, time-based purge
- Continuous separation without disposable filter media
How It Works
- Water enters tangentially and spins inside the separator. Centrifugal action moves heavier particles towards the outer wall.
- The separated solids settle into a collection chamber and are discharged through an automatic, time-based purge.
- Water passes through the existing basket strainers before reaching the pump. Removing abrasive sediment helps protect the mechanical seals and reduce maintenance.
