Don’t Let Corrosion Eat Away your Sea water Pumps
Steps to Tackle Corrosion & Keep your Pumps functioning efficiently
All desalination operations make use of water pumps. They use either submersible pumps for seawater intake or to sea water pumps the desalinated water to storage. Irrespective of the type and size of the pumps, you have to ensure that it lasts for a long time.
Keeping Corrosion at Bay Makes the Pump Healthy
One of the biggest hurdles faced by all sea water pumps is “Tackling Corrosion.” Corrosion wears down the critical components of a pump, thereby taking a toll on its lifespan. Apart from decreasing the durability of pumps, corrosion can also wreck havoc to the operational efficiency.
Hence, it’s critical to avoid corrosion in your Sea water pumps.
Corrosion Costs
Corrosion if unchecked, leads to expensive costs that eat the profits. Here are the three types of expenses incurred by plant owners due to corrosion.
- Direct Loss – This is a result of damage of materials by corrosion. For instance, consider a piping system that has been corroded and must be replaced.
- Maintenance Costs – These are indirect costs that occur as a result of corrosion prevention. For instance, if you paint your pumping system every few years with non-corrosive paint, then it comes under maintenance costs.
- Indirect Losses – These are other costs that occur a result of corrosion. For instance, you shut down production for a few days due to damaged pumping systems, and this leads to loss of revenue. The loss of income comes under indirect losses.
The first-step in controlling corrosion costs is to understand what is corrosion and the reasons behind it.
Causes for Failure of Sea-Water Pumps
Before, we take a look at the steps to prevent corrosion let’s take a closer look at the reasons why sea water pumps fail.
- Corrosion – It’s the deterioration of the pump material that occurs when it’s exposed to the components of water. Sea water is high in mineral and salt content, which leach the pumps materials over time causing chemical reactions. These reactions eat away the pumps resulting in wear and tear.
- Rust Formation – This occurs when oxygen corrodes iron or steel, leading to the formation of iron oxide, which is known as rust.
- Erosion – This occurs when abrasive materials (like salts, minerals) impinge on the pump’s surface. Unlike corrosion, which can occur within a short span, erosion takes a longer time.
- Abrasion – This occurs when a rotating foreign particle (like sands, small stones, minerals present in sea-water) rub on a stationary surface (the components of a pump).
Steps to Avoid Corrosion in Sea-Water Pumps
#1: Choose the Right Pump
The easiest and often best way to avoid corrosion is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. You can overcome the harmful effects of corrosion by choosing the right pump that suits your environment. When selecting a pump, you have to consider:
- The environment
- The materials handled by the pump
- Pump efficiency and output
Corrosion is a natural phenomenon, especially while handling harsh fluids like sea water. However, you can avoid it a great deal and slow down its effect by choosing high-quality pumps that can sustain extreme operational environments.
For instance, centrifugal pumps made from stainless steel are perfect for sea water pumps. Do your research. Check out the different options available in the market and find the right pumping system that withstands the harmful effects of corrosion.
Pro Tip: Not sure which pump will work best for you? Overwhelmed by the technical jargon while selecting pump systems? Worry not, get in touch with our Pump Experts, who guide you to finding the right sea water pumps that not only meets your requirements but also operates efficiently for years to come.
#2: Give Attention to the External Parts Too
The outer surfaces of the water pump that are exposed to the elements of nature also have to be protected from corrosion. While these parts may or may not come in direct contact with the pumped material, in this case, seawater, they are still exposed to harsh conditions.
For instance, submerged pumps not only pump sea-water but are also placed directly inside salt-water.
Thus, there is a requirement to protect these external parts of the pump. Opt for materials that are rust-proof like stainless steel. Alternatively, you can coat the surfaces of these parts with corrosion resistant paints or other products.
Lining the exterior with paints is an excellent way to keep off corrosion. The paint not only serves to repel water from the pump’s surface but also keeps off other contaminants as well.
Long Live the Sea water Pumps
Sea water pumps require a bit of extra care and maintenance when compared to freshwater systems. This is because sea water is highly corrosive and tends to wear away any system that it comes in contact with. However, you can ensure the life of your sea water pump by choosing the right pump materials and making use of paints and other coatings to prevent rust formation and corrosion.
Need help choosing the right sea water pumps for your desalination plant? Get in touch with our Pump Experts by ringing up +91-120-4176000 or mail us on
sales@sintechpumps.com. Sintech Pumps India is a leading pump supplier with clients across several countries. With Sintech, you’re assured of high-quality and the latest pump technology that improves the overall efficiency of your operations.
