This document describes the Vaughan Vertical Wet-Well Triton Screw Pumps, which are designed for pumping whole solids. These pumps are supplied with a deck plate to mount the pump, an automatic oil level monitor (for pump shutdown in case of seal failure), and a discharge flange above the deck plate with a pressure gauge tap.
Function Description
The Vaughan Vertical Wet-Well Triton Screw Pumps are designed for pumping whole solids. The impeller is a screw-centrifugal type that induces flow by propelling liquid material through the pump inlet cone and into the casing. This pumping action is a combination of positive displacement and centrifugal action. The OD of the impeller must be positioned as closely as possible to the ID of the inlet cone at the pump suction to achieve good pumping efficiency. Standard impeller materials include chrome-iron, 316SS, and CD-4MCu.
The suction cone serves to position the function of a "wear plate," sealing in the pressure at the intake of the pump. The pressure generated by the impeller is kept inside the pump by the close clearances between the suction cone and the impeller. The inlet cone includes a cast-in spiral groove to channel flow out of the cone and into the pump casing. This spiral groove stops binding from overloading the drive motor. Standard inlet suction cone materials are ductile cast iron, 316SS, and CD-4MCu.
The upper cutter ring is used to cut any cast-in teeth located on the rotating impeller hub. The upper cutter is only a feature on 6X6A, 6X6B, 8X8B, 10X10C, and 12X12C Triton screw pumps.
The back cutter system prevents solids from accumulating on the back plate and the pump while the other insert cutter is located in the rotating impeller hub. This feature is designed to minimize ragging between the impeller hub and back plate.
The mechanical seal design utilizes a high-quality Vaughan-designed cartridge mechanical seal to isolate and protect the oil bath ball bearing system from contamination from the pumpage. The seal is located immediately above the pump impeller on the pump shaft. Mechanical seal faces are made of silicon carbide for long life in abrasives. The best indication of any problem with the mechanical seal system is either a loss of oil from the pump stem (or column) or, in unusual cases, overflowing of the oil reservoir. The pump impeller pumpout vanes are designed to pull oil out of the pump stem if a seal failure occurs and as long as pump discharge pressure is not too high. If the pump is operating near shutoff head, it's possible to push material up into the reservoir.
Important Technical Specifications
- Pump Type: Vertical Wet-Well Triton Screw Pumps
- Impeller Type: Screw-centrifugal
- Impeller Materials: Chrome-iron, 316SS, CD-4MCu
- Suction Cone Materials: Ductile cast iron, 316SS, CD-4MCu
- Upper Cutter Ring: Available on 6X6A, 6X6B, 8X8B, 10X10C, and 12X12C models.
- Mechanical Seal: Cartridge mechanical seal with silicon carbide faces.
- Oil: Shell Turbo Oil 46, Texaco Regal Oil 46, Gulf Harmony 46, Exxon Tectra 46, or ISO grade 46 turbine oils. Non-foaming turbine oil (e.g., Chevron GST-46) 20W or ISO gr 46 has been added to the pump to bring the oil level up to normal (do not overfill) (not applicable to end-suction pumps).
- Motor: TEFC C-Face mounted and are not designed for hazardous environments or rated as explosion proof. Some applications require explosion-proof motors.
- Electrical: 120 volt control relay, 50-watt capacity.
- Piping: Discharge piping should be sized to minimize fittings and abrupt changes in direction.
- Pressure Gauge: Tap provided on the discharge flange above the deck plate.
Usage Features
- Whole Solids Pumping: Specifically designed for pumping whole solids without clogging.
- Automatic Oil Level Monitor: Provides pump shutdown in case of seal failure, preventing damage.
- Deck Plate Mounting: Simplifies installation by providing a stable mounting surface.
- Ragging Minimization: The back cutter system and spiral groove in the inlet cone reduce ragging and binding.
- Corrosion Resistance: Available in various materials for different applications, including chrome-iron and 316SS.
- Explosion-Proof Options: Motors can be specified for hazardous environments.
- Vortexing and Minimum Submergence: The water level in the pit must be kept high enough to avoid vortexing in the pit. The rule of thumb to avoid vortexing is to allow one foot of submergence above the inlet for every foot/second of inlet velocity. Velocity depends on flow rate and inlet diameter. The formula to find the flow velocity at the suction of your pump is as follows: V (ft/s) = 0.4085*GPM / diameter² (in). Minimum submergence requirements can be reduced by use of suction bells which reduce the velocity at the inlet.
Maintenance Features
- Routine Maintenance (Monthly):
- Check amperage draw to the pump motor and compare to that measured at startup. Make sure that power draw does not exceed allowable amperage to the motor at full load.
- Routine Maintenance (Quarterly):
- Inspect motor electrics. Make sure connections are tight and clean.
- Routine Maintenance (Semi-Annually):
- Grease motor bearings.
- Perform quarterly inspections.
- Routine Maintenance (Annually):
- Remove pump from the pit and inspect for worn or damaged parts. Check impeller clearance from suction cone. It should be no greater than 0.030" max. Shim suction cone closer to pump casing to replace impeller and suction cone as required.
- Check for smooth shaft rotation by rotating the pump shaft by hand.
- Inspect bearings for rough spots.
- Check for no axial play in the pump shaft.
- Inspect pump bowl for wear.
- Check for loose hardware and tighten and replace as necessary.
- Corrective Maintenance:
- Overhaul of a Vaughan pump is a major undertaking. The overhaul instruction is a separate procedure. Do not try to overhaul or repair the pump without this important procedure and without the exploded assembly parts breakdown.
- The overhaul manual was sent to you by mail when your order for the pump was placed at the factory. If you do not have a copy of this manual, contact Vaughan Co. Engineering.
- Oil Level Monitoring: The automatic oil level monitor (OLM) system constantly monitors oil level in the pump column and bearing housing below the deck plate level. The auto OLM system is designed to shut the pump down whenever oil level drops below a preset level, but to make this system work, your electrician must connect the OLM to your controls.
- Oil Changes: Vaughan recommends changing the oil in the pump column and bearing housing every one or two years of operation, or more often if the oil is contaminated.
- Troubleshooting Guide: A comprehensive troubleshooting chart is provided to help diagnose and resolve common problems related to low flow, excessive pressure, vibration, seal life, motor overload, noise, and plugging.
- Startup and Certification Checklist: A checklist is provided to ensure proper installation and startup, covering pump serial number, shaft turns, guards, piping, leak tightness, oil type, pump rotation, and oil monitor functionality. Electrical data and system data are also recorded.
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