PUMPS: GIW Minerals introduces new MDX RAMSL

[caption id="attachment_1003726236" align="aligncenter" width="410"] Adjusting the adjusting internal clearance between a GIW pump impeller nose gap and the suction liner can be done in just a minute from a smart phone.[/caption] GEORGIA – GIW Industries Inc., continuously strives to make their customers’ jobs easier and more efficient. After several months of advanced testing and prototyping, the company is introducing the new remotely adjusted mechanical suction liner (RAMSL). Read on to discover what makes this innovation special. Efficient pump operation in aggressive wear applications is only possible through precise weekly maintenance. One of the key maintenance procedures is adjusting internal clearance between the pump impeller nose gap and the suction liner. The RAMSL improves this maintenance procedure for the MDX-750, which is designed to be in continuous use for five months (about 4,000 hours). According to Leo Perry, GIW senior engineer, “periodic adjustments to MDX cyclone feed lines historically have been made using hand tools. RAMSL allows for the adjustments to be made and monitored remotely at the touch of a button.” This makes the weekly gap adjustments much faster and more accurate. Minera Escondida reached out to GIW and asked for an automated solution for nose gap adjustments. The manual process took three or four hours per pump. And because these adjustments must be made often, it resulted in high maintenance costs. Minera Escondida requested controls that could be managed from a smartphone or tablet – a handheld device that would perform adjustments quickly and safely, as well as increase efficiency. GIW worked in partnership with the customer to pilot the RAMSL solution and test it in the field after extensive lab trials. The maintenance time was reduced from three or four hours to just one minute per adjustment. The RAMSL user interface serves as both the control panel for the operation of the unit and as an output source for critical data taken from the pump, such as real-time vibration readings and precise movements of the suction liner (to within 0.01mm). This product enhancement carries two primary benefits: ease of maintenance and more efficient use of time and resources. Peripheral benefits include the ability to match maintenance schedules to best suit the needs of each pump installation. The RAMSL can also help minimize the potential for equipment damage due to over adjustments that can be caused from traditional methods. This project with Minera Escondida was just one prototype, as further development work continues on the RAMSL. GIW is beginning to see how the collaboration of RAMSL with the internet of things (IoT), to collect and analyze data can benefit customers in the area of predictive maintenance and inventory planning. Talk to your local GIW/KSW supplier or visit www.KSB.com/ksb-us.