Month: August 2019

Will a Centrifugal Pump Work if it is running backwards?

by vemcoblogs -
Vijay Engineering & Machinery Co.

When you think about a pump’s mechanism, one of the first things you’ll imagine is a rotating impeller. It’s an important component of water pumps and it facilitates smooth operation.

But what if you notice your impeller rotating backwards?

Will it stop working? Will it pump water in the opposite direction? No and no.

When a centrifugal pumps impeller rotates in the inverse direction, the flow of fluid through the pump isn’t reversed. However, the pump’s efficiency will drop significantly and you’ll notice that the flow is hindered. So, while it may not bring the pump to a halt, it’ll definitely not continue functioning like it normally would. The impeller design and the angles given to vanes are specific in achieving some crucial hydraulic characteristics which are plotted on the pump performance curve. If at all the pump rotates in reverse direction it will not produce the same curve means all the parameters of pump such as pressure, flow, efficiency and power consumption would be hampered.  

Can it harm my pump?

So, we’ve established that backwards-rotating impellers will still work. But can they potentially damage your pumps? That depends.

In some submersible pumps, the impellers may be screwed onto the mechanism, which means they run the risk of getting unscrewed if they rotate in the opposite direction. This can cause significant damage to your pump. In worse cases, if the mechanical seal is breached as a result of damage to the pump, it may even cause injuries.

What can you do to prevent this?

When you’re installing your pump, do a quick test to see if the impeller is rotating in the correct direction before you put it to use. Also, get in touch with our technicians for assistance and maintenance if you ever notice the pump’s flow reducing.

Vijay Engineering and Machinery Company is among the best pump dealers in Mumbai for Kirloskar pumps. Having assisted industries for decades, VEMC is dedicated to ensuring that once you buy our products, you never have to worry about them. Pump trouble? Click here to contact us and we’ll get it fixed in no time!

Do Solar Panels give lower output in Winters?

by vemcoblogs -

Let us save you the trouble of reading this entire article by clearing this up right away: No, they don’t. Continue reading if you want to know how.

Does my panel continue working on colder days?

Yes, it does. To understand this better, let’s first learn what it is that Solar PV Panels need to absorb. PV here stands for Photovoltaic, where Photo means Light. This means that your PV Panels don’t need heat. They only need sunlight. Here, temperatures don’t matter. In fact, in cases of extremely hot regions, too much heat may adversely impact the panel’s productivity.

What about snow?

A common belief is that snowaccumulates on your solar panels and cuts off sunlight, causing a fall in output. This is a misconception. In fact, most solar panels are installed at an angle, prevents the snow from accumulating on the panels. Your panel can also operate with a thin sheet of snow on it.

Will energy output be affected in any way in winters?

Maybe. During winter, the sun hits the surface of the earth at a lower angle, which may mean lesser light is being captured by your Residential Solar Panel. You may need to adjust the angle of your panels to make the most of the available sunlight. However, this Renewable Energy source will continue powering your homes through winter. Battery Backup also plays a role here. It allows excess energy stored during peak sunlight time to be used when the energy output is slightly lower. Vijay Engineering and Machinery Company is a prominent EPC Consultant in Maharashtra and many other states of India. Our extensive reading material helps you make informed choices about solar PV system installation and everything you need to know about it. Click here to check out other articles about solar energy!

Types and Specifications of Different Water Pumps

by vemcoblogs -

As water pump dealers would tell you, the water pumps are used in construction sites. People use them for dewatering. This is a process whereby extra water that may have accumulated on the site is removed from over there. There are so many reasons why water can build up in these sites. It could be because of heavy rains. At times, the water table could be high as well. The pumps let you move the water within a short period. This helps in reducing the downtime as well. There are two main types of such pumps. 

The types of water pumps

As water pumps distributors would tell you, there are two major variations of water pumps. These are positive displacement pumps and centrifugal pumps. Both these kinds of pumps are designed in such a way that you can move water to another place from where it is continuously. A centrifugal water pump makes use of a rotating impeller so that it can move the water within the pump. This also allows it to force the discharge flow. A positive displacement water pump delivers a specified amount of flow by way of mechanical shrinking and expansion of a diaphragm that is flexible.

water pumps distributors

Things to keep in mind for centrifugal water pumps

The centrifugal industrial water pumps are used in a wide range of water system and construction applications. They can do a lot more than mere dewatering. They can be used to pump water supplies of buildings. They can also work with pneumatic systems as well as ones where you do not need to use the suction lift. They are also used for pumping water from domestic wells. They can increase pressure in water intake lines as well. They can provide an uninterrupted pressure source used in the fire protection systems too.

Things to keep in mind for positive displacement water pumps 

The positive displacement of Kirloskar water pumps is also referred to as rotary pumps. They are effective. This is because they can remove air from the lines, and this does away with the need to bleed the air as such. They are also extremely handy when it comes to dealing with liquids that have a high amount of viscosity. The main issue with these pumps is that they need a really small clearance between the outer edge of a rotating pump and the pump itself.       

Features and specifications of these pumpsAs you would get to know from your water pump dealers, there are several important factors that you must take into consideration at the time of selecting such a pump. In power, you must look at the horsepower and the flow rate. In the material, you must check if it has been built with weather-resistant materials that are useful when it comes to applications where the pump could be exposed to the natural elements. You also need to check the fuel and the motor type over here, and the total head discharge.

Solar Energy: A More Cost-Effective Energy Source Than Fossil Fuel

by vemcoblogs -
Solar Energy over Fossil Fuels

Yes, you read it right. Solar energy is all set to become a cheaper source of energy. But Solar energy generation involves a significant capital investment for installation. Wouldn’t that make it more expensive than fossil fuel-generated energy? Not really. Here’s why:

  1. If you’re not willing to incur capital expenditure for installation, you could always opt for an OPEX financial model (click here to know more).
  2. Systems like solar net metering (click here to know more) allow you to sell excess units of power generated in your PV system, which may result in your electricity bill be 0 or lesser! This gives great ROI.
  3. Advances in technology are making Renewable Energy cheaper to use than ever before.
  4. The use of Batteries and Battery Backup ensure that excess energy isn’t lost if there isn’t any immediate demand for it. It makes having a Residential Solar Panel a more sustainable option because if you store extra energy, you won’t have to buy additional units of electricity during nights or cloudy days.
  5. The prices of fossil fuels are significantly high and are dependent on many factors including international relations, politics, etc.Meanwhile, sunlight is universally available, free to use and using it for electricity generation is better for the environment.

These are only the basic factors that explain why solar energy is cheaper than its nonrenewable alternatives. Many other factors also play a role in lowering its prices. VEMC, a leading EPC Consultant in Mumbai, is a company that provides comprehensive products and services to streamline your journey to a greener, more pocket-friendly lifestyle. Head over to our website to know more about our offerings!

Components of a Photovoltaic Solar System for a Curved Rooftop

by vemcoblogs -

If you’re looking to invest in a PV system for a curved rooftop, you should first read up on the different components it’s got. This will help get a clear idea of the amount of space and money you need to account for when it comes to the installation of the system.

So, what are the main components of such a system?

  1. Solar PV Panels: A panel is comprised of many solar cells. Each cell absorbs light and produces DC (Direct Current) electricity. DC can be used to charge Batteries but if you want the system to provide electricity to your household or commercial space, the DC current needs to be converted to AC (Alternating Current). That brings us to:
  2. The Main Panel/Inverter: This is where the DC supplied by the PV cells is converted to AC and supplied to your household/commercial space.
  3. Battery Backup: This provides Storage for excess power produced during times of peak sunlight for use during nights, cloudy days, etc.
  4. Electric Meter: This calculates the amount of electricity being generated and consumed and is essential for solar net metering (click here to know more).
  5. Safety Equipment: This may include safety disconnect switches or surge protection devices for instance. It adds safety to the system which makes it possible for Residential Solar Panels tobe risk-free for residents.

These components are the bare minimum you’ll need for your system. There are more components like wiring, a power conditioning unit, mounting equipment, grounding equipment, etc. that also need to be invested in. VEMC, being one of the best EPC Consultants in Maharashtra, provides end-to-end services when it comes to the installation of a PV system. Want to get yours installed? Click here to contact us!

Why is Solar Energy Better Than Wind Energy?

by vemcoblogs -

You may be considering switching to Renewable Energy. In that case, congratulations, you’ve made a great decision. But switching to a greener energy source involves many more choices. One such choice is whether you should go for Solar Energy or Wind Energy.

Our suggestion: Go for Solar Energy.

Yes, Wind Energy has its own benefits, be it the possibility to generate power even at night, more efficient electricity generation in some cases, etc.

However, in a country like India, Solar Energy is a safer bet than Wind Energy.

What makes Solar Energy better?

  1. Minimal fluctuations in energy output. Winds are more unpredictable than sunlight, hence Solar Energy is more likely to provide consistent patterns of power generation.
  2. Suitability for most regions. SolarPV Panels can be installed almost anywhere, be it in a village or an urban region. However, wind turbines can only be installed in windy regions, which limits this energy source’s geographical flexibility. Solar panels also require lesser space than wind turbines, hence,for example, a Solar Panel in Mumbai may be a more feasible option than wind turbines in Mumbai.
  3. No disturbance. Wind turbines tend to be noisy and they can also injure birds sometimes. Solar panels, meanwhile, have no moving parts, which makes them more suitable in many cases.
  4. Easier maintenance.As a result of the lack of moving parts, Solar PV Panels require significantly lesser maintenance and are more hassle-free.

Want to know more about Solar Energy? Click here to read up!