Technology centre opens at LaYrence Pumps Inc.

A leading specialty engineered pump manufacturer responds to its customers’ increasing needs for performance testing and constructs a superior technology centre dedir cated to advanced hydraulic re search and performance verijka tion.

Pump industry facing new challenges

While commodity pump manufacturers are con- tinually faced with low cost manufacturing and distribution challenges, specialty engineered pump companies like Lawrence Pumps Inc. (headquartered in Lawrence, Massachusetts

Vertical test stand accommodates pumps up to 80 feet long.

USA) are challenged, by their customers, to improve the application performance and long- term reliability of their specialty engineered pumps through continuous design improve- ments and subsequent verification testing. In the past few years the demands of Lawrence’s pump mechanical evaluation and pump testing capabilities have dramatically increased to a point where existing facilities were utilized at near capacity levels. In order to accurately forecast future requirements, the marketing staff at Lawrence surveyed pump users, architectural and engineering firms and their own internal design engineers. The research indicated a continued increased reliance on CAD/CAE and computer modeling for improved hydraulic performance by LPI’s customer base plus in- creasing contractual requirements for pre-instal- lation performance verification of specialty pumps.

Technology centre evolves

Faced with these usage projections, the man- agers of Lawrence Pumps re-evaluated their initial plans to expand existing testing capabil- ities and decided to recommend the construction of a dedicated facility that would extend the company’s testing capabilities and greatly en- hance the ability to integrate test performance data into specialty pump designs. Establishing an information loop between test computers and CAD/CAE systems would speed up product development and provide LPI’s customers with

Copyright 0 1996, Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

detailed verification of hydraulic performance. It was obvious this technology centre would benefit both customers and Lawrence’s engineers, and thus the Board of Directors approved construc- tion of a multi-million dollar facility.

Construction completed within a year

A true “fast track” project, the technology centre had its first customer witness test 11 months after ground breaking. Contributing significantly to the speed of completion was the fact that this facility is completely new from the ground up. The centre’s 100 foot height towers over the manufacturing/final assembly area and has over 12,000 square feet dedicated to a data acquisi- tion center and extensive facilities for testing horizontal and vertical pumps. I

Unique, specialized capabilities

Comprehensive monitoring of pump parameters

l NPSH . 0 Flows l

0 Inlet Pressure l

Voltage Current Power Factor Liquid Levels Fluid Temperature Bearing Temperature Vibration RPM

The technology centre has advanced capabilities for R&D, performance evaluation and dynamic testing of large, and/or highly complex pumps. A

l Discharge Pressure l

sophisticated system of overhead cranes with l Atmosphere Pressure l

capacities up to 25 tons allows positioning l Lube Oil System .

pumps into horizontal and vertical test stands. 0 Seal System l

l Noise . Vertical pumps as long as 80 feet can be accommodated and two below-floor level reser-

l Power/Torque

voirs are available for various tests. The data acquisition area has extensive monitoring and data recording instruments to provide compre- operating parameters or to establish bench- hensive real time analysis, reports and graphical marks for continual improvement of hydraulic data to verify pump performance under various performance.

High performance axial flow pump in horizontal test loop.

Pump hydraulic performance data is evaluated by CADKAE engineers.

WORLD PUMPS FEBRUARY 1996

Specialty engineered pumps, such as this cryogenic pump, operating at -300” F, are evaluated under dynamic conditions.

Wide diversity of customers, industries and tests

In its first month of operation, the technology centre has justified the decision to build this flexible facility. During this time, there were tests and evaluations of high volume axial flow pumps, customer acceptance testing of multiple 70-foot vertical pumps and long-term data collection of a cryogenic pump operating at -300°F. The schedule for future tests is already filling up as customers, specialty pump users, government agencies and contractors become aware of the unique capabilities available at this impressive facility, and of the experienced test engineers at Lawrence Pumps. Lawrence Pumps’ technology centre represents a continual com- mitment to supporting and enhancing LPI’s global customer’s testing, R&D and advanced technology requirements.

Lawrence Pumps is proud of their accom- plishments in the development of the technology centre and believes this facility extends their commitment to be the predominant global supplier of specialty engineered pumps. n

qe Adve&alng Sales Manager ,Etsevier .Adv&ced techndogy

PO Box r5!, ktdfintjton, O&id, OX5’lAS, UK ” Teb018638j 813819: Fax: 01885 843971

ELSb’LER ADVANC%D TECI~NOLWY

WORLD PUMPS FEBRUARY 1996