The worst thing that could happen in a fire emergency is a blocked-up nozzle that doesn’t allow the pumping station to function. The debris or other solid contaminants in water can not only reduce the inefficiency to douse fire outbreaks but may even clog the nozzles overtime.

The consequences of unfiltered water passing through the system can be devastating. In fact, these malfunctions can be categorized as one of the key indicators of a vulnerable fire protection system setup.

The biggest unfortunate flaw of this is that most of the time, the users may not even notice any indication of such malfunction. That is why, to prepare and protect the fire pump station from the worst outcome, the use of a strainer for pumping station is greatly vital.

Keep on reading till the end to learn more about strainers and their importance in fire pump stations.

The Reason to Install Strainer for Pump Station

The number one culprit that lies behind the clogging of the pump station is what is present in the water. The debris and contaminants that exist in water may over time clog and even cause corrosion to the entire pump station system.

If the water-borne debris are not taken into consideration then they can cause serious liability concerns for the future. Therefore, the operators are left with the choice of either conducting frequent maintenance activities or installing a high-performance pump station strainer.

As per the standard fire protection system protocol, it is recommended to choose a listed strainer that shall be installed in the main pipeline of all the systems. Fire protection systems generally pump water from water sources such as lakes, rivers, water tanks or even the sea.

These sources are littered with different kinds of debris. Rust, gravels, stones, organic matter are transferred through the pipes and these cause the issue of clogging or bridging. Bridging happens when the matter solidifies via a bridge formation across the pipeline.

These same materials can result in corrosion over time. However, there are often more abrasive elements found in the debris such as metal shards, pebbles and what not. They can cause severe damage or rupture the rubber diaphragm of the pumping station.

The chances of pilot valves malfunctioning also increases due to these harsher elements passing through the water. The burst as a result from such debris can result in intense disruption that may take several days to get fixed.

But all of these potential challenges can be overcome by the installation of appropriate strainer.

Best Practice for Strainer Installation

Having to decide between installing strainer on the suction or discharge side of the pump station is quite a debatable topic. While there are a majority of system designers who undoubtedly prefer placing strainers on the suction side of the pump, many believe this practice can cause an array of issues.

Although suction side of the pump installation is done with good intentions, there are several issues resulting from this practice such as reduced or turbulent flow and the worst is blocked flow. The reason why many think that placing the strainer at this position makes sense is because it is prudent to protect the pump.

Every pump suction has a given amount of suction energy, now placing the strainer at the suction line will significantly reduce the standard NPSHa (net positive suction head available). Whereas, the placement of the strainer in the discharge side will do the needful functions of this equipment without resulting in any issues.

So, before you decide to place the strainer at the suction side of the pump, it is recommended to think long and hard whether the installation design is appropriate to your application or not.

Different Types of Strainers for Pump Station

You will find many suppliers for fire strainer Abu Dhabi and other locations; however, the Y-strainers and Basket strainers are popular choices for fire fighting pump station application.

Y-Type Strainers

This type of strainers are designed for removing foreign matter from the pipeline and also offer protection to meters, valves, pumps and other similar mechanical components. The Y-type strainers have earned their name because of their shape and they are specifically installed for coarse element filtration.

This type of strainer efficiently filters the harsh materials making improvements for clearance in the medium. Therefore, ultimately resulting in prolonging the valves’ lifespan and protecting expensive pumps, meters, etc.

It is suitable for the installation of water, air gas, petroleum, steam and other fluid pump station applications.

Basket Strainers

It is a closed vessel type of strainer which has a cleanable screen element engineered to extract and retain foreign particles as small as 0.0010-inch diameter. This type of strainer is designed for removing not only dirt but any type of unwanted material present in the fluid.

The retention of these elements help operators to extract the particle which might be proven to be valuable for some other usage. Basket Strainers are typically installed in horizontal lines and are generally used for liquid service applications.

It is a common choice where there is a requirement for high flow capacity. The servicing of this type of strainer is done by removing its cover that enables access to the basket. They are also available in duplex strainer styles that comprises two basket strainers parallelly placed with diverting valves. This one allows flow diversion and the other element is used as flow interruption.

Before you choose any supplier for a strainer for pumping station make sure to keep these important details in mind and make the right choice.