The new FlexSwitch FLT93 pump protection flow switch from Fluid Components International (FCI) detects dry running conditions caused by irregular liquid flows or slurries.
The flow/level/temperature (FLT) pump protection flow switch reliably monitors the flow and temperature of liquids, gases, slurries, syrups, lubricants, coolants and more. It can be used for pump wet/dry detection, in which sudden, unexpected reductions in media flow rates may leave pumps vulnerable to overheating conditions that can result in bearing or seal damage that require major repairs or shorten their useful lives.
The FLT flow switch, with its no-moving-parts design, offers a highly robust scheme for pump protection with its dual-alarm capability. With alarm 1, the switch will detect a low-flow situation from between 0.01 and 3 ft per sec (.003 to.9 meters per sec). This low-flow alarm can be regarded as a pre-warning signal for the control system or operator. The system or operator can then decide to keep the pump running or to shut it down.
If an alarm 2 occurs because the feed line to the pump is running dry, the condition acts as an emergency signal to shut down the pump immediately because the bearings see gas instead of a liquid as a heat transfer media. In such situations, the temperature of the bearings may rise very fast. Using a flow switch prevents permanent damage to the pump’s bearings that will require an overhaul of the pump before more damage occurs.
Source: Fluid Components International, LLC
