Piston wash pumps keep maritime ships operating smoothly

Piston wash pumps keep maritime ships operating smoothly

Maritime shipping has been a primary driver for worldwide commerce for thousands of years.

Today, it continues to support the global economy. Thus, shipping companies focus on creating

efficiencies to operate vessels profitably.

Having the right piston pumps onboard the ship saves time at port and at sea. One of the

drivers of operational costs is the time needed to prepare ships, load and unload cargo, and

clean ships for new cargo. The time a tanker or barge spends docked is determined by the onand

off-board facilities. The type and availability of cargo unloading and loading systems on

hand, including the onboard pumps needed for cleaning and maintaining cargo holds, bilges

and ballast tanks can save time, and therefore, reduce dockage fees.

Ships at sea need piston wash pumps for various duties, such as washing decks and walkways,

cleaning spills and washing down walls in preparation for painting. Having the right pump

onboard is critical, as no other alternatives are immediately available, especially when cleaning

up oil, fuel or chemical spills, and conducting routine maintenance.

Piston wash pumps are ideal for both sea and shore

Piston wash pumps are adaptable, portable, flexible and easy to

maintain and repair. They are easy to setup, use and store, and

can be adjusted or modified for multiple applications. They are also

cost effective for both frequent and infrequent usage.

Piston wash pumps are an excellent choice for cargo hold cleaning

and stripping, but there are many other areas where they are used,

including engine rooms, pump rooms, galleys, septic treatment

spaces, refrigeration rooms, pool and spa areas, paint and

preparation rooms, deck areas and cargo transfer points, just to

name a few. Piston pump packages can be preconfigured with the

appropriate motor, mount, controls and downstream accessories

that are ideal for any of these maritime applications.

Cargo tank cleaning

Following the discharge of cargo, the deck crew uses piston wash

pumps to clean cargo tanks in preparation for the arrival of new

cargo. Depending on the ship, a tank cleaning system can be

either portable or fixed. Portable piston wash pumps are connected by a hose to a deck water

main and introduced into the tank through a tank cleaning hatch. Ingersoll Rand manufactures

piston wash pumps for its ARO® brand that come complete with a suction and high-pressure jet

hose that can be mounted on a heavy-duty cart for easy on-deck transport.

Getting the right piston pump and package

As with most equipment, it’s important to get the right pump for the job. The pump should be

designed to meet the most critical needs and the many diverse maritime applications, with the

performance, reliability and the ability to easily integrate with existing onboard systems. There

are four factors to consider when selecting the right wash pump configuration for an application.

Piston wash pumps are effective in cleaning many areas of a ship:

• Cargo areas and holds

• Galleys

• Septic treatment spaces

• Refrigeration areas

• Pools and spas

• Paint preparation rooms

• Decks

• Damage control rooms

• Hydraulic rooms

• Ship exterior

They include the type of fluid, viscosity or thickness of the fluid, required flow rate and required

output pressure.

Piston pumps can handle many types of fluids, such as oil, chemicals, paint and coatings; many

of these fluids can be abrasive and cause corrosion. Piston pump plunger rods and cylinder

tubes made with ceramic coating and polished stainless steel exterior construction will help

extend pump life by resisting abrasions, rust and corrosion.

The proper pump stroke displacement will ensure the best flow rate and output. The pump

should be configured for the desired flow rate and pressure, while operating at less than

maximum speed to minimize fatigue and wear on the parts.

ARO piston wash pumps are capable of handling a variety of fluids, such as water and solvents,

because they are available with different pressure ratios and displacement rates. Knowing the

fluid’s viscosity and required flow rate makes it easier to choose the right pump for the

application. Two-ball piston pumps, for example, are versatile and well-suited for spraying lower

volumes of low to medium-viscosity materials, while four-ball piston pumps are designed for

higher volumes of low-viscosity fluids.

ARO has a universal lower-end pump connection that provides interchangeability between

various sized air motors and lower ends, allowing for various pumping ratios. This also allows

the motor to be upgraded without having to buy a new pump. The pump ratio is determined by

the actual area difference between the air motor piston and the lower end plunger rod. For

example, an 11:1 ratio denotes the pump air motor piston has 11 times the effective area of the

fluid handling piston. Higher ratio pumps produce higher fluid pressures which allows them to

move higher viscosity fluids and transfer fluids longer distances. At 100 psi of inlet pressure, an

11:1 pump produces 1,100 psi of fluid outlet pressure. A 23:1 pump would produce 2,300 psi of

fluid outlet pressure, given the same air inlet pressure.

Pre-assembled application packages remove much of the guesswork for maritime industries

when it comes to choosing the right pump for the job. ARO piston wash pump packages can be

configured with a wall-mount bracket, suction tube assembly and a spray wand.

Piston wash pumps get the job done

The high demands of the maritime industry require the utmost reliability, flexibility, performance

and serviceability in pumps that handle numerous water and fluid conditions onboard. Achieving

cost efficient, low maintenance and highly productive fluid control requires reliable piston wash

pumps that are capable of handling a wide variety of materials, while offering flexibility of use.

The overall investment in a piston pump is not only the initial pump purchase, but also includes

factors such as downtime, employee productivity, parts and servicing costs. Piston pumps can

optimize the time and costs in preparing, unloading cargo and cleaning ships. Whether reducing

dockage fees, or saving time at sea when cleaning spills and performing routine maintenance,

piston wash pumps offer the versatility and efficiency needed for maritime duties

Source: Marine Log