who’s to blame?

By David Hollen, Technical Engineer

Frequently a customer will state that they have short pump lives and immediately the blame is placed on the pump. However, often it is not a pump problem at all, but rather a system or operational problem.

Generally, when someone mentions this it is not uncommon to associate the problem with the hydraulic conditions. In fact, oftentimes the issue is not on the liquid side of the pump at all, but instead it is a problem with the air supply.

There are two types of common air supply problems; contaminated or dirty air and air starvation. Just as we need clean air to live, so does a pump. If the pump is clogged with dirt and debris it will be starved for air and not perform properly.

The best way to keep your pump clean from dirty air is to install a filter regulator (Figure 1). A filter regulator is easy to install and provides the precise pressure control necessary to optimize pump performance and efficiency, at the same time preventing airline contaminates from reaching your pump.

Figure 1: Filter Regulator

Yamada offers a wide selection of filter regulators specifically selected for optimal performance with your pump (see chart).

Filter Regulator & Yamada Pump Chart

Filter Regulator Pump Series
FR-1, FR-1A NDP-5/15/20
FR-3, FR-3A NDP-25/32
FR-4, FR-4A NDP-40
FR-5, FR-5A NDP-50/80
FRL-2, FRL-2A DP-10, G15
FRL-4 XDP-40
FRL-5, FRL-5A XDP-50/80
A = auto drain

The photo below (Figure 3) is a diagram of a proper Yamada pump installation.

Figure 3: Yamada Pump Installation Diaphragm

The second main air side problem, air starvation, can be caused by several factors; a dirty air filter, a partially closed valve, an undersized airline/fitting or an undersized compressor.

The best way to check if you are experiencing air starvation is to observe the air pressure gauge mounted near the pump. If there is not any swing in the gauge needle when the pump strokes, then you have a very good air supply. A swing of 10% is acceptable. If you get a wide swing, such as 70 PSI to 40 PSI, then the air supply may not be adequate, and the pump is starving for air.

Yamada Filter Regulator Video

If you are not receiving the proper air supply from your filter regulator, start by cleaning the air filter and check that the valve is clear of debris. Additionally, make sure you have installed the proper size airline, connections and air compressor.

If, after taking the necessary steps, you continue to have performance issues, contact your Yamada distributor for further assistance.

Dave’s Corner: DP-15 Pump vs. NDP-15 Pump

When someone asks me about a Yamada 1/2” pump, most people think about the NDP-15 series pump. However, there is another option called the DP-15. This pump uses the NDP-15 polypropylene liquid side, but uses the DP-10 air section.

dp-15

The DP-15 is only pump available with a polypropylene liquid end and has the same elastomer options as the NDP-15 series pumps. Be advised: there is a significant difference in the maximum flow rates. The DP-15 series has a maximum flow rate of 7.4 GPM, while the NDP-15 series has a 13.5 GPM maximum flow rate.

ndp-15

While the NDP-15 series is good for higher flow rates, the DP-15 is ideal for low flow rates, extended dead head and dispensing applications. Both pumps share a common liquid end kit, but require different air motor kits. The DP-15 uses a K115-AM air motor kit and the NDP-15 uses a K15-AM motor kit.

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