Portable fire pumps

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fire pumps

A motor pump is a pump-motor unit with explosion used in various fields such as agriculture or civil security. This machine can be fitted with a simple carrying handle and small wheels for the lighter ones or possibly hitched and towed by a motor vehicle for heavier and bulky models. It is therefore a particular model of a pump unit.

Civil security & fire fighting

In the fight against the fire, the motor-driven pump is especially used in rural environment where the water supply is difficult and where the disasters require large quantities.

Aspiration

It is common to say that pumps "suck" water. In fact, a suction pump creates a vacuum in the “pump body”, it is the atmospheric pressure exerted on the water table which makes it rise in the pump, then the water pressurization will come. This intangible physical principle means that at sea level the maximum theoretical suction height is 10,33 meters1, this height then decreases according to the altitude (relative to sea level) of the pumping site.

Pumping in bodies of water (swimming pools, rivers, ponds, lakes, etc.) constitutes its original role. Suction pipes are coupled to the inlet of the pump body, with a strainer at their submerged end.

They are submerged about 80-100 cm deep, if possible the strainer facing the current. A cord is attached to the valve for emptying and another is tied around these pipes to hold and guide them.

These are rigid due to the risk of sucking a flexible hose when the pressure inside becomes lower than atmospheric pressure.

At the outlet of the pump body, flexible hoses are coupled, either in supply to machines, or directly in delivery to lances.

Relais

Motor pumps are also used to increase the pressure when transporting water over long distances. In fact, because of the pressure drops, it is necessary to place pumps at regular intervals on these establishments. It also happens to pump from a hydrant.

In this case the flexible supply pipes are coupled directly to the inlet of the pump body. It is therefore necessary to pay close attention to the outlet flow, and therefore to the inlet pressure: this should never be less than atmospheric pressure, otherwise the pipe will sag and be sucked into the body. pump, causing major damage. There is generally a margin of two bars.

Sometimes a relay pool is placed before the inlet of the pump body. This, with a capacity of a few thousand liters, is filled by the supply pipes, and this basin is pumped as on a body of water. Thus, it is possible to pump at the maximum flow rate authorized by the suction pipes connecting the basin to the pump, at the risk of emptying the basin, but having eliminated the risk of suction. The basin also serves as a buffer when the feed rate is not constant.

At the outlet of the pump body, flexible hoses are coupled, either as a supply to machines, or as a supply for the continuation of relay transport, or directly as delivery to lances.

Specifications

The motor pump consists of a hydraulic centrifugal pump coupled to an internal combustion engine. It is therefore entirely autonomous.

In France
There are three types of motor pump, each differentiated by its hydraulic performance:

• the MPR 60 delivers 1 l / min at a pressure of 000 to 10 bar;
  under the same pressures,
• the MPR 90 with a flow rate of 1 l / min;
• the MPR 120 has a flow rate of 2 l / min at 000 bar.
• MPR 180 or MPR 240 (3000/15 and 4000/15) are also more rarely found.

In Swiss
There are four types of motor pumps, classified according to their minimum flow:

• type I: minimum 400 l / min at 4 bar EMT;
• type II: minimum 1 l / min at 400 bar EMT;
• type III: minimum 2 l / min at 800 bar EMT;
• type IV: minimum 3 l / min at 200 bar EMT