Flygt, a brand of Xylem, is synonymous with engineering excellence, reliability and closeness to customers.

Flygt is a world-leader in the design and manufacture of dry and submersible pumps, mixers and related intelligent controls systems. Under the Flygt banner, customers have access to a complete range of products and solutions for moving water, wastewater, and advanced monitoring and control equipment to optimize their use. Product development and manufacturing of Flygt products is based in Sweden.

Flygt offers a variety of impellers in in their submersible pumps, each designed, engineered, and tested for specific used throughout the water and wastewater industries.

 N – Technology Pumps

Flygt N-pumps take on the toughest applications and get the job done. Every component is designed and manufactured to deliver sustained high efficiency. Thanks to patented N-technology with its innovative self-cleaning impeller, Flygt N-pumps deliver the highest total efficiency. It lowers your energy bill and reduces unplanned maintenance costs. That adds up to total peace of mind – and big savings over the long term.

Clog Free Guarantee

Flygt N Technology Impellers offer industry leading ability to handle and pass fibrous debris and other solids found in typical wastewater environments. Flygt guarantees that its solids-handling pumps, when equipped with impellers utilizing the self-cleaning N-technology, will be free from clogging for 12 months when pumping sewage and wastewater containing solids and debris normally found in domestic wastewater with Xylem’s 1 year Clog Free Guarantee. The following video shows how the N Technology self cleaning technology passes rags and other debris in wastewater:

Maintained Clean Water Efficiency in Dirty Wastewater

When solid object such as stringy fibrous material and modern trash, enter the inlet of a conventional pump, they tend to get caught on the leading edges of the impeller vanes. This build-up reduced the impeller’s efficiency, resulting in increased power consumption. This increased rate of power consumption generates an increase in energy charges.

As solids continue to build-up inside the impeller, motor thermal protection can trip causing the pump to stop. This leads to costly unplanned service calls.

If a conventional wastewater pump runs intermittently, the solids build-up will be removed by backflushing when the pump is shut off at the end of the operating cycle. When next cycle begins, efficiency returns to its initial value since the impeller is free from solid objects.

The high efficiency of the Flygt N-pump is sustained over time due to its self-cleaning ability, keeping energy costs to a minimum.

Disposable Wipes Can Cost Municipalities Thousands Without Flygt’s Technology

Inlet of Competitor Channel Impeller Pump Clogged With Rags and Disposable Wipes

Competitor Channel Impeller Throughlet Clogged with Disposable Wipes and Rags During Routine Usage

Case Study: Flushable Wipes & Modern Trash – Flygt N-Pump Solves Problem

See the following Case-Study of a municipality that was having problems with flushable wipes and modern trash continually clogging traditional non-clog pumps.

Problem: In 2000, the Andresen Pump Station was constructed at their largest lift station in the Vancouver, WA. “When the pump station came online just before 2004, we noted routine maintenance incidents involving clogged pumps. As the years passed, the clogging and maintenance increased to a frequency of twice and sometimes three times per week,” recalls Frank Dick, PE, an engineer with Vancouver’s Public Works. Their existing pumps were traditional non-clog, enclosed impeller that are susceptible to clogging with modern trash of rags and flushable wipes. The maintenance of the units and inherent vibration problems led the City to seek a solution to stop excessive repairs and maintenance. “It became apparent there was a direct correlation between household cleaning and personal wipes and the ragging that steadily sapped the flow and efficiency of the pumps. The increased incidences of clogging at the low-head lift station averaged three unscheduled maintenance dispatches a week. To clear the entangled impeller of a 40 hp pump at the low-head facility normally took two hours by an outsourced crew at a rate of $80 per hour.”

Solution:  City replaced existing pumps with Flygt N-pumps after Dick presented an electricity cost savings analysis and two-inch thick file of work orders for unscheduled maintenance at the low-head station. “Each page represented a $160 expenditure,” he said. By eliminating unscheduled maintenance, the utility stood to save at least $20,000 annually by replacing the original pumps with the highly reliable N-pump units. Electric utility reductions—proven at least 45 percent by the metering period—will further add to the total savings over the life of the equipment. The pumps not only eliminated clogging but also delivered significant power savings that would accrue throughout the expected service life period of more than 50 years. The reliability of an N-pump can be attributed to the semi-open, screw-shaped impeller that prevents clogging and facilitates the unobstructed flow of fibrous material. Without material wrapping around the impeller and sapping pump flow and efficiency, energy savings often exceeded 45% during field tests due to the patented component. The leading edge of the pump’s rotating impeller passes across a stationary relief groove located in the pump suction port. The dynamic action cleans and pumps away any rags, stringy materials and solids from the impeller without compromising the hydraulic efficiency.

Innovative Service Cart – Dry Pit Applications/Retrofits

Case Study: Dry-Pit Submersible Retrofit –  Eliminate Maintenance & Safety Concerns

Problem: The City was experiencing increased labor cost due to the return sludge (RAS) pumps and a collection system pump station that were not only clogging with rags and stringy debris, but also had a maintenance intensive conventional dry-pit pump, with couplings, shafting,  pillow block bearings, shaft guards and vertical electric motors on the upper floor. The system was also complex and relied on a seal water system composed of solenoid valves, needle valves and interlocks with the motor control system to flush mechanical seal. Their existing pumps were traditional non-clog, enclosed impeller that are susceptible to clogging with modern trash of rags and flushable wipes. The maintenance of the units and inherent vibration problems led the City to seek a solution to stop excessive repairs and maintenance.

Solution:  JCI retrofitted the troublesome pump stations  in both locations with Flygt’s dry pit submersible offering advantages which included a self-cleaning N-Impeller design, much improved hydraulic inefficiencies and continuous operation in dry or submerged conditions. Flygt’s cooling system allows the motor runs to run cool even in continuous or variable speed applications with minimal maintenance. There is no oil or grease to change and no coupling to align and maintain. With Flygt’s plug in cartridge double mechanical seal, the city also had the ability to eliminate the need for its external water source for seal flushing thus eliminating water usage and the complex interlock with the pumps. An additional benefit is the pumps and motors are now flood proof since the pumps are submersible if the station floods. By removing the vertical shafting, the safety of the operators is improved. The City now howhas pumps operating flawlessly for over 8 years with smooth running, quite operation and reliable pumping system.

See the following simple piping modifications that were required for replacing pumps with tangential discharges.

 

Hi-Chrome, Hard-Iron, Impeller & Insert Ring Upgrade to Dramatically Improve Service Life of Pump

Problem:  Sand, grit, rocks and gravel dramatically reduce the service life of cast iron components causing inefficient pumping and high repair cost.
Long Term Solution: Retrofit channel style, cast-iron impeller to Flygt’s “N” impeller with high chrome suction insert and impeller. The 25% chrome content (Hard-iron) has 10 times the relative life expectancy versus traditional cast iron.

Photo of Flygt pump modified with High Chrome Suction insert

 

Safety & Liability in Repairing Explosion Proof Motors for Hazardous Location – Flame Path Integrity