72 | nzdairy DAIRY SERVICES » Prime Fluid Management Allen, Ben, Cameron and Brent Petrie. Russell Fredric Value and reliability over its operating life A failed effluent pump can leave a dairy farm with full storage ponds, a narrowing window in which to spread effluent and increased risk of financial penalties for non-compliance. On larger farms, long pumping distances, high pressure requirements and abrasive effluent place particular demands on pump reliability. Prime Fluid Management introduced Wangen progressive cavity pumps to New Zealand about 10 years ago after looking for an alternative to the limited range available locally. The German-made pumps use a positive-displacement design. Prime director and agriculture specialist Ben Petrie says the slower-running design of the Wangen pumps delivers value and reliability over its operating life. “Dairy effluent is not an easy liquid to move. It’s abrasive and corrosive – you get a lot of sand, grit and stones, as well as cow hair, straw and grass, which can very easily block a lot of pumps.” A key difference in the use of Wangen products is the company’s approach to pump sizing. Rather than using a smaller pump at higher speed to achieve the required flow and pressure, Wangen design larger pumps to operate at significantly lower rpm; standard Wangen effluent models run between 150 and 250rpm. “The faster you run a pump on an abrasive fluid, the quicker it wears out. With Wangen, we looked at the total cost of ownership over the pump’s lifetime rather than just the original upfront cost,” said Petrie. The lower-speed design reduces wear, and several other design features of the Wangen pumps simplify maintenance and extend service life. An additional bearing frame absorbs the pump thrust rather than those forces transferring through the gearbox and motor. The bearing frame also allows for removal of the motor and gearbox without disturbing the pump. Compared with a standard pin joint, Wangen’s fully encapsulated cardan joint is built for heavier-duty operation and protected against the fibre-wrapping that is common in dairy effluent management. The rotor is another point of difference. Wangen uses a hardened-steel rotor rather than relying on a thin chrome coating, providing greater resistance to the abrasion found in effluent. “The hardened-steel rotor has proved to be a massive advantage as far as wear resistance.” For dairy farmers, reliability has consequences beyond avoiding a breakdown. Effluent storage capacity, weather conditions and application rules can restrict when effluent can be spread, so a pump failure can risk ponds overfilling, reduce valuable irrigation windows, and increase the likelihood of non-compliance penalties if storage capacity is exceeded. “Upfront, it won’t be the cheapest on the market, however, if you look at the lifecycle cost and reliability, that’s where your savings are.” Southland farmer Hayden McKenzie says he has had a great run with Prime’s pumps, especially the Wangen effluent pump, “which has probably been one of the best pumps we’ve ever used.” “The backup service is a big part of that too.” Prime supplies Wangen through resellers and installers rather than directly to farms, supporting customers through its network as the range continues to build its presence in New Zealand
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