Rental Solutions -- Pump Primer
Hydraulically driven submersible pump and hydraulic power unit packages offer expanded rental opportunities.
by Jeff Whittaker
When it comes to rental companies, there is great disparity from one to the next with respect to their submersible pump offerings for dewatering.
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| If a rental center is interested in pursuing larger dewatering jobs and the rental revenues that come with them, a 74 horsepower hydraulic power unit, some hydraulic hoses and a few different pumps that work with the kind of jobs in your area is a good place to good start. |
There are some rental companies that don’t offer any pumps; many offer a selection of 2-, 3- and 4-inch electric and gas-powered dewatering pumps effective for homeowners and contractors with a small dewatering job.
Then there are rental companies, including some of the largest, that have entire divisions dedicated to dewatering and have a wide variety of pumps available to handle almost any job. These dedicated pump rental locations offer larger electric submersibles, engine-coupled centrifugal, diaphragm and double-diaphragm pumps, wellpoint pumps, hydraulically driven submersible pumps plus small electric trash pumps and accessories.
So what does it take for a small rental house to broaden its pump offering with hydraulically driven submersible dewatering pump systems? Not much. If you’re renting 2-, 3- and 4-inch pumps of any kind, then you likely have lay-flat or wire-reinforced (preferred) discharge hoses already, so all rental houses need to do is add a hydraulically driven submersible pump, a hydraulic power unit and hydraulic hoses.
Among rental companies, a small system with a three-inch discharge pump suits many applications, and a larger system can handle bigger dewatering projects.
Small systems
One of Hydra-Tech Pumps’ most popular products are the S3T models of pumps. Available in aluminum and ductile iron, the S3T and S3TDI offer a vortex impeller for trash/solids handling; the S3TR and S3TRDI offer the same vortex impeller and trash/solids handling capability but with additional recessing to prevent stringy solids from winding around the impeller and motor shaft; and the S3TC and S3TCDI with a two-vane open channel impeller. These pumps can be used in construction dewatering, manhole pumping, digester pumping, oil skimming and many more.
Hydraulic-powered pumps need a hydraulic power source. Two popular models work well with the S3T model pumps. For gasoline, the HT13G power unit is the right choice. It is available with a recoil start (HT13G) or electric start (HT13GE). If diesel is your preference, then the HT11D with electric start is the answer. Both units feature a 10-horsepower engine and produce 6 gpm @ 2100 psi. Both offer an extended-run version where the stock engine fuel cell is replaced with a 15-gal. belly tank that will run much more than an eight-hour shift without refueling. All HT13 and HT11 models come with wheels and handles for easy maneuvering around a job site.
A small hydraulic dewatering system is a good way for a rental company to determine if they can get the kind of utilization and rental revenues they are after in their market. If their region has many dewatering opportunities, starting with a small system can build confidence toward putting a large hydraulic dewatering system in fleet down the road.
Large systems
The most popular unit for rental houses in a large system is the 74 horsepower hydraulic power unit (HPU). Diesel engines of 74 horsepower and less, have significantly less exhaust aftertreatment and no need for DEF. Also, the 74 horsepower hydraulic power units deliver 30 gpm @ 2,900 psi; Hydra-Tech offers eight pumps that will operate with this system. Hydra-Tech offers the HPUs in a wide variety of configurations and engine brands. Some of the basic options to choose from are:
Open or sound-attenuated: Hydra-Tech offers all engine brands in an open configuration and some options in a sound-attenuated enclosure. If rental customers will be working in a residential or urban area, sound attenuation will be desirable. The sound-attenuated unit is completely enclosed and has sound-dampening material on the inner walls to significantly reduce the noise level of the operating unit.
Skid frame or DOT trailer frame: Any large hydraulic power unit of 25 horsepower and higher is available in a skid frame or highway trailer. Skid frames are popular in oil fields but less desirable for a rental company. A DOT trailer model is ready to be towed to a site by your customer with a truck equipped with a pintle hook.
Many other options are available. Telematics are becoming popular with this type of equipment that allows monitoring unit location, fuel level and other helpful information. Custom hydraulic circuits, custom flow and pressures, custom paint, hose reels, customized trailers, work lights and even things such as a folding picker crane for lowering and lifting large pumps are available. When it comes to customization, it never hurts to ask!
Hydra-Tech offers 10 different pumps that will run with Hydra-Tech’s 30 gpm/2,900 psi 74 horsepower hydraulic power unit. They cover a wide variety of applications:
S3CHL: This 2-inch discharge pump is a specialty pump for moving clean water in high head applications. This pump has a shut-off head of 440 feet, meaning that you can move water from significant depths or to significant heights with this pump. This pump features a closed channel impeller with close internal clearances that allows for its high head capability.
S4VHL, S6TC, S6V: These solids handling pumps will fit through a 21-inch manhole. With a 4- and 6-inch discharge, they are often used for sewer bypass jobs.
In addition to sewer bypass jobs, they are well-suited for many solids handling applications and fluid conditions. In addition to some significant discharge flows and solids handling, the S6TC and S4VHL have good head capability. All are available in ductile iron or aluminum.
S4THL, S6T, S8TC: These are large-solids handling pumps with 4-, 6- and 8-inch discharges. These big boys offer flows from 1,000 to 2,600 gpm and maximum head capability from 80 to 215 feet. These pumps will move some fluid in a hurry!
S6SHR: This 6-inch shredder pump features hardened cutting surfaces that allow the pump to work through debris and trash in the fluid and pass them into the discharge stream by cutting or chopping the solids into smaller pieces.
These can be a good choice for sewer bypass and any kind of open water dewatering where trash and debris are present.
S6CSL: This 6-inch sand and slurry pump is a heavy-duty and powerful material mover that has hardened wear components. The built-in agitator mixes and suspends the solids being pumped. These pumps are often used for pumping heavy slurries containing lime, mill, scale, coal, ash, silt, food waste or sand and gravel. They are the ideal choice for light dredging, sandbag or geo-tube filling and moving mine tailings. They are also used in oil rig cellars to clear driller’s mud.
S12M: This 12-inch axial-flow pump can efficiently pump high volumes of water at relatively low heads. This pump can move 4,200 gpm with no head, 3,900 gpm at 10 feet of head and 3,450 gpm at 20 feet of head. It is perfect for high-volume, clear-water, low-head dewatering such as a stream bypass.
If a rental center is interested in pursuing larger dewatering jobs and the rental revenues that come with them, a 74 horsepower hydraulic power unit, some hydraulic hoses and a few different pumps that work with the kind of jobs in your area is a good place to good start.
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This is a paid Rental Solutions article presented by Hydra-Tech Pumps; Jeff Whittaker is vice president of sales marketing and product development. It originally appeared in the July-August 2022 issue of Pro Contractor Rentals magazine. ©2022 Urbain Communications LLC. All rights reserved.
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