Marine fire pumps are required to be onboard any ship because of all the heavy equipment and flammable fuels that ships carry. Major ship fires are a constant danger and, with the amount of water in the ocean, they can be devastating. This article will tell you what to look for in a fire fighting pump for sale and how to choose the right one for your needs.
There are two main types of marine fire pumps: centrifugal and positive displacement. Centrifugal fire pumps are the ones you’ll usually see on large ships because they are very fast and have high GPM (gallons per minute) capacities, but they require priming to work. Because time is important in a fire emergency, you’ll want to prime your marine fire pump ahead of time.
Positive displacement fire pumps are slower than centrifugal ones but have higher pressures. They can also inject foam into the water stream which can be very effective against oil fires. This is why some regulative bodies require ships to have a positive displacement fire pump in their ship’s fire system.
Fire pumps for sale are typically driven by an electric motor or diesel engine and can be arranged in many different ways. Some are horizontal split-case, with the driver on top of the pump casing and the suction inlet and discharge outlet at the bottom of the pump casing. They are the most common type because they’re relatively cheap, offer a wide range of flow and pressure capacities, and have easy access for pump maintenance due to their split casings. Others are in-line pumps that have the driver in line with the pump and the suction inlet and discharge outlet on approximately the same plane, which takes up less space.