Page 48: of Marine News Magazine (May 2013)

sizing the piping system, reduced pumping cost.  Cost: Royal Navy LPD acquisition cost of was actually roughly one-half that projected for CuNi pipe Bondstrand GlassÞ ber Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) and phenolic piping is available in diameters up to 1,000 mm (40 inches), pressure classes up to 398 bar (5,750 psi) and standard lengths up to 12 meters. (40 feet). STRUCTURAL COMPOSITE MATERIAL CONSTRUCTED PUMPSSims Pump Valve Company, Inc. manufactures Simsite products to the marine industries. Simply described, Simsite is a patented, graphite combination-Þ ber reinforced composite with phenolic resin. Offered exclusively by Sims, it features a unique design that is reinforced for higher strength and ß exibil-ity. As a heavy-duty structural composite, its characteristics can be changed to accommodate the required structural strength of the parts being manufactured. Among the products pro- duced using this material include pumps, impellers and rings, pump casings and diffusers, backplates, guide bearings, sleeves, bushings, mechanical seals, ball valves and hush heaters. Sims sells only to owners and end users. According to John Kozel, President of Sims Pump Valve Company, Inc., thatÕs because his valves arenÕt the cheapest on the market. Some yards are reluctant to use something in a bid that might tip the total price in favor of someone else. The vast majority of the work and products produced by Sims is custom designed work, Þ t for purpose. Owners and operators come to Sims for the same reason someone might purchase GRE piping: economy, weight savings, lifecycle improvements and the elimination of cor- rosion from the equation Ð just to name a few advantages. Sims Pumps never corrode in salt, waste or chlorinated wa- ter, John Kozel said, and they are an excellent Þ t for many acid or alkaline solutions. All Sims Products are manufactured (ma- chined) from Simsite, 100 percent machined solid blocks into their form, which gives them superior mechanical and hydraulic properties. They are 100 percent manufactured in the United States and last many times the life of their metallic counterparts. Custom engineered for the customerÕs applications, Sims does not, like other pump companies, offer only standard lines of pumps. And since Sims machines their pumps instead of casting or molding them, Sims can design their pumps spe- ciÞ cally for the desired operating performance, which results in much higher efÞ ciencies and a much longer life for the pump. In a marine world where wasted energy, space, weight and corrosion can no longer be tolerated, the premium price of a Sims pump will likely pay for itself many times over dur- ing the life of the unit. Beyond this, Sims replaces individual impellers and casing rings (mouth rings) for any centrifugal pump, improving longevity, efÞ ciency and performance. The advantages of a composite Sims pump are many: Lightweight / energy-ef Þ cient: The pumps are well balanced and remain that way for their lifetime. This means less vibration and shaft deß ection, resulting in a much longer life for the entire rotating element. Each pump is custom built for the best efÞ ciency point. Less start-up load / self-lubricating: The pumps have the ability to take dry starts due to the The Sea Drain Plus Piping System.48 MNMay 2013MN May2013 Layout 32-49.indd 48MN May2013 Layout 32-49.indd 485/3/2013 12:58:20 PM5/3/2013 12:58:20 PM