Fire Lion Global is a supplier of positive-displacement gear pumps for all applications in the firefighting foam industry with over 75 combined years of experience in foam applications and pump experience.
With all of the changes happening with firefighting foams, whether it’s with municipal departments, industrial departments, or fixed systems, there is one potential area that is sometimes overlooked. The major change of course is the foam agent changing from Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF or AR-AFFF type) to Synthetic Fluorine Free Foams (SFFF). With this change, there are other things to consider in addition to the environmental effects.
Pumping of the SFFF-type concentrates can be severely affected if the incorrect type of pump is being used. SFFFs in the market can have a very high viscosity while at standing state. The inherent chemistry for these foams requires the viscosities to start off at a very high level. Positive-displacement gear pumps are the best style of pump to be used because of the viscosities of these new foams. When transferring foam concentrate, whether from drums to storage tanks, from totes to stationary vessels, or from storage tanks to mobile equipment, gear pumps should be used to ensure that the foam agent is being transferred efficiently, especially during an event and the mobile piece of equipment needs to be refilled.
In the past, there have been a lot of examples of pumps being used for transferring of foam concentrates. These range from gear pumps to piston pumps to centrifugal pumps. The efficiencies of piston and centrifugal pumps are severely diminished when pumping SFFFs. These styles of pumps are designed and can be used for concentrates that are Newtonian (flow and act like water). An AFFF or Class A type foam is a great example of this. When dealing with SFFFs, these foams are non-Newtonian (do not flow and act like water). These foams require a different style of pump that can handle the viscosity range of any foam agent on the market. Gear pumps are the pumps designed for higher viscosity, and non-Newtonian fluids like SFFFs.
Fire Lion has a vast variety of options available for transfer pumps. We have supplied many different configurations depending on what is needed by the end user, truck manufacturer or trailer fabricator. Some of these options include drivers that are either diesel powered or gasoline powered. We can supply any size diesel engine needed, complete with a clutch in between the engine and the pump. This allows the user to start the engine under a ‘no load’ condition and only engage the pump once the hoses and valves are all in the correct position to allow for pumping. Gasoline-powered transfer pumps can be manual start or electric start and have a centrifugal clutch installed that only engages once the RPM of the engine increases. The pump assemblies can be mounted on a wheeled base, where one person can easily manoeuvre the pump into position and utilize it effectively. The pump/driver can also be mounted on a baseplate to permanently mount it on a trailer for use as well.
No matter your situation or application for transfer pumps, Fire Lion Global has you covered! Contact us today to learn more and begin the conversation of providing the solution for your pumping needs.
For more information please visit: Firelionglobal.com, https://www.linkedin.com/company/fire-lion-global/ or email info@firelionglobal.com
