Of the many environmental projects which the Environmental Engineering Division of Joseph and Gionis, LLC, is involved in, frequently “pumping” of large volumes of liquid, fluids, oils, and waste is required – where such fluids are NOT simply fluids but have a HIGH degree of solids mixed in with them. This requires unique and specialized methodologies of “pumping” (also used in dredging) – such as Joseph and Gionis’ use of the world-class Eddy Pump / Tornado Technology.

Eddy Pumping and Dredging
When pumping is required, the Environmental Engineering Division of Joseph and Gionis, LLC, utilizes a world class unique pump known as the EDDY Pump. The EDDY Pump is based on a design that has revolutionized the pumping industry and utilizes a design which enables the EDDY Pump to handle a higher percentage of solid material and more highly viscous material than any existing centrifugal pump available today in any part of the world! In fact, it pumps up to 2,500 gpm of liquids (such as contaminated toxic waste- water) which consists of up to 60-80% solids. No other pump in the world can equal the performance the EDDY Pump has actually obtained in either dredging and / or sewage treatment industries.

The EDDY Pump consists of an energy generating rotor (1) attached to the end of a drive shaft (2) and placed within a volute (3). As the rotor begins to spin, it sets into motion the ambient fluid present within the volute and adjoining intake chamber (4). At normal operating speed, this spinning fluid is forced down, into the hollow center of the intake chamber where it creates a high speed, swirling synchronized column of fluid (5) which agitates the material (6) to be pumped (sludge, sand, clay etc.) This swirling column of fluid creates a peripheral "EDDY" effect (7) which causes the agitated material to travel by reverse flow, up, along the sides of the intake chamber, into the volute. Here the material, under pressure from below, is forced into the discharge pipe (8).

Pump Comparison: EDDY Pump vs. Centrifugal Pumps
The Environmental Engineering Division of Joseph and Gionis, LLC, will be utilizing the world class unique EDDY Pump because of its unprecedented superb features when comparing the EDDY Pump with standard conventional centrifugal pumps with respect to: (1) cavitations/NPSH loss; (2) maintenance; (3) seal failures; (4) non-clogging; (5) viscous materials; (6) high specific gravity; (7) low vibration; (8) no critical setup; and (9) EPA considerations.

The Environmental Engineering Division of Joseph and Gionis, LLC, believe these differentiating unique features may be CRTICAL to the success of a waste-water treatment program – they are briefly discussed below:

Cavitations/NPSH Loss: EDDY Pumps suffer from no cavitations, NPSH loss, surging, or shock damage when pumping concentrated material with rotor speeds of up to 2,000 rpm. This is not accomplished with centrifugal pumps because of different hydrodynamic principles. Centrifugal pumps experience differential pressure through the principle of maintaining low pressure in the housing (NPSH). While with the Eddy Pump a rotational column is created (EDDY Effect) which in turn creates energy in the form of rotational force. This rotational force which originates on the top of the volute and transmits energy to the bottom/suction line creates a smoother operation avoiding much of the cavitations associated with centrifugal pumps due to their deficiency in this regard.

Maintenance: Due to the simplistic design of the EDDY Pumps they can operate years with trouble free operation and minimum of maintenance. This is due to the fact that EDDY Pumps operate without the need of an impeller, but instead uses a patented rotor design which can avoid wear longer than impellers. This is accomplished due to the larger tolerance between the rotor and volute. Wearing plates and wear rings are also not needed with the EDDY Pump in order to regulate the efficiency. On the other hand they are necessary with centrifugal pumps. The suction-side wear plate is usually the part which needs replacement most often with centrifugal pumps. When wear rings come into contact or "touch-off," they generate a very high amount of friction, which produces heat, causing the rings to gall (friction weld). When this happens, the pump can seize. This is a high energy, dangerous situation, which can result in extensive damage to other critical components and endanger workers. When this occurs repairs can be very expensive, especially for larger pumps, often reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and taking weeks to repair.

Seal Failures (Zero Leakage): Pumps are often subjected to severe shock loading and shaft whip due to the presence of solids and system upsets. For this reason centrifugal pumps often deal with seal failure and leakage. On the other hand with the EDDY Pump and the patented EDDY Seal, seal failure and leakage becomes completely obsolete. This is can be largely associated to our seal design and the negative pressure that is thrust upon the seal which eliminates the leakage. Centrifugal pumps on the other hand have a positive pressure on the seal which greatly maximizes the wear and leakage.

Non-Clogging: EDDY Pumps can pump slurry containing rags, plastic bags, hair balls and other debris. Will pass hard spherical solids with a diameter only 1' less than the diameter of the discharge pipe. In many cases the rugged cruciform rotor will break up the debris material. A chopper or a macerator pump usually is not needed as the EDDY Pump is able to move the material through the discharge pipe. With centrifugal pumps large debris which passes through the intake structure often causes suction blockage, extreme vibration, and wear ring seizure and failure. This often results in broken impellers, case damage, broken and bent shafts, bearing failures, warped bearing housings, and broken couplings. Viscous Materials: EDDY Pumps can pump viscous material with less than 5 percent free liquid. This is an impossible task for centrifugal pumps. This task can be accomplished due to the higher suction capabilities of the EDDY Pump.

High Specific Gravity: Eddy Pumps can pump ores and other high specific gravity materials which are beyond the range of centrifugal pumps.

Low Vibration: EDDY Pumps create a synchronized fluid rotation (EDDY Effect) in frequency and amplitude which minimizes pump vibration.

No Critical Setup: EDDY Pumps are operationally self-balancing. This allows there to be no need for expensive alignment procedures.

EPA Considerations: EDDY Pumps remove contaminated sediment without agitating and dispersing material into surrounding area.

EDDY Pump - Applications
When pumping is required, the Environmental Engineering Division of Joseph and Gionis, LLC, has selected the EDDY Pump because of its world wide acceptance and efficacy as a world-class pump – and because of its pedigree and world-wide extensive well-recognized use and effectiveness with Municipal Sewage Sludge, Sand and Gravel Mining, Silica Sand, General Mining, Clay Tailing Ponds, Coal Tailings, Paper Pulp, Sedimentary Toxic Waste, Fuel Oil, Oil Sludge Transfer, Oil Well Mud, Chemical Sludge, Chemical Waste, Industrial Waste, Food Processing Waste, Aerated Slurry, Polymers, and Gunite (Concrete). Furthermore, the United States Armed Services (Navy) has extensively used (and currently uses) the EDDY Pump in a number of their US aircraft carrier vessels because of the safety, effectiveness, and reliability of the EDDY Pump.