Systems and methods described herein provide a vacuum priming system for close-coupled pumps. The vacuum priming system is mounted separately from a centrifugal pump and powered by an electric motor. An auxiliary vacuum pump pulls prime (e.g., water or another liquid) through a solenoid valve that is in turn connected to a connecting tube. At one end of the connecting tube is a screen and prime sensor. The screen filters particulates to protect the vacuum pump, and the prime sensor may detect when the centrifugal pump is primed. The vacuum priming system includes a self-contained control panel with an auto operation mode to only pull power during priming, reducing power consumption over the lifetime of the pump system and improving efficiency.

A sensing device for a centrifugal slurry pump having an impeller which rotates about an axis, the centrifugal slurry pump including a side liner and a main liner housed within an outer casing of the pump, the sensing device comprising; a body portion arranged to pass through the outer casing, wherein the body portion includes a sensor biased towards contact with either the side liner or the main liner of the pump.

The invention relates to monitoring and predicting the operation of a pump (30) arranged in a tank (3) for transporting a liquid product on board a ship (1), the pump (30) having a pump-head (31) arranged in the tank (3). A tripping risk parameter of the pump (30) is estimated at least as a function of a required net positive suction head of the pump (30), of the current filling level of the tank and of a current state of movement, which is a current sea state and/or a current state of movement of the ship, and a user is provided with an indication as a function of said tripping risk parameter.

A particular application to ships for transporting a cold liquid product, more particularly to ships for transporting LNG of the type which consume the boil-off gas for their propulsion.

The invention relates to monitoring and predicting the operation of a pump (30) arranged in a tank (3) for transporting a liquid product on board a ship (1), the pump (30) having a pump-head (31) arranged in the tank (3). A tripping risk parameter of the pump (30) is estimated at least as a function of a required net positive suction head of the pump (30), of the current filling level of the tank and of a current state of movement, which is a current sea state and/or a current state of movement of the ship, and a user is provided with an indication as a function of said tripping risk parameter.

A particular application to ships for transporting a cold liquid product, more particularly to ships for transporting LNG of the type which consume the boil-off gas for their propulsion.

Systems and methods described herein provide a vacuum priming system for close-coupled pumps. The vacuum priming system is mounted separately from a centrifugal pump and powered by an electric motor. An auxiliary vacuum pump pulls prime (e.g., water or another liquid) through a solenoid valve that is in turn connected to a connecting tube. At one end of the connecting tube is a screen and prime sensor. The screen filters particulates to protect the vacuum pump, and the prime sensor may detect when the centrifugal pump is primed. The vacuum priming system includes a self-contained control panel with an auto operation mode to only pull power during priming, reducing power consumption over the lifetime of the pump system and improving efficiency.