The Steamboating Forum

Hi,

I am trying to set up my condensate system so that it is not running off the main engine. I would like to use a 12v pump. I know that your typical 12v bilge pumps dont like to run dry. Given the air/water vapor/liquid make up of the condensate, and the additional benefit of pulling a vacuum on the exhaust side of the motor I would think I need a pump that will move both air and liquid. Can anyone tell me what type of pump I should be looking for ? Are their other applications that would use the same type of pump ?

thanks

jon

Depends how keen you are on having the vacume, certainly if you want to maintain 20 or so inchs hg then pump type becomes a very definate consideration.

I know some have used rotary vane type pumps with some success. We use a modified (double acting) edwards pump but clearly thats far more suited to being crosshead driven than electrically driven.


Daniel

Most bilge pumps are vane type and have to run wet all the time to work. If they loose water then all suction will go too.

To maintain 20 inches you'll be needing a 1/4 HP motor and a decent pump. That motor would need about 20 amps constantly and the motor would need to be air or water cooled.

Jabsco make vacuum pumps, they also do a large range with motors attached:

http://www.jabscoshop.com/

Personally I'd not even think about an electric pump, there is no point when you have a main engine to drive it.