March 23, 2021 -- Colorado Springs, CO, US -- Since the early 2000’s, Applied Flow Technology (AFT) has been a proud supporter of the Hydraulic Institute.

Several of our staff are involved at a variety of levels within HI, whether it is at a committee level where we are actively contributing to the research and development of industry pump standards, to simply attending conferences and placing young engineers in the PILOT program (Pump Industry Leaders of Tomorrow). Throughout the year, you can find AFT staff presenting PDH credit webinars, attending countless HI conference calls, and we strive to help get the valuable HI message out to our audiences.

The world of COVID-19 and virtual meetings has not slowed the Hydraulic Institute down. Once again, they have thought outside of the box and orchestrated a month-long virtual Annual Conference where they have provided members and attendees a variety of committee updates, educational presentations, and industry insights.  

Our staff has heard and participated in sessions such as Technical Affairs & Certification Update, Pump Knowledge Workshop, Pump Systems Matter, Essential Strategies for Leading in the Next Normal, and even the CEO Roundtable.

AFT’s three staff who are most involved in HI Committees are Trey Walters, President and Founder, Jeff Olsen, Vice President of Technology, and Scott Lang, Senior Engineering Developer.

Committees AFT Staff Participated in:

7.8 - ANSI/HI Controlled Volume Metering Guideline – Committee met to revise an existing HI Standard and discuss the path forward. (Jeff Olsen)

9.6.1 Rotodynamic Pumps Guideline for NPSH Margin - The committee discussed what updates should be made on this version of the guideline. (Jeff Olsen)

9.6.6 Rotodynamic Pumps for Pump Piping - ANSI/HI 9.6.6 details pump piping requirements for rotodynamic pumps and effects of inlet/outlet piping on pump performance. This standard is applicable to all piping downstream and upstream from the pump but not when entering the tank, vessel, or intake structure. (Jeff Olsen)

9.6.3 Rotodynamic Pumps – Guideline for Allowable Operating Region The committee discussed what updates should be made on this version of the guideline. (Jeff Olsen)

ANSI/HI 9.6.7 Rotodynamic Pumps - Guideline for Effects of Liquid Viscosity on Performance - The goal of this standard is to predict the performance of pumps when they are pumping something more viscous than water, typically oil or another hydrocarbon. AFT’s Scott Lang specifically contributed towards the investigation into various reports/papers that were questioning the validity of the HI method. He found that there was no serious cause for concern. From Scott’s participation in this committee, he co-authored the technical paper, “Understanding Uncertainties in Viscous Performance Predictions for Centrifugal Pumps," as a summary and explanation of this work (Presented at the 2020 Virtual Turbomachinery and Pump Symposia).

11.6 Rotodynamic Submersible Pumps for Hydraulic Performance, Hydrostatic Pressure, Mechanical, and Electrical Acceptance Tests - this committee met to discuss proposed revisions to the standard. (Jeff Olsen)

Associate Member Council – Received a report on Associate Member committees and planning of education and knowledge workshops. (Trey Walters)

Energy Rating Oversight Committee - Provides oversight to the Energy Rating Program. A status report was given, and the committee discussed new program initiatives and challenges. (Trey Walters)

HI Standards Committee - This committee provides oversight to all documents developed within HI Technical Affairs.  A status report was given, and the committee considered new work item proposals and documents requiring maintenance. (Jeff Olsen)

Hydraulic Institute Systems Section - This committee provides oversight and guidance to all documents developed within HI Systems Section. The committee was asked to generate new ideas for projects to fill the pipeline for Systems. (Jeff Olsen)

Hydraulic Institute Data Library – Received an overview of the newly launched Hydraulic Institute Data Library website presented by Tryg Dahl, Chair of the Engineering Databook committee. (Jeff Olsen)

Positive Displacement Group - Discussed the launch of the Monthly North American Sales Report (M20 report). Manufacturers and those interested in positive displacement pumps were encouraged to attend. (Trey Walters and Jeff Olsen).