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Welcome back to another edition of Inspector Pumphead Recommends! In this column, I will show my skills and experience as an Inspector to highlight and explain the features, specifications and benefits of specific pump models. The pump that is featured here might be a best-seller, be seasonally appropriate or have unique features that set it apart from other pumps of a similar type.

In today’s edition of “Inspector Pumphead Recommends” I will be highlighting the AMT 12SP10C-3P self-priming cast iron chemical pump. AMT is a great brand for pumps used at job sites and they carry many other centrifugal chemical pumps.

What is a Chemical Pump?

A chemical pump is simply a pump that is is able to transport or process chemicals in addition to water and wastewater. This is due to the special construction of the pump which is resistant to corrosion or the other ill effects often caused by chemical substances. Keep in mind that these pumps can’t pump any old universal chemical. As with any other pump, they are built to precise specifications and can handle certain applications.

For instance, the AMT 12SP10C-3P is not to be used with petroleum based liquids. But it is still one of the best chemical pumps on the market.

Application

This AMT pump is referred to as a general transfer chemical pump and is specifically designed specifically for commercial and industrial applications. The main applications are high volume liquid transfer, wastewater drainage and chemical processing. This pump can often be found in factories, refineries and chemical processing plants.

The AMT 12SP1C-3P can handle liquids with specific gravities up to 1.3 Specific gravity, telling you the density of the liquid. It is the ratio of the density of substance to the density of the reference substance, which in the case of liquids is water. To put it more simply, the specific gravity measures how dense the desired liquid or chemical is, as compared to water at 4° C.

Specific gravity can vary depending on temperature and pressure so the sample substance and the reference substance should be compared with the same conditions. Some common liquid substances with a specific gravity of 1.3 or less include acetylene, ethanol, crude oil, natural gasoline and sea water. The AMT will handle those liquids and many others. For temperature, it can handle fluids ranging from 40° F to 180° F.

Performance

Here’s the performance curve for all AMT self-priming centrifugal pumps:

The 12SP series can reach a maximum capacity of approximately 85 GPM and a maximum head of about 60 ft. TDH.

Construction

Naturally, any chemical pump will feature rugged construction, in this case a cast iron casing with seals made of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber and EPR (ethylene propylene rubber) seals. The dual volute is built to handle working pressures up to 125 PSI and reduces radial load on the motor. The impeller is self-cleaning and clog resistant and can handle ⅜” diameter semi-solids. The dual cycle NEMA 56J motors have stainless steel shafts.

A built-in check valve adds to the convenience and allows self-priming up to 20 ft. after the initial prime. A back pullout design also allows for easy service, maintenance and cleaning. This is an impressively designed pump that will be able to move wastewater or chemicals for your application.

Pump Products applications engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800.