Pumps

Pumps are used to circulate fresh water and oxygen throughout the tank. They should be able to provide two water turnovers per hour. Using self-priming pumps is preferred by the industry. A self-priming pump allows a mixture of water and air to be pumped through the tank. Regular centrifugal pumps use water pressure on the internal impeller arms to create centrifugal force that moves water through the pump, as shown below.

When air gets trapped inside the pump it binds the arms, which makes it unable to function. Because lobster need aeration of the water being supplied to the tank self-priming pumps are the best option. The impeller eye is where water enters the centrifugal pump. In self-priming pumps both air and water enter and are mixed by the centrifugal force of the impeller arms and both are discharged into a reservoir. From the reservoir the water and air are evacuated into the tank. This type of pump prevents the impeller arms from becoming air locked.

The more lobster present in a tank system the more oxygen and circulation will be required. The water salinity and temperature determines its oxygen saturation capacity. Water at a low temperature with high salinity holds less dissolved oxygen. Lobster oxygen consumption also goes up in warmer temperatures. Lobster in 60⁰F water, will consume 2 times the amount of oxygen as lobster in 40⁰F water.

If you have 1,000lbs of lobster in 45⁰F water they will require 10.8gpm circulation and consume about 50% of the dissolved oxygen.

 

Pounds of Lobster	55	110	220	660
Water Temp (⁰F)	Rate of Circulation (gallons per minute)
40⁰	½	1	2	6
50⁰	1	2	4	12
60⁰	1 ½	3	6	18
70⁰	2	4	8	24

 

SA Series Packaged Chillers Non-expandable (integrated pump tank) 1.5Ton – 20Ton Single / Dual Circuits Single / Dual Pumps

SAE Series Modular Chillers Expandable (pump & tank on separate skid) 1.5Ton – 200Ton Single / Dual Circuits

SAR Series Split Chillers Expandable (Outdoor Condensing Unit) (pump, tank, evaporator on indoor skid) 1.5Ton – 200Ton Single / Dual Circuits