The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) announces the International Symposium on Centrifugal Pumps - State of the Art and New Opportunities, September 22, 2004, London.

This event was last held in May 2000. While the centrifugal pump continues to be the workhorse of industry, recent developments are significantly improving its design, energy efficiency and reliability. The organizers are aiming to highlight the current state-of-the-art and encourage discussion about new concepts and opportunities in all aspects of centrifugal pump development that are of interest to manufacturers and users.

Potential topics are wide reaching, but issues we expect to cover include:

• hydraulic design and performance
  CFD – 3D Analyses, hydraulic design for optimum efficiency at on/off design performance, variable geometry impeller and casing design, losses, surface finish, cavitation, NPSH, inducers.
• mechanical design and reliability
  bearing life, product lubricated bearings, seal selection & reliability, design for reliability, new material applications, pump design and performance issues.
• new technologies and new design concepts
  pattern and foundry technology developments, rapid prototyping, fabricated impeller/ components, new innovative design solutions, new range developments, expanding existing boundaries.
• control and operation
  miniature/ non–invasive sensors, super–synchronous pumps, intelligent pumping / variable speed drives and effect on pump design, design for noise abatement.
• solids handling designs
  new developments and innovation in slurry pumping, sewage handling and other dirty liquid applications.
• multiphase pumping
  experience, current designs, state of the art and future innovations.
• operating experience
  reliability and maintenance statistical analysis (MTBF etc.), energy efficiency and life cycle costs, upgrade opportunities and experiences.
• specification and legislation
  Issues arising from new legislation/ standards, e.g. API 610 9th Edition, PED, ATEX, etc.