Global water technology company and pumps supplier to the mining industry Xylem

has announced that its branded Goulds Water Technology vertical turbine impellers will be converted from their previous silicon bronze standard material to a new, high-grade investment cast 316 stainless steel (316SS) material.

“This change will mark the first product line available on the market with high-grade stainless steel impellers as a standard. The 316SS material is known for its enhanced ability to resist damage owing to corrosion and abrasives,” says the company.

The transition will be applied to models ranging from five-inch to fourteen-inch models in select, high-volume product families. The smooth surface finish of these new impellers enables Xylem to make this transition with-out incurring additional hydraulic losses com-monly associated with changing to stainless steel, while maintaining the same hydraulic performance standards as their predecessors.

“This conversion enables Xylem to offer a better corrosion- and erosion-resistant product than what is currently available, without sacrificing efficiency or charging a premium,” says Xylem marketing devel-opment manager for turbine products David Stover.

“Changing from the traditional sand-cast bronze impeller material to the 316SS cast impeller will enable industry-leading hydraulic efficiencies without impacting on customers’ budgets,” he adds.

Complementary features and benefits of Xylem’s vertical turbine pumps in this size range include glass-lined cast iron bowls for strength, durability and increased pump effi-ciency over the life of the pump.

The conversion will take several months to implement and will affect about 50 different vertical turbine impeller models. While several models are already available in the 316SS material, the projected completion date for all models should be before year-end.

After the standards change is complete, bronze impellers will remain available to customers on request.