Pump Impellers

The pump impeller is in contact with fast flowing, highly turbulent seawater and, for circulating
pumps which are in use for most of the time, they should be made from a material with high
resistance to these conditions. Table 3 provides corrosion data in high velocity seawater for
several pump materials.

It is clear from Table 3 that the use of cast iron or mild steel can only be contemplated in pumps
operated occasionally. From data in Table 3, Ni-Cu alloys 400 and K-500 and stainless steel
Type 316 have very high resistance to flowing seawater, and cast versions of these alloys are
preferred for pump impellers.

Table 3. Corrosion data on materials in high velocity test

Corrosion rate Seawater Velocity
Alloy mm/yr m/s

Grey cast Iron 13 38

Carbon steel 9.5 40
Ni-Cu Alloy 400 0.010 43
Ni-Cu alloy K-500 0.010 43
Stainless steel 316 0.005 43
Gun metal (85/5/5/5) 1.30 40
Nickel Aluminium Bronze 0.80 38-42

These alloys do not suffer from impingement attack but may pit when the pump is stationary and
full of seawater. It should be noted, however, that the pitting likely to be experienced is often less
severe than the general impingement corrosion which may occur at the tip of a copper-base alloy
impeller and hence stainless steel or cast Ni-Cu Alloy 400 are preferred for this application.

(The section on valves has been adapted from B. Todd. CDA Inc Seminar Technical Report
7044-1919. The Application of Copper Nickel Alloys in Marine Systems. Material Selection for
High Reliability Seawater Systems. )

Estas aleaciones no sufren de ataque de choque, pero pueden entrar en boxes cuando la
bomba está parada y llena de agua de mar. Cabe señalar, sin embargo, que la picaduras que
puede ser experimentado a menudo es menos grave que la corrosión de impacto general que
puede ocurrir en el pico de un impulsor de aleación de cobre-base y, por tanto, de acero
inoxidable o de reparto de Ni-Cu de la aleación 400 se prefieren para esta aplicación.