cp2000 s sand filter pump

What is the Dredge Pump and How Does it Work?

What is a Dredge Pump
A dredge pump is a horizontal centrifugal pump and is the heartbeat of a dredge.  It is designed to handle abrasive granular materials and solids of limited size in suspension.  Without the dredge pump, a cutter suction dredge would not be able to transport slurry.
The dredge pump is designed to take in sediment, debris, and other harmful materials from the surface floor into a suction pipe, carrying the material to a discharge site through a pipeline.  The pump must be able to handle common solid fragments of various sizes that are capable of passing through the pump, minimizing downtime required for cleaning. 
 
How do dredge pumps work?
The dredge pump contains a pump casing and an impeller.  The impeller is mounted inside the pump casing and is attached to the drive motor via gearbox and shaft. The frontal portion of the pump casing is sealed using a suction cover, connecting directly to the dredge’s suction pipe.  The dredge pump’s discharge is positioned near the top of the dredge pump and is connected to a separate discharge line. 
The impeller is considered the core of a dredge pump and is similar to a fan that forces out air creating a centrifugal suction force.  At the suction pipe, this vacuum absorbs the slurry and transports the material through the discharge pipeline.