A collection of observations and information from 50 years of engineering experience

Articles

Beyond expectation

Randal Ferman

Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I was out shopping and stopped in at REI, an outdoor gear and clothing store. I stepped over to the watch display case thinking I...

Beyond expectation

Randal Ferman

Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I was out shopping and stopped in at REI, an outdoor gear and clothing store. I stepped over to the watch display case thinking I...

pool-pump

Downsizing the pool pump

Randal Ferman

About four weeks ago our swimming pool pump quit. I don’t know the exact date, but our pool guy, Randy, left us a note. We didn’t see the note, so...

1 comment

Downsizing the pool pump

Randal Ferman

About four weeks ago our swimming pool pump quit. I don’t know the exact date, but our pool guy, Randy, left us a note. We didn’t see the note, so...

1 comment
Horizontal-rotor-orientation

Horizontal or Vertical?

Randal Ferman

In selecting a pump for a given application there is sometimes the option of choosing either a vertical or a horizontal shaft pump arrangement. For instance, in a process plant...

8 comments

Horizontal or Vertical?

Randal Ferman

In selecting a pump for a given application there is sometimes the option of choosing either a vertical or a horizontal shaft pump arrangement. For instance, in a process plant...

8 comments
Glossy-Industrial-Pump

My first WEFTEC

Randal Ferman

This week I had my first WEFTEC experience. I live in LA and WEFTEC was held at the LA Convention Center, so I drove on over to see the exhibits....

1 comment

My first WEFTEC

Randal Ferman

This week I had my first WEFTEC experience. I live in LA and WEFTEC was held at the LA Convention Center, so I drove on over to see the exhibits....

1 comment
lamborghini-in-london

Hypermiling

Randal Ferman

With fuel prices creeping up again I thought it appropriate to share some of my experiences with hypermiling. “Hypermiling” is a method of increasing your car’s gas mileage by making...

4 comments

Hypermiling

Randal Ferman

With fuel prices creeping up again I thought it appropriate to share some of my experiences with hypermiling. “Hypermiling” is a method of increasing your car’s gas mileage by making...

4 comments
specific-speed-equation

Specific Speed – Does it Matter?

Randal Ferman

To the pump engineer or pump manufacturer specific speed is terrifically important. To the specifying engineer or user – maybe, maybe not. The term specific speed comes up frequently in...

6 comments

Specific Speed – Does it Matter?

Randal Ferman

To the pump engineer or pump manufacturer specific speed is terrifically important. To the specifying engineer or user – maybe, maybe not. The term specific speed comes up frequently in...

6 comments