A corrosion-resistant self-priming pump engineered to retain liquid in the pump chamber after shutdown so the unit remains primed for the next start. Because many corrosion-resistant self-priming designs include an internal check (one-way) valve at the inlet, a separate bottom (foot) valve is not always required — the pump will typically hold its prime and restart without adding liquid.
Key benefits
- Maintains prime after shutdown: liquid left in the pump chamber prevents air ingestion at restart and reduces downtime for re-priming.
- Corrosion-resistant construction: suitable for aggressive liquids and applications where material compatibility is important.
- Optional redundancy with a bottom/foot valve: installing a bottom valve provides an added fail-safe if the pump's internal check valve is damaged or insufficient.
When to consider a bottom (foot) valve
- Long suction lifts or very large suction-pipe diameters: if the suction lift or pipe cross-section exceeds the pump chamber’s storage capacity, the pump may not self-prime reliably and a foot valve becomes necessary.
- Small self-priming pumps that lack an internal check valve: these rely on transient vacuum effects to prime and will benefit noticeably from a bottom valve.
- Critical processes where loss of prime would cause production interruptions: a bottom valve adds redundancy and reduces the risk of idle runs.
Installation and operational notes
- If you elect to fit a bottom valve, ensure compatibility with the pumped fluid (materials, seals) and with the pipe diameter and thread/flange standard used on site.
- Regular inspection of the internal check valve and any installed bottom valve is recommended to avoid downtime due to clogging or wear.
- Evaluate suction lift, pipe run length, diameter and pump chamber volume during system design to determine whether a bottom valve is required for reliable self-priming.
Typical applications
Transfer and circulation of corrosive or abrasive liquids in industrial processes, chemical dosing and transfer, tank-to-tank transfer, dewatering and any application that benefits from minimized re-priming time and enhanced corrosion resistance.
If you need assistance selecting the correct pump model or foot-valve configuration for a specific suction lift, fluid type or pipe size, supply the fluid properties, suction lift and pipe dimensions so a suitable configuration can be recommended.
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