Engine 142's New Air Primer: 100-feet of Suction Hose - 1:53 minutes - 1012 gpm!!!
 
By Fire Lieutenant Mark Davis
August 1, 2012
 

Winfield VFD's Engine 142 (2007 4-Guys 1500gpm pumper) is the first pumper in the U.S.A to have the Trident Automatic Air Primer installed on it. On July 31st, the Tuesday Night Duty Crew decided to see what the primer could do with an extened suction layout. So the folks used all of the 6-inch suction hose owned by the department, connected it all together and then connected to a dry hydrant, and gave the automatic air primer a real workout.

The first test resulted in a time of 2:40 minutes from primer activation to discharge pressure at the pump. A flow of 791 gpm was obtained using the pumper's high-flow discharge and a Hose Monster flow device.

There was a significant air leak at the dry hydrant suction head that could not be fixed, so a second test was set-up using a floating strainer. The second test resulted in an even faster time of 1:53 minutes from primer activation until discharge pressure pressure at the pump. A flow of 1012 gpm was obtained using the pumper's high-flow discharge.

The lift for both tests was under 10-ft.

The automatic air primer has no moving parts and has the ability to automatically engage when a loss of prime begins to occur. The "100-ft" suction hose test also shows the ability of the air primer to run for long periods of time without concern over damage or overheating. Trying to evacuate 100-ft of air using a traditional, rotary vane primer pump would be a challange in terms of overheating the vanes and the increased electrical draw on the vehicle's electrical system.

The WVFD thanks the folks at Trident Emergency Products for selecting Winfield to receive the first installation and the folks at 4-Guys for handling the installation.
 
The Trident automatic air primer is a pretty simple device.
The Trident automatic air primer is a pretty simple device.
 
Suction hose from 3 fire trucks was needed in order to make up the 100-ft test length.
Suction hose from 3 fire trucks was needed in order to make up the 100-ft test length.
 
Crew members work to get the suction hose laid out.
Crew members work to get the suction hose laid out.
 
Solid connections were made to insure air tightness.
Solid connections were made to insure air tightness.
 
All set up and ready to go. Disregard the fire hydrant in the foreground - it is an old, out of service hydrant.
All set up and ready to go. Disregard the fire hydrant in the foreground - it is an old, out of service hydrant.
 
In addition to the 100-feet of 6-inch suction hose, the dry hydrant added another 10-feet (perhaps) of 6-inch conduit needing evacuated as well.
In addition to the 100-feet of 6-inch suction hose, the dry hydrant added another 10-feet (perhaps) of 6-inch conduit needing evacuated as well.
 
Ready, set, go! The driver pushes the primer switch.
Ready, set, go! The driver pushes the primer switch.
 
At around the 51 sec mark, water is about halfway to the pumper.
At around the 51 sec mark, water is about halfway to the pumper.
 
At the 1:53 minute mark, discharge pressure is noted on the master discharge gauge and the pump is primed.
At the 1:53 minute mark, discharge pressure is noted on the master discharge gauge and the pump is primed.
 
A HoseMonster flow diffuser was used to accurately measure the flow.
A HoseMonster flow diffuser was used to accurately measure the flow.
 
Because the dry hydrant head had an air leak, a second test was run using a floating strainer instead.
Because the dry hydrant head had an air leak, a second test was run using a floating strainer instead.
 
This test also used 100-feet of 6-inch suction hose.
This test also used 100-feet of 6-inch suction hose.
 
E142 drafts through 100-feet of 6-inch suctin hose using the Trident automatic air primer.
E142 drafts through 100-feet of 6-inch suctin hose using the Trident automatic air primer.