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Somarakis Replacement Pumps — PM 5986 Liquid Ring Vacuum Pumps & Compressors for SV and HV Series

Precise Mechanical manufactures the PM 5986 line of liquid ring vacuum pumps and compressors as drop-in replacements for Somarakis® SV-series and HV-series pumps. The PM 5986 covers roughly 80 to 28,000 CFM of free dry air, pulls vacuum to about 1.0 to 2.0 inches HgV, and runs as a compressor to about 50 PSIG discharge, in cast iron, 304 stainless, 316L stainless, titanium or Hastelloy. Each pump is individually tested and ships with factory test-certified performance curves from our shop in Houston, Texas.

Why a replacement for Somarakis pumps

Somarakis liquid ring pumps are common in paper mills, power plants and chemical service across the United States, and many have been in service for decades. When a pump reaches the point where the castings are beyond repair, or when the plant wants a stainless or exotic-alloy pump for a corrosive application, a replacement that fits the existing footprint avoids the piping, baseplate and foundation work that a different manufacturer's pump would require.

The PM 5986 is built to the footprint and connections of the SV or HV series pump it replaces, so it goes in with minimal or no piping or baseplate modification. We are an independent manufacturer with no ties to Somarakis, which means the replacement is designed around what we have learned rebuilding these pumps for over 40 years: we know what fails, why it fails, and how to make it better.

Technical snapshot

Specification

PM 5986 liquid ring vacuum pump / compressor

Compatible with

Somarakis SV series and HV series (drop-in)

Capacity

Approximately 80 to 28,000 CFM free dry air

Vacuum

To approximately 1.0–2.0" HgV (absolute)

Compressor service

Discharge pressure to approximately 50 PSIG

Materials of construction

Cast iron, stainless steel 304, stainless steel 316L, titanium, Hastelloy

Design

Single moving part: eccentric rotor and liquid ring; no metal-to-metal sliding contact

Seal liquid

Water or process-compatible liquid; seal water recirculation available

Testing

Individually tested; factory test-certified performance curves supplied

Configuration

Vacuum pump or compressor, bare shaft or packaged with motor, drive and controls

Example replacement models

SV-1414, SV-1818 and other SV/HV sizes on request

 

Capacity and vacuum figures are approximate across the line; the exact curve for your size is supplied with the pump and confirmed on test.

Features

  • Single-moving-part design. The only rotating element is the eccentrically mounted rotor. The liquid ring does the compressing, so there is no metal-to-metal sliding contact inside the pump, no lubrication in the gas stream, and very little to wear.
  • Wide capacity range. From about 80 CFM for small process applications up to about 28,000 CFM for paper machine and large process vacuum, in one product family.
  • Vacuum or compressor duty. The same construction runs as a vacuum pump to about 1.0–2.0" HgV or as a liquid ring compressor to about 50 PSIG discharge for vapor recovery and gas handling.
  • Material options for the service. Cast iron for clean water and general vacuum; 304 or 316L stainless for corrosive seal water or process gas; titanium or Hastelloy for chlorides, acids and the most aggressive chemical service.
  • Seal water recirculation. Partial or full recirculation with heat exchanger and flow monitoring reduces fresh water consumption and keeps seal water temperature, and therefore vacuum, stable.
  • Individually tested. Every pump is run and its performance recorded before shipment. The factory test-certified curve ships with the pump.

Benefits

  • Drop-in installation. Built to match the footprint and connections of the SV or HV pump being replaced, requiring minimal or no piping or baseplate modification.
  • Lower maintenance. With one moving part and no internal sliding contact, routine maintenance comes down to bearings, seals and seal water quality.
  • Handles wet, dirty and condensable gas. The liquid ring tolerates carryover, entrained liquid and condensables that would damage dry vacuum pumps.
  • Longer life in corrosive service. Choosing the right material at the start, rather than cladding a cast iron pump after it corrodes, extends the interval between rebuilds.
  • Backed by a rebuilder. The shop that builds the pump is the shop that rebuilds it. Parts, exchange units and rebuilds for the PM 5986 come from the same building in Houston.

Applications

Industry

Typical service

Pulp and paper

Paper machine vacuum: couch rolls, uhle boxes, felt conditioning, dryer section

Power generation

Condenser exhausting and priming

Chemical and petrochemical

Process vacuum, distillation, solvent recovery, chlorine and hydrogen handling

Refinery and oil and gas

Vapor recovery and flare gas recovery in compressor mode

Mining

Filtration and dewatering vacuum

Food, beverage and pharmaceutical

Vacuum drying, deaeration, evaporation

General industrial

Central vacuum, degassing, impregnation

Somarakis models we replace

Customers most often ask for replacements for SV-1414 and SV-1818, and we build PM 5986 pumps across the SV and HV size ranges. Exchange units are commonly stocked for Somarakis SV3028 through SV5986. If you send us the model and serial from the nameplate, we will confirm the matching PM 5986 size and whether an exchange unit is available.

Somarakis Vacuum Pump Repair · Exchange Program

Rebuild, exchange, or replace?

Not every Somarakis pump needs replacing. If the body, heads and cones are sound, a rebuild to original OEM tolerances is usually the lower-cost route, and our exchange program can put a rebuilt SV pump on your foundation faster than either. Replace with a PM 5986 when the castings are beyond repair, when the OEM lead time is longer than the outage allows, or when the application calls for a stainless or exotic-alloy pump.

Rebuild vs. replace vs. exchange

Packaged PM 5986 units

A PM 5986 can be supplied bare shaft or as a complete package on a skid fabricated in our shop, with motor, VFD, gearbox or belt drive, seal water recirculation, flow monitors and manifolds mounted, piped and aligned.

Packaged units

How to get started

  1. Send the nameplate. Model, serial and a photo of the Somarakis nameplate, plus the current operating conditions: inlet vacuum or discharge pressure, seal water temperature, motor horsepower and speed.
  2. Tell us the service. Gas composition, seal liquid, and any corrosion or erosion history so we can recommend the material.
  3. Receive a proposal. We confirm the matching PM 5986 size, material, configuration and performance curve.
  4. Build and test. The pump is manufactured in Houston, individually tested, and shipped with its factory test-certified performance curve.
  • Frequently Asked Questions:

    What is the PM 5986 liquid ring vacuum pump?

    The PM 5986 is Precise Mechanical's line of liquid ring vacuum pumps and compressors built as drop-in replacements for Somarakis SV-series and HV-series pumps. It covers roughly 80 to 28,000 CFM, vacuum to about 1.0–2.0" HgV, and compressor duty to about 50 PSIG, in cast iron, 304 or 316L stainless, titanium or Hastelloy.

    Will a PM 5986 fit my existing Somarakis piping and baseplate?

    Yes. It is built to match the footprint and connections of the SV or HV pump it replaces, so installation requires minimal or no piping or baseplate modification. Send the nameplate data and we confirm the match before you order.

    Which Somarakis models can you replace?

    PM 5986 pumps are built across the SV and HV size ranges. SV-1414 and SV-1818 are the sizes customers ask for most often, and we stock exchange units for SV3028 through SV5986.

    Can the PM 5986 run as a compressor?

    Yes. In compressor mode it delivers discharge pressures up to about 50 PSIG, which suits vapor recovery, flare gas recovery and chemical gas handling. The same single-moving-part construction is used for vacuum and compressor duty.

    Is every pump tested before shipment?

    Yes. Each PM 5986 is individually tested and ships with a factory test-certified performance curve showing its actual vacuum and capacity.

    Is Precise Mechanical affiliated with Somarakis?

    No. Precise Mechanical is an independent repair and manufacturing company. We rebuild Somarakis pumps and manufacture the PM 5986 as a compatible replacement, but we are not an authorized Somarakis service center or distributor.

    What materials should I choose for corrosive service?

    304 stainless handles mildly corrosive seal water; 316L is the usual choice where chlorides are present; titanium and Hastelloy are used for acids and the most aggressive chemical service. Tell us the gas and seal liquid and we will recommend the material.
Contact Us

Talk to a Pump Expert

Get the answers you need from our experienced team. We’re here to help keep your operation running.

281-319-5595 Main Line
1-844-276-6274 1-844-276-NASH · Toll-Free

Down pump? Call Ken directly on the emergency line: 713-201-1589 or email Ken@precisemech.com.

Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM.

Contact Us

What to have ready: pump make, model, serial, and a photo of the nameplate.

Quick Links

Precise Mechanical

2414 Black Gold Ct,
Houston, TX 77073, USA

281-319-5595

1-844-276-6274 (NASH) Toll Free

Emergency Contact - Ken
713-201-1589
Ken@precisemech.com

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