
January 29, 2025
Atlas Copco High Head Pumps – Engineered to Last While Reducing Maintenance Time and Expense
High head pumps are expected to move significant amounts of water, often uphill, for long periods of time. The Atlas Copco PAC H series of pumps are rated for max flow of 6400 GPM, max head up to 508 feet, and can handle solids up to 3.5-inches. That’s powerful stuff, but these high head pumps are also engineered to last longer and drastically simplify maintenance.
At FieldForce, we use these centrifugal pumps in high-pressure applications ranging from quarrying and surface mining, to construction, and municipal projects.
Simple, cost saving, maintenance
The Atlas Copco PAC H series is loaded with features that reduce servicing costs and down time.
These pumps have an innovative swinging door solution that allows the operator to quickly access the pump impeller and related components by removing bolts and swinging the housing out of the way. This swinging door makes it easy to open the pump suction plate and access the pump.
The pump design also makes wear ring replacement a snap. Wear rings serve two main purposes – mechanically they prevent excessive wear in the volute and hydraulically they maintain efficiency by avoiding recirculation. Instead of press fitting the ring in place, Atlas Copco has developed a way to bolt the wear ring in place to reduce replacement time.
After several hundred hours of use it will likely be time to replace the impeller to regain maximum efficiency. On many high head pumps, particles can settle between the shaft and the impeller and increase the time needed to remove the impeller. But the shaft on these Atlas Copco pumps has a groove at the hub that positions the o-ring to keep particles out and allow for easier removal of the impeller.
Changing seals, especially in the field, can be problematic. The Atlas Copco semi-cartridge seal design is unique because it allows change out without disassembling the pump, and makes the lip seal and impeller easily accessible. This unique semi-cartridge seal design comes standard with the PAC H pump series.
The PAC H series fuel cell is made of lighter weight crosslinked polyethene, which has stronger temperature and environmental resistance. The plastic construction of the fuel cell reduces condensation inside the cell, which extends the filter lifecycle and reduces overall machine weight. The fuel cell is protected by sheet metal, which protects it from damage and helps keep the frame structure clean. Also, fuel lines will not corrode and require less maintenance
High head pump features
Other features of the PAC H series that FieldForce relies on – from assembly, setup, operational protection and monitoring, to logistical considerations – include:
- Bolt patterns in the frame structure are pre-drilled to speed up the set up process.
- A link belt that can be mounted without disassembling the engine from the pump.
- Deflector plates on the back of the impeller direct damaging sediments away from the seal, which extends seal life by factor of two or three times as long.
- To protect the bearing housing from leakage there is a leakage detection port to allow water out and avoid damage.
- Fleet Link allows operators to monitor machine parameters in real time and plan schedules more accurately.
- All high head pumps have a QR code on the frame which gives instant access to user manuals, equipment specifications and other information, including parts books and a parts ordering system. The Atlas Copco Power Connect app has added features as well.
- A reduced footprint means more pumps can be transported on a single flat bed, potentially reducing transportation costs.
The Atlas Copco series of high head pumps are just some of the equipment that FieldForce both uses and has available for sale or rent. We also carry a full line of submersible pumps, generators, and compressors available through much of the mid-Atlantic region.