Smart vacuum priming system

A centrifugal pump, comprising:

• a volute housing an impeller;
• a drive shaft for the impeller;
• a float box;
• a priming system including:
• a vacuum pump,
• a suction assembly providing fluid communication between the vacuum pump and the float box,
• an electromagnetic clutch assembly configured to selectively run the vacuum pump, wherein the drive shaft powers the vacuum pump when the electromagnetic clutch assembly is engaged, and
• a pressure sensor configured to indicate, based on a discharge pressure in the volute, when the centrifugal pump is in a primed state;
• and
• an L-shaped mounting bracket configured to support the electromagnetic clutch assembly in a plane oriented orthogonal to a shaft of the vacuum pump,
• wherein, when the pressure sensor indicates the centrifugal pump is in the primed state, the electromagnetic clutch assembly decouples the vacuum pump from the drive shaft to prevent suction through the suction assembly, and
• wherein, when the pressure sensor indicates the centrifugal pump is not in the primed state, the electromagnetic clutch assembly couples the vacuum pump to the drive shaft to permit suction through the suction assembly.

A vacuum priming system for a main pump, the system comprising:

• a vacuum pump;
• a suction assembly providing fluid communication between the vacuum pump and a float box of the main pump;
• an electromagnetic clutch assembly configured to selectively run the vacuum pump, wherein main pump powers the vacuum pump when the electromagnetic clutch assembly is engaged;
• a pressure sensor configured to indicate, based on a discharge pressure in a volute of the main pump, when the main pump is in a primed state;
• and
• a communication interface configured to connect a relay for the electromagnetic clutch assembly to a monitoring device that is configured to collect and provide clutch state data,
• wherein, when the pressure sensor indicates the main pump is in the primed state, the electromagnetic clutch assembly decouples the vacuum pump from a drive shaft of the main pump;
• and
• wherein, when the pressure sensor indicates the main pump is not in the primed state, the electromagnetic clutch assembly couples the vacuum pump to the drive shaft.