Pumps & Systems, August 2008Progressive maintenance practices are vital to maximize pump life, minimize downtime and avoid costly repairs and lost production. It is good practice to plan the...
While scheduled downtime is different from unscheduled, both can take away from a company. An effective reliability program, however, will minimize unplanned downtime and maximize scheduled...
A simple maintenance routine can help ensure trouble-free valve operation.Whether the control valve in your system is the first one that has required maintenance or if you are experienced with...
Pumps and Systems, February 2007A large refinery or power plant may operate up to a dozen units of the same design, all installed 20 or 30 years earlier. In this mature equipment environment, some...
Pumps & Systems, March 2007Identifying the source of vibration by following the amplitude: the case of a company that thought the problem was a pump impeller, but, in fact, the problem was over...
Q. What does the expression discharge recirculation signify in rotodynamic (centrifugal) pumps? When does it occur, and is it harmful to the pump?
A. Discharge recirculation is circulatory flow in...
Pumps & Systems, December 2008Editor's Note: This is part one of a two part series about the 'commandments' of increasing pump reliability and life. To read the second part, click...
Editor's Note: This is part two of a two part series about the 'commandments' of increasing pump reliability and life.Last month, we discussed Commandment 11, Thou shalt always operate...
The installation of an AC drive with an advanced software tool has dramatically cut call-outs for blockages at an Irish county council pumping station. Pump control software has been installed to...
Pumps & Systems, June 2008Vibration is one of the most damaging forces in the industrial environment. Vibration not only reduces the life of equipment, but can also adversely affect the quality of...
Pumps & Systems, July 2008Routine checkups, a healthy diet, and regular exercise are the prescriptions for a healthy life. The same prescriptions hold true for healthy pumps. Your pumps' "diet and...
In the demanding conditions of the oil and gas industry, plant managers are realizing that lubrication best practices can help improve equipment reliability, optimize maintenance and reduce energy...
Today's lean maintenance staff needs pump and motor protective devices that diagnose and predict problems before they become acute.Pumps are indispensable in mining, petroleum recovery (wellhead...
Pumps and Systems, April 2009In today's growing industrialized market, the need for reciprocating pumps is increasing daily. As technology drives modernization, the demand placed on the pumping...
Construction features are key to vertical motor application and maintenance.The definite-purpose application of vertical motors dictates a number of construction features that set them apart...
Initial purchase price is a small fraction of the TCO.How much does a pump cost? Ask a corporate executive or plant manager about the cost of a piece of equipment, and you're likely to hear the...
Simple maintenance and the ability to clean in place give peristaltic pumps an advantage.Many opportunities are available for peristaltic pump use in food and beverage applications. Peristaltic pumps...
Cavitation is defined as the phenomenon of formation and consequent implosion of vapor bubbles in a region where the pressure of the liquid falls below its vapor pressure. Cavitation can occur in any...
Pumps and Systems, March 2009Pressure gauges are an important indicator of whether a system or component is operating correctly. Pressure gauges generally require little to no maintenance, other than...
Pumps and pump systems are unique, engineered products that require specialized knowledge in all phases of repair, rebuilding and balancing. When pumps fail, costs add up quickly for repairs,...
We were told that the 48-in diameter sewage pump impeller from one of New York City's main sewage pumps had been found "practically destroyed." When the impeller actually arrived at our location, both...
Ensure proper bearing assessment and maintenance with this proven method.Of the methods used to assess the operating condition of rolling element bearings, one of the most successful and popular...
Lubricated machines require clean, dry oil to work properly. Recent studies have determined that as much as 80 percent of all failures and wear problems that hydraulic and lubricated equipment...
In 1992, a pipeline was built in Texas and Oklahoma parallel to an existing line to increase capacity. The design flow rate was 3,600 gpm (818 m3/h). Four stage 8 X 10 X 13 pumps were purchased new...
Pumps & Systems, July 2007When measuring vibration, one of the most important factors in obtaining accurate information involves selecting the proper vibration transducer. Selecting the wrong...
Composites significantly reduce energy consumption, maintenance costs and repair costs.Today, tremendous effort is made to reduce energy consumption. The Department of Energy (DOE) and the...
Pumps and Systems, August 2009One of the major contributors to unbalance in rotating machinery is eccentricity. When we disassemble parts, we must also reassemble them. Even if the reassembly requires...
Pumps and Systems, June 2009Many troubleshooting guides and charts have been developed to help us understand the nature of pump failures. Although beneficial and well constructed, these handy...
Technical professionals understand a variety of fluid-transfer performance concepts. The principles have much to do with evaluating if an individual pump will succeed in accomplishing its...
