1 Introduction

Pumps are used in a wide range of industrial and residential applications. Pumping
equipment is extremely diverse, varying in type, size, and materials of construction.
There have been significant new developments in the area of pumping equipment
since the early 1980s.1 There are materials for corrosive applications, modern sealing
techniques, improved dry-running capabilities of sealless pumps (that are magneti-
cally driven or canned motor types), and applications of magnetic bearings in
multistage high energy pumps. The passage of the Clean Air Act of 1980 by the
U.S. Congress, a heightened attention to a safe workplace environment, and users
demand for greater equipment reliability have all led to improved mean time between
failures (MTBF) and scheduled maintenance (MTBSM).

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1997 by CRC Press LLC

1999 CRC Press LLC