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DRAFT 36 Ways To Kill Your Pump PDF
DRAFT 36 Ways To Kill Your Pump PDF
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5. ENTRAINED VAPOR
Entrained vapor can be caused by a number of factors. Vortexing in the tank, insuf-
ficient water source, or steam injection, for example. Entrained vapor causes loss of
performance, wear to the impeller and cutwater, and dry running of the seal due to
vapor between the faces.
Helpful Hint:
There’s more information about
cavitation on Crane’s Fluid Connection
Blog!
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Resonance
Misalignment
Bearing Failure
Looseness
Unbalance
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18. INSTALLING THE STUFFING BOX FACE NOT PERPENDICULAR TO THE SHAFT
Improper installation will cause excessive seal movement and shortened life. Includ-
ing, fretting corrosion, o-ring and drive wear.
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26. DEFLECTION DURING THE HARD START OF OPERATION BACK ON THE CURVE
With a hard start, the pump tries to pump liquid from the get-go. The pressure in-
side the pump causes the shaft to deflect towards the low pressure side of the pump,
causing the shaft to contact the stuff-
Helpful Hint:
ing box, and the impeller to contact Centrifugal pumps should have a soft
the casing. The misalignment will then start with the suction valve wide open.
cause seal failure.
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OTHERS
Machine Vibration
30. IMPROPER ALIGNMENT
Bearing Damage CAUSES OF
Up to 50% of damage to rotating ma- MACHINE
chinery is directly related to misalign- Seal Wear DAMAGE
M
ment. This means increased vibration, Coupling Damage SA
T
LIG N ME
N
I
premature seal and bearing failures,
and increased power consumption.
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34. SELECTING THE WRONG MECHANI- Heat checking occurs with an inadequate amount of face
lubrication, causing the seal to experience excessive heat.
CAL SEAL OR SEAL MATERIALS DUE
TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
Lack of knowledge and information
accounts for the majority of mechani-
cal seal installation errors. Consider
normal operating conditions, potential
for off-design excursions and non-
process activities, such as cleaning,
steaming, acid and caustic flushes.
Helpful Hint:
Learn more about single mechani-
cal seal flush plans on Crane’s
Fluid Connection blog! An example of a poor material choice for an abrasive liquid.
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Helpful Hint:
Organize a “bad actor” team of Engineering,
Maintenance, and Operations personnel to watch for
seal problems.
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CONCLUSION
When it comes to fluid process pumps, be aware of your actions!
Energy usage and pump maintenance account for MORE THAN than 50% of the pump’s
total cost of ownership. The main culprits of rotating equipment failure are caused by the
sealing device, couplings, hydraulics, static joints, and bearings. Don’t let your pump be
the next statistic! Read the pump manual, train your operators, and identify the “bad ac-
tors” in your facility to help prevent costly pump repair.
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