are not addressed quickly - such as heavy vibration or loud noise , damage can occur with casings experiencing rapid wear or impellers crack under the forces experienced .
HAVE A LUBRICATION & INSPECTION SCHEDULE
Insufficient lubrication & too much lubrication is often a cause of bearing failure , but more often that not seal failure is a primary cause of pump seizure and bearing failure .
If a mechanical seal leak remains undetected for some time , fluid will leak from the pump casing into bearings which if left unresolved , can lead to catastrophic bearing failure and prompt pump seizure .
Using a maintenance schedule provides indicative time frames for scheduling maintenance ensuring machinery remains well lubricated in line with manufacturer specifications .
DROP IN REPLACEMENTS
Pump Inserts or bareshaft pumps ensure replacement pumps can be placed into process with minimal disruption or downtime maximising process uptime .
Having drop in replacements ensures engineers no longer need to rush to overhaul or service pumps , allowing time for all parts to be inspected and replaced as required , ensuring when the pump is returned to service , prompt failure does not occur .
If you find a diminishing mean time to failure
Maintenance can often take longer than is required on inferior designs not always considered at the time of pump purchase .
of pumping equipment this could be one cause .
CHANGE PUMP DESIGN
Some designs of pump , like in the below comparison have far more spare parts than other models . Maintenance can become puzzling trying to refit all parts , with time pressure constraints making mistakes likely .
Maintenance can often take longer than is required on inferior designs not always considered at the time of pump purchase . The time is taken to service some pumps can be reduced by up 50 % when using our design .
CHANGE PUMP TYPE Not all pumps are created equally .
Some designs are better suited for abrasive slurries , can accommodate dry running and a better fit for 24 / 7 operation . Changes in pump types can not only mean energy savings of between 20-30 % with an equivalent reduction in spares costs , but also in the speed of maintenance .
By re-evaluating your current application against the pump type in use , could mean another solution is better suited to your process .
INCREASE PUMP SIZE
Quite often a pump is installed in an application based on initial cost rather than factoring in full application details and total cost of ownership .
Units may be operating too fast meaning spares are being replaced frequently . Increasing the pump size and running it slower is often a way of ensuring longevity by reducing wear due to abrasion .
PUMP MONITORING
Remotely monitoring your pump can mean early detection of a reduction in flow or pressure , vibration , excess temperature or increases in power consumption far more in advance than is detectable by maintenance personnel .
This enables condition-based maintenance to be undertaken before failure and requirements become urgent . It also means pumps are dismantled when required rather than unnecessarily at set operation intervals .
If you are interested in reducing pump maintenance , are experiencing frequent process issues , want to reduce plant stoppages and prevent excessive pump maintenance visit www . northridgepumps . com to see how we can help .
For further information , please visit www . northridgepumps . com
Issue 57 PECM 13