Reverse Engineering – An End to Obsolescence

A nuclear utility had a large circulating water pump with severe vibration issues that required refurbishment in an emergency time frame. Hydro’s Aston, PA service center, which has a 50-ton crane and a history of providing quality repair for nuclear non-safety related equipment, was chosen for this work. Despite the unique challenges in machining and maneuverability presented by large pumps, the DCI and refurbishment were performed in under 2 weeks. Continue reading

a truck is parked on the side of a building

Fully Equipped & On the Move

Hydro was called on to reverse engineer a large circulating water pump in the Caribbean to supply parts for refurbishment. The lead times for receiving parts from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) were excessive. More concerning, the suction bell provided by the OEM had failed during service. All internal ribs were lost, and the bearing holder was found loose within the assembly. Continue reading

Circulating Water Pump Repair & Refurbishment

A major utility company had a Foster Wheeler 60 DF horizontal split case circulating water pump that required repair. They decided to complete the refurbishment during a 14-day unit outage by using the Hydro South service center. The plant had a spare impeller, shaft, and shaft sleeves in inventory. The availability of spare parts usually facilitates an efficient and trouble-free repair. Unfortunately, it was discovered that the parts available were not properly designed for use in the existing pump. Continue reading