Benefit from Experienced Field Service Professionals

Written by: John Neely, General Manager, HydroAire Field Service
Publisher: Pumps & Systems / May, 2012

 

A nuclear power plant required field service support for their high energy multi-stage diffuser barrel pump when a feeler gage became lodged inside the pump element. The station had been experiencing a problem with a lube oil pump and the decision was made to flush the lube oil lines. During this process, the plant’s maintenance team recognized that the charge pump’s inboard pump bearing housing dowels had been bent and the rotor was not properly centered on the inboard end. As Murphy’s Law dictates, “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong”. While the rotor was being centered, a feeler gauge that had been left in the element broke off and became stuck in the inboard end at the first-stage wear ring between the inboard impeller shroud and cover wall.

 

Picture above shows where feeler gage had become lodged in the element.

The rotor had shuttled and rotated a considerable amount during the original attempt to remove the broken remnant. The station contacted a reliable pump aftermarket service provider who had a highly-skilled field service team with the knowledge and experience to provide support. The station wanted to get this pump back online quickly and asked the field service team to work around the clock to retrieve the broken material and complete the pump assembly. The field service team collaborated with the station’s maintenance team to resolve the issues and get the pump back into service.

A bore scope was used to confirm the piece could not be easily extracted without removing the element. The Technical Field Advisor submitted to the station an Element Removal and Installation Procedure which defined the steps for retrieving the broken feeler gage and properly installing the element back into the barrel. Upon approval of the procedure, day and night shifts were scheduled to resolve the issues.

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NAES Announces Preferred Vendor Agreement with Hydro Inc.

NAESsm Corporation, a broad-based provider of services to the energy industry, announces it has entered into a preferred vendor agreement with Hydro, Inc. (Hydro).

NAES endeavors to form relationships with industry leading companies that provide value to plant owners through preferential services, scheduling priority, and cost concessions commensurate with the volume of business that a given vendor conducts with the NAES operated fleet. The impact of this initiative is evident to almost all NAES operated plants with plant owners benefiting from significant reductions in operating expenses and improved service response.

John Brewster, NAES President and CEO, said “NAES is focused on safety, compliance, maintenance of asset value, and performance. Performance takes on dimensions of attainment of technical performance goals, adherence to operating plans and budget, cost-effectiveness, and owner satisfaction. Our preferred vendor agreements are designed to deliver the value to help us deliver the best performance that enhances an owner’s return.” He added that “the addition of Hydro to this program demonstrates their commitment to support our efforts to deliver a superior service experience.”

Hydro Invited to the Pipeline Energy Group Conference in New Orleans

Jeff Johnson, Vice President of Hydro’s Petroleum and Pipeline Service Division, presented at the 2012 Pipeline Energy Group Conference, which was hosted by Louisiana Off Shore Oil Port (LOOP). In keeping with the group’s dedication to mindful energy consumption, Jeff Johnson’s presentation discussed how to improve pump efficiency and how energy usage can be reduced as a result of improvements in pump efficiency. Jeff received positive feedback and Hydro is honored to have been invited back to speak at the 2013 Pipeline Energy Group conference. To learn more about ways to improve your pumps’ efficiency, contact Jeff Johnson at 281-475-9680.

George Harris Elected to Hydraulic Institute Board of Directors

On February 13th, 2012, George Harris, President of Hydro Inc., was elected to the Hydraulic Institute Board of Directors. The Hydraulic Institute (HI) is the largest association of pump producers and suppliers to the pump industry in North America and a global authority on pumps and pumping systems. Its mission is to serve as a forum for the exchange of industry information, while providing value-added services to member companies and pump users worldwide.

In the Photo, Back Row (left to right): Chadwick Tuttle, COO Americas, CLYDEUNION; David McKinstry, Vice President, IMO Colfax; Gary Witt, President, Pentair Water; John Miersma, President & CEO, Iwaki America; Dave Brockway, President, Intelliquip; Rich Heppe, President, Nidec Motor Company; Front Row (left to right): Tom Grove, Executive Vice President, AESSEAL; George Harris, President & CEO, Hydro Inc.; Ken Napolitano, President, Xylem Inc. – Residential & Commercial Water; Dean Douglas, President, Dover Pump Solutions Group; Robert Asdal, Executive Director, Hydraulic Institute http://www.pumps.org/

Repair is an Opportunity to Improve Pump Performance

Written by: Bob Bluse, Hydro East Inc.
Publisher: Pumps & Systems / February, 2012

 

Often all that is needed to improve a pump’s reliability and performance is to provide a high quality inspection and repair. Over time a pump may have been repaired by more than one service provider with varying levels of engineering and technical experience. Tolerances may have been opened up, fits and concentricities may have been lost and materials may have been changed, all of which contribute to reduced performance, loss of reliability and more frequent repairs.

This article highlights the opportunity seized by a coal-fired power station to upgrade a Westinghouse Vertical Pump during the repair process.

 

Background:

The Power Plant’s Unit #4 “Alpha” Circulating Water Pump was scheduled for repair and in the process of removal, the sister pump #4 “Bravo”, exhibited severe vibration and failed in a manner which was believed to have been a result of a broken shaft. The Alpha pump was put back into service and the Bravo pump removed and sent to the repair facility for inspection and emergency repair.

 

Observed Pump Condition:

The general condition of the Bravo pump when received at the repair facility was much worse than anticipated with the top column flange broken about half way around. The entire pump had been hanging from this broken joint leaving a gap of ¼” to ½” at the opening. The keyed coupling (internal to the pump) used to join its two shafts was broken in several pieces, the shaft journals were severely worn to one side and the impeller vanes & suction bell liner surface were also severely worn as expected, considering the significant pump damage.

 

 

After disassembly of the pump, it was also observed that the shaft enclosing tubes had spun in their fits due to not being fitted with any anti-rotation mechanism. This rotation caused damage to the ‘O’-ring fit areas at both ends of the enclosing tube assembly resulting in loss of proper flush water supply to the pump bearings below the packing box. Another issue observed during inspection was that part-to-part alignment of major pump components utilized dowel pins, which are very difficult, if not impossible, to verify.

 

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