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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Hydro Scotford Appointed Certified Service Vendor for ITT Goulds Pumps

Hydro Scotford’s pump service facility in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, has been appointed as a certified services vendor for ITT Goulds Pumps. Hydro Scotford provides aftermarket service for high-energy pumping equipment in the oil & gas and power industry markets and will support Goulds’ population of equipment in the Oil Sands region. As an established pump service provider and certified vendor, the Hydro Scotford service facility will operate in accordance with ITT technical, quality and safety guidelines. Repairs and upgrades will be made with the supervision of ITT field service personnel. This new service support will allow ITT to provide reduced cost and improved reliability to their customers in the Alberta area. For more information about Hydro’s comprehensive pump services for Goulds pumping equipment, please call Dennis Plaizier at 780-992-0100.

Calpine Renews National Service Agreement with Hydro

On May 11th, 2010, Hydro was selected as Calpine’s National Pump Repair Supplier. Hydro is proud to announce that the agreement to support Calpine’s operating locations throughout the United States was renewed on January 25th, 2012.

Founded in 1984, Calpine Corporation is the largest publicly traded, independent wholesale power company in the U.S. that can deliver approximately 28,000 megawatts of clean, reliable electricity to customers and communities in 20 U.S. states and Canada, with 91 operating power plants and two under construction. For more information, visit www.calpine.com.

“Combined Cycle 101” Presented by Evans Hydro

Alex Manchenkov, senior engineer and operations manager at Evans Hydro, has agreed to take part in the ASME Combined Cycle Committee Pre-conference workshop entitled “Combined Cycle 101”, which will take place at the 20th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering and is collocated with the ASME Power Conference in Anaheim, California. The 8-hour course offered to end users occurs July 30th through August 3rd and the topic presented by Alex will emphasize the critical pumps found in combined cycle plants, including boiler feed, vertical circulator, condensate, and raw-water pumps. For more information, please contact Angie Vruno at 562-618-7719 or send an email through the Evans Hydro contact form.