Effects of Operating Pumps Away from Best Efficiency Point

Posted on February 21, 2013

Are you operating your pump off BEP?

Read Hydro’s brief article at the Empowering Pumps website which discusses some of the effects of operating pumps away from their best efficiency point.

Written by Bob Jennings of HydroAire Inc., who is a Hydraulic Institute certified training instructor and pump industry veteran, the article explains the definition of BEP and the consequences of operating your pump too far to the left or right of its Best Efficiency point for a sustained period of time.

Because improving pump efficiency, increasing reliability, and extending mean-time-between-failure is a goal for most pump users, it is valuable to understand your pump’s best efficiency point. If you are not aware of your pump’s BEP for your specific application, consider testing your pump. Hydro can provide a certified performance test at our 5000HP Test Lab in Chicago, IL.

Procurement Tool for Hydraulic Pump Components

Posted on December 6, 2012

Use Checks & Balances in the Inventory Receipt Process

Whether you order your replacement parts from the OEM or a third-party supplier, always have a method of checking the parts to insure equivalency of the hydraulic components. It is important to document part attributes for your own records. If inconsistencies are found, actions to take include contacting the supplier for part justification or working with Hydro to perform a solid model study for part comparison.

Hydro has created a tool to help with your receipt inspection process.

Continue reading →

Visit Hydro at Power-Gen International

Posted on November 28, 2012

Michelle Preusser and Christine Barger, Hydro Inc.

Visit Hydro at Booth #1000 to share with us some of the challenges you are facing and learn more about how Hydro may be able to assist you. We would enjoy the opportunity to share with you information about our recent pump project successes and enhanced capability to

serve pump users in the power generation industry.

Allow us to introduce Jeff Smith, of Hydro Parts Solutions, to share with you our enhanced capability to support your parts needs, including difficult-to-source cast parts – such as impellers, diffusers, discharge heads, casings, bowls and suction bells.

Hydro’s Booth will be easy to find! Click to view the conference map.

We look forward to seeing you at the show! Continue reading →

ArcelorMittal Achieves Energy Savings Through Pump Life Cycle Improvements

Posted on November 26, 2012

Descaling is a critical service in a steel mill; the pressures are high and the rapid changes in flows and pressures can severely impact the pumps’ energy usage. Northwest Indiana Times published an article in April 2011 about the substantial energy savings ArcelorMittal was able to a achieve by implementing upgrades to their descaling pumps (read full article).

Hydro was instrumental in helping ArcelorMittal achieve these energy savings by implementing upgrades to improve the pump’s performance. To learn more about improvements which can be made to descaling pumps, read Hydro’s article on Cost Reductions Through Life Cycle Improvements.

Vibration Training with Mechanical Solutions

Posted on October 9, 2012

In June 2011, Mechanical Solutions worked with Hydro to provide pump users with a free course on Pump Vibration Training. Hosted at the HydroAire 40th St. service center, material was co-presented by Bill Marscher and Eric Olson from Mechanical Solutions Inc. (MSI). The first training seminar was so successful that another one was scheduled and well attended in November 2011.

This vibration training seminar focuses on pump troubleshooting using vibration and other specialized testing and analysis techniques. The course, which is a condensed version of the class previously presented at the 2011 Pump Symposium, covers vibration analysis, testing and evaluation, and provides an overview of when and how to apply them. Hydro plans to host another MSI Vibration Training seminar on October 16 & 17th, 2012. To reserve your seat for this training course, contact the seminar coordinator, Christine Barger, by calling 630-947-4039 or visithttp://www.hydroinc.com/pump-training-seminars for information on upcoming pump training events.