Tag Archives: reliability

Taming the Bad Actors Seminar- Chicago (In-Person)

Presented by Bob Jennings, Taming the Bad Actors is a 1-day course designed to help you identify the root causes of failures and improve the performance of your pump and pumping systems.

Attendees to the one-day course will gain valuable new skills, including:
  • The principles of operation of centrifugal pumps
  • How the centrifugal pump interacts with the pumping system
  • How to identify system problems that occur when operating pumps off BEP, including cavitation, suction recirculation, discharge recirculation
  • How to identify root cause failures
  • How to identify and implement basic performance improvement opportunities, including the methods and means available for increasing pump reliability and efficiency

Please note that this course is in-person at our Chicago 40th Street service center.

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Rediscover Hydro Parts Solutions

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Did you know that Hydro can provide aftermarket parts solutions for critical pump parts and rotating equipment?

Hydro Parts Solutions, a subsidiary of Hydro, Inc., offers complex solutions to obsolescence as well as difficult-to-source replacement parts.

Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, such as laser scanning and 3D printing, Hydro Parts Solutions has established itself as a proven solution that possesses both the knowledge and sophisticated casting capabilities to expedite casting projects from months to weeks.

Types of items we can cast (and more):

  • Impellers
  • Diffusers
  • Discharge Heads
  • Casing Bowls
  • Suction Bells

Hydro Parts Solutions supports emergency component replacements at an optimal time frame while reducing risk, operational downtime, and unforeseen costs.

Engineered Quality Parts – On Demand, delivering:

  • Consistent Quality
  • 3D Sand Printing
  • Computer-aided machining
  • Emergency Repair
  • Industry Standards and Design Control Processes
  • Short Turnaround
  • Catalogue Data for Future Use
  • Transparency and Communication for our Customers

Want to take a detailed look into our proven parts process? Click on the link to view our redesigned webpage: https://hydroinc.com/parts-solutions/

 

Analysis & Engineering Upgrades Solve Ring Section Pump Failure

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A major power plant in the United States experienced high vibration and recirculation issues with several ring section (BB4) boiler feed pumps, resulting in multiple catastrophic failures and unplanned outages. This case study details one of the pumps that was shipped to an aftermarket pump service center for a full analysis, troubleshooting, repair plan, rebuild and performance testing.

In combined-cycle plants, the demand for robust, yet expensive, barrel pumps diminished as the industry moved toward less expensive segmental rings pumps. Due to the recent shifts in the power industry, operators often face a shorter mean time between repair (MTBR), internal wear and high vibration issues on newly installed units.

After experiencing numerous boiler feed pump performance and reliability issues at their power plant, the plant owner opted to pursue a comprehensive root cause analysis and repair plan with an aftermarket pump service center in Los Angeles, California. The investigation ultimately revealed a series of underlying issues linked to the performance problems and unexpected pump failures.

Video: https://vimeo.com/452266877

Source: https://www.pumpsandsystems.com/analysis-engineering-upgrades-solve-ring-section-pump-failure

Re-engineering System Reliability

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A US fertilizer plant was experiencing recurring reliability problems with its horizontal multistage boiler feed pumps. The series of repeat failures motivated the owner plant to consult with a widely-known unbiased ­­­­aftermarket pump service provider. Previous experience with this company’s Texas facility gave the plant confidence that they had the capability to troubleshoot the problem and provide a solution. This type of supplier has been classified as a “CPRS”— Competent Pump Repair Shop, because their worldwide affiliates are staffed by specialists who have the fullest support of pump engineers at the company headquarters.

The aftermarket pump service provider performed a failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) that took into consideration historical failure information and included an independent engineering analysis of the operating conditions. A review of the system history uncovered that the fertilizer plant had originally been designed with two 100% pumps. When the system was uprated, increased output requirements necessitated that both pumps operate in parallel to meet the new demand. Based on this information, the FMEA determined that the most probable failure mechanism was discharge recirculation caused by low flow operation.

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