The 7 Secrets of Pump Reliability

Process pump reliability logically involves a combination of fluid-related performance and design decisions that focus on engineering materials and the configuration of mechanical components. Recent case studies have pointed out improvement opportunities in the relative design conservatism found in certain process pump models. Combined with deficiencies in the training of personnel, it can be argued that pump reliability has not made as much progress as it perhaps could.

A number of changes are occurring in the Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) market and in the realm of communications, Internet and database technologies that are resulting in the adoption of Internet based monitoring programs. The following paper will describe the technologies involved as well as the current market climate that is driving this change. This paper will focus on vibration analysis in particular, however, the forces involved are just as applicable to other CBM technologies and Maintenance planning packages.

How do control valves work? Control valves regulate the flow of a liquid or gas by opening or closing internal passages. They form part of a control loop used to control a process. The control valves respond to instructions from the controller and adjusts the internal openings accordingly.

This column is likely to create a lot of reactions from the academia of reliability and maintenance management, and all comments are welcome. Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) has its place, but many times plants jump into training programs and attempt to implement RCM long before they are ready for it. This application makes RCM more of a trap, than a helpful tool to implement.

Tapered roller bearings can be set at initial machine assembly to any desired axial or radial clearance. This unique feature enables a designer to control bearings to meet anticipated application operating conditions, and thereby provide optimum bearing and system performance. Some advantages of tapered roller bearings pertaining to setting include...

Expansion joints for pipework are often made from corrugated metal, especially when handling liquids or for operating pressures significantly above atmospheric. Metal expansion joints are outside the scope of the ESA guide.

In the pump business alignment means that the centerline of the pump is aligned with the centerline of the driver. Although this alignment was always a consideration with packed pumps, it is critical with sealed pumps especially if you are using rotating seal designs where the springs or bellows rotates with the shaft. A little misalignment at the power end of the pump is a lot of misalignment at the wet end, and unfortunately that is where the seal is located in most pump applications.