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Pump Installation and Operations: Should Include Valves On Both Suction and Discharge Lines. They Should Be
Pump Installation and Operations: Should Include Valves On Both Suction and Discharge Lines. They Should Be
INSTALLATION OF PUMP:
Piping must be supported to take the strain from the pump and provide
for expansion and contraction to avoid pump misalignment. Expansion
joints or loops should be used when hot liquids are being handled.
The suction piping should be large enough to minimize the friction losses.
Short suction lines are recommended but are not always possible. In order to
avoid problems experienced with long intake pipes and high suction lifts, an
individual suction line should be provided for each pump. If this is
impractical, the suction-header size should be approximately 50 percent
larger than the pump connection and should be reduced at the pump flange.
The use of tees or right-angle fittings should be avoided, and long radius ells
or bends should be used instead.
The suction header should be sloped upward from the reservoir to the
pump, and high spots in the header, where air might collect, should be
avoided. The suction end should be flared, and the suction inlet should be
well below the low-water level to eliminate the possibility of air
entrainment. The suction should not be located close to the point of makeup
or returning water, since eddy currents may interfere with pump operation.
When supplying two or more pumps from a long intake header, a tapering
header with Y branches to the pump suction should be used. For pumps
operating under high suction lift, stuffing boxes should be sealed, using
water taken from the discharge header or from a separate source of supply.
The suction lift should be limited to 10 to 15 ft., since only clean cold
water can be raised this amount without experiencing operating
difficulties. For hot water, it is necessary to bring the water to the pump
under a positive head. The velocity should be low, and a suction head of 10
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After suction and discharge flanges have been bolted up, the alignment
should be checked again. If connecting of piping has caused misalignment,
repeat the procedure followed previously.
Check pump and motor rotation and insert bolts in flanges and connect
up. A short time after the pump has been in operation, the alignment should
be checked again. After it is certain that all is satisfactory, the unit can be
doweled. The doweling is done with tapered pins usually provided with the
pump. Dowel pins are located in the feet of the pump and driver, as well as
in the bedplate.
OPERATION OF PUMPS:
Before operation, after all piping has been connected and after the baseplate
has been bolted in place, the pump and motor should be aligned with a dial
indicator to ensure that operation is free from vibration. Any misalignment
will cause vibration that could lead to bearing and mechanical seal failure.
When the alignment is being checked, and with the coupling
disconnected, the direction of rotation should be checked. This check also
can be made with the coupling connected. however, the pump must be filled
with liquid to prevent running the packing or seal dry. A mechanical seal can
fail in a short period of time if it is run dry.
Before placing the pump in operation, make certain that bearings are
lubricated. Rotate the motor by hand to make certain everything is free.
Prime the pump and fill the pump full of liquid, and with suction valve open
and discharge valve closed, start the pump, noting suction and discharge
pressures. (All pumps should be fitted with pressure gauges on both the
suction and discharge sides.) After running the pump this way for a minute
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or two with the air vent open, close vent valves and open the discharge valve
slowly.
Observe gauges closely, and if anything unusual occurs or pressures seem
unusual, stop the pump and check it thoroughly.
Start and stop the pump several times and observe performance. If all
looks satisfactory, continue to operate for 1h to 1 hour, meanwhile observing
bearing temperatures and watching gauges, lubrication, and general actions
of the pump and motor for overheating. Then shut the pump down, recheck
alignment, tighten all bolts, and give the entire installation a careful check.
Place the pump again in operation.