Efficient Plant December 2017 - 38

CHEMICAL
processing
EQUIPMENT
MANAGEMENT

After performing service such as installing
a new diaphragm on a mechanically actuated diaphragm pump, perform a calibration
check to assure proper performance.

Most industrial facilities have hundreds, if not
thousands, of pieces of critical equipment. Much
of this equipment runs reliably for many years between overhauls. Some equipment fails often and
repeatedly. Keys to reducing life-cycle cost include
understanding equipment by factors such as:
* Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)
* Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
* Cost of Failure
* Root Cause of Failure.
With this information, the most unreliable plant
equipment can be pinpointed. It can also justify
improvements based on cost and can even eliminate underlying root causes of failure to extend
equipment life between overhauls.

some of it will evaporate over time. Because of
this, he recommends checking oil levels on a
quarterly basis.

After doing a service, run a calibration check.

"An easy way to see if everything is running
properly is to simply run a calibration test," he
said. This will tell you if all the components have
been installed properly. "We would like to try to
get people to run the calibration test every six
months if we can, or every year, and see if the
pump is running consistently. If not, there is a
good chance that something has begun to wear,
which will cause you to pump less volume."

Keep strainers clean. Clogged strainers will

reduce the amount of chemical coming through
the pump, resulting in less pumped volume.

Invest in spare-parts kits. Spare-parts kits are

mittent operation. Alert time is programmed into

than a lot of other types of positive-displacement

relatively inexpensive. Keep them on hand.

the pump so a warning will tell the operator that

pumps in the past several years. There are now

it's time to put in a spare-parts kit, and will even

metering pumps with built-in ways to calculate

features and take care of the pumps so they will

provide the spare-parts kit number.

the ﬂow output and send out alerts."

perform as designed.

From an operation standpoint, certain

Some metering pumps can automatically

Understand and use all chemical-pump

"Always consider how the pumps ﬁt into the

chemicals (such as sodium hypochloride) are

detect air bubbles in gas-locking situations and

total operation of what the customer is trying to

very difﬁcult to pump, Holts said. "It can be very

start a cycle to overcome it. However, Holts

do-whether that is treating water at a munici-

challenging to pump this type of chemical be-

warned, "If you are not familiar enough at the

pal or industrial water-treatment facility, adding

cause it tends to gaslock reciprocating metering

point of installation to turn those features on, then

chemicals at a pulp-and-paper facility, pollution

pumps which shuts down operation. The biggest

they don't really help the customers the way they

management at a mine site, or pH control at a

challenge is proper installation and operation of

are designed...[The pump] was speciﬁed by the

manufacturing facility," he said. "In the past, it

certain chemicals that have volatile vapor pres-

engineer who understands all these features,

was common that the metering pump was just

sure, like sodium hypochloride."

but somewhere that knowledge gets lost at

a component sitting on a drum of chemicals

The most important way to avoid this is to

the point of installation between the supplier

and you were adding chemicals for pH control.

have an effective installation setup. This can help

and the installer." Holts wants to educate his

Now, with the advancements in metering

avoid some of the gas-locking problems by using

customers to understand that maintenance on

pumps, it can become an integral part of the

things such as vents and the proper equipment,

anything saves money.

whole process. Customers should understand

such as ball valves that are vented to prevent

the advancements and use the features and

TIPS FOR PREVENTIVE
MAINTENANCE

beneﬁts to better control the processes." RP

standing of the control and operation of the pump
is crucial, Holts explained.

Holts offers several preventive-maintenance tips

Michelle Segrest is president of Navigate Content

for chemical metering and dosing pumps:

Inc., and has been a professional journalist for 28

in, and start it up...but they are not familiar with

Check oil regularly. Some pumps have

years. She specializes in creating content for the

the operation of the pump," he said. "Metering

grease, some have oil, and some have nothing,

processing industries. Contact her at michelle@

pumps, in general, have had more advancement

Holts explained. For the pumps that have oil,

navigatecontent.com.

over-pressurization to the line. Having an under-

"A lot of times, people will buy a pump, put it

38 |

RELIABLE PUMPING SUPPLEMENT

DECEMBER 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Efficient Plant December 2017