Case Study: PFA Lined Pump Problems
In the production of a corrosive liquid raw material, PFA lined ANSI pumps have
been successfully used within Albemarle plant sites for many years, though certain
aspects of their performance did not match that of other unlined ANSI pumps.
As data tracking became more prevalent and mechanical seal mean time between
failure (MTBF) records were generated, we realized PFA lined pumps had a relatively
Figure 2. Pump bowl rubbing contact.
www.woodgroup-esp.com
Low tolerance for pump problems?
No problem.
poor service life. The first generation of
PFA lined pumps were severely limited
in their reliability in pumping the corrosive liquid due to the high specific
gravity of the liquid and the low design
margins used for the shaft stiffness.
A redesigned PFA lined pump with
a more robust shaft assembly and a more
conventional mechanical seal installation was rolled out by the OEM as an
upgrade to the existing pumps, with
special pricing for replacing their old
pumps with the new ones in an attempt
to retain their market and phase out the
old product line. The new style pump
was a better fit for Albemarle applications and did incorporate some design
features that Albemarle had previously
expressed as needing improvement.
Pressure to lower ever-increasing maintenance
costs and reduce environmental impact has paved
the way to better surface pumping solutions.
Our multi-stage centrifugal SPS™ Surface Pumping Systems provide versatile, low-maintenance
alternatives to many split-case centrifugal,
positive-displacement and vertical-turbine pump
applications. The SPS is a cost-effective solution
for processing, petroleum, mining, water and other
industries that require high-volume movement of
fluids. Proven benefits include:
• Lower initial and whole-life cost
• Short construction lead-time
• Increased reliability and runtime
• Low noise and vibration levels
• Remote monitoring and control
• Worldwide support.
Call this number: 281.492.5160.
Or e-mail sps@woodgroup.com.
SPS APPLICATIONS:
Booster
Transfer
Circulation
Injection
SP1000: rated 100 to 1000 HP
(SP2000: rated 1000 to 2500 HP
also available)
Wood Group ESP
Surface Pumps
A test pump with the new design was
installed in a service that subjected it
to fairly high differential head to help
ensure the robustness of the design.
After several months in service, the
pump was pulled out and inspected.
The mechanical seal was in good condition, but some rubbing was noted on
the nose of the closed impeller. The rubbing was also seen on the pump bowl
