Pump cavitation is one of the more serious issues that can occur with a pump. Cavitation can result in damaged components, operational inefficiencies, overheating, safety issues, unplanned downtime, and other issues. What are the causes of pump cavitation, and why does it happen? What are the main symptoms of cavitation, and how is pump cavitation diagnosed? Finally, what is the best solution for this problem?
Durable goods manufacturers aren’t always known for customer service, even when such service is integral to their continued growth and success. This is, unfortunately, true of some pump manufacturers as well, which is why many rely on pump distributors like Hayes Pump Inc. for their pump parts and servicing. At Hayes Pump, we understand the importance of after-sales service, which includes providing quality pump parts and efficient servicing to our customers. With our dedicated pump parts and service department, Hayes delivers a reliable, easy-to-use solution for all your municipal, industrial, and commercial pump needs.
A ship’s pumping system includes piping that, if stretched out, would be many miles long, which includes both suction piping and discharge piping, as well as an assortment of marine pumps. Additionally, these systems often have backup marine pumps that interconnect with the piping, fittings, and valves. Ship pumping systems provide positive pressure – referred to as having “higher head” in pumping vernacular – that aids in the discharge of the fluid being pumped.
In simple terms, a sump pump is just one used to remove water accumulated in a localized depression known as a “sump.” While sump pumps are often found in residential basements in places prone to flooding or high water tables, industrial sump pump systems can be found in places like construction sites, military bases, mining operations, power plants, and other facilities where water accumulation can cause problems. They are also used when extracting water from aquifers for municipal water plants to keep the ground above it stable. Industrial sump pumps help provide solutions for handling water in areas where it’s not wanted for numerous other industries as well. Due to their widespread use in many applications, understanding how industrial sump pumps operate is useful knowledge for workers and managers in the industries that utilize them.
Pumps and pumping systems are some of the most costly equipment used by water utilities and other large operations that transport water. Despite their importance, the actual parameters for pump performance are often largely unknown by anyone except the engineer who designed the pumping system. Even operators tend to see pump systems as an unknowable and unchangeable part of their work environment. Yet this seeming lack of knowledge regarding the most important tool in many fluid-transporting systems can sometimes become a real problem.
Many applications depend on pumps operating correctly, and, in certain cases, an unreliable pump can even cause catastrophic damage to a pumping system. For example, a pump in a cooling system that breaks down can cause overheating that then leads to system failure, while in systems that pump lubricants, this can result in the seizing of mechanical implements that then ruin equipment. In other cases, failed pumping mechanisms can cause significant loss in productivity, as would be the case in the petrochemical or energy industries.
When something breaks down in any industry, inevitably, there will be a discussion on whether to replace or repair it. This is no different for any industrial equipment, including industrial pumps. Their repair or replacement depends on several variables, which should all be logically considered to determine the best course of action. Even if an engineer or mechanic can fix an industrial pump, economics ultimately must be considered in the equation. Though cost is critical, multiple other factors that play into the final cost also require consideration.
Establishing an effective pump reliability program can slash costs, make operations safer and provide uptime benefits.
