Anhydrous Pump Maintenance for Infrequently Used Pumps

[MAPower]

I have a Corken side channel magnetic drive pump used as backup to main ammonia supply pipeline. The pipeline is very realiable, maybe only one outage annually for about 6-8 hours. Our pumps are used to transfer anhydrous ammonia from tanker truck to our process at low flows. Beacause it is backup, these pumps will sit for long times before being used. The manufacturer requires us to operate the pumps weekly for a short time. Currently this is not possible (pumps are not hooked to anything permanently). Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to maintain? Or what issues we would have if we did not operate once a week (other than corrosion)? Thanks

 

[pumpking]

The main concern, especially with a side channel pump is the amount of very tight tolerances within the impeller's and casings, and im guessing they are concerned at almost scaling/sludging up or even small degrees of solids going into the pump itself. The manufacturer will quite rightly tell you to run the pumps to make sure all is clear, however, you may well get away with simply a few rotations by hand to make sure bearings and impellers dont cease up.

If the manufacturer is telling you to run them for a short period and you decide not too, then of course it is on your head be it, however, experience has shown this is quite often enough to make sure all is well - do i sound like a british politician sitting on the fence ??