Slurry Pump

[Tmantrip]

I am a maintenance engineer intern. My first project is to improve our preventitive maintenance program here at our facility. I am focusing on 10 slurry pumps in particular. Most of them are Warman, a few are Galigher and range in sizes (6/4 DAH, 350SL, 3X4). Our slurry consistancy is made of mainly a silica and paper pulp mixture. My main concern is proper preventative maintenance practices. More specifically, more objective instructions. For example, what is the right temperature for running bearings? How often should we grease the bearings running at 24 hrs?

I understand this data varies depending on bearing frame size, bearing rpm, etc. I have done a lot of research on warman pump manuals, but lack the data and information that I am looking for. I am really hoping to get some feedback and some personal experience on this information.
Any info on preventative maintenance for warman pumps will help.

Thanks!!

 

[DubMac]

Warman and Galigher are both excellent slurry pump manufacturers (or were, can't remember who owns them now). I would start with them first. Don't just read manuals; actually do the unthinkable and ask for a visit from a sales engineer. I think they usually have reps, but usually pretty good ones. Remember, they hear about all of their failures and pay for a lot of them, so I would be surprised if they aren't more than willing to help.

Mainly you wan to have good data on your equipment before "fixing" a problem. Are you recording temperatures and vibration on your bearings?

 

[Tmantrip]

Thank you for your feedback. I believe Warman and Galigher are both owned by Weir Minerals if I am not mistaken.

I have contacted a sales rep and am currently waiting to hear back. I have been trying to gather data on our pumps. We do record temperatures but not so much on vibration. This is the data that I am working to compile. Unfortunately, this data is not very easy to find for specific pumps. What would you say is a normal range of temperature on the bearings?

 

[DubMac]

Can't give you a "normal", but I can remember a rule of thumb if the process is at ambient: if the bearing housing is too hot to the keep your hand on, then you probably most likely have a problem.

Tell us a little more about your service. Flow, head, temp, rpm, fluid, and most importantly type of pump.

 

[GPRnD]

The Goulds XHD slurry pump manual has some advice on greasing intervals. See the link below.

Max bearing temperature should be less than 190 deg F.

http://www.gouldspumps.com/ittgp/me...ion Manuals/Alphabetical/IOM_XHD.pdf?ext=.pdf

 

[Artisi]

Bearing temp is a function of design which is based on the parameters outlined by the bearing manufacturers, a pump manufacturers will (or should) design within the limits specified for the chosen bearings, therefore the pump manufacturer doesn't set the limit the bearing manufacturer does - if in doubt or unsure of any aspect of the bearings consult the bearing manufacturer or their catalogue for specifics.

As pointed out by GPRnD, 180 /190 F seems to be the accepted norm for the upper limit.




It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)