Professional Documents
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Types of Pumps
A pump is essentially a mechanical device that is used to move a fluid, normally uphill, or from a tank or reservoir. Pumps function by
increasing the pressure of the fluid, so the pressure of the fluid exiting the pump is enough to push it uphill, into a tank, or wherever it
is supposed to go. The main two classifications of pumps are the centrifugal pump and positive displacement pump. A centrifugal
pump uses a rotating impeller to draw a vacuum at the inlet side of the pump and to send the fluid out at an increased pressure at the
pump outlet. There are several different types of positive displacement pumps, including piston pumps, gear pumps, and peristaltic
pumps. All of the positive displacement pumps physically draw fluid into the pump at the inlet and force it out of the pump outlet.
Centrifugal Pumps
Centrifugal pumps are in very widespread use. The diagram at the left shows a centrifugal
pump set up with a motor to drive it. The pump is partially cut away to show a bit about
how it works. The diagram at the right shows a cutawaycentrifugal pump diagram with the
parts labeled. The pump impeller rotates within the pump housing (sometimes called the
volute), thus causing a reduced pressure at the inlet (suction) side of the pump. The rotary
motion of the impeller drives the fluid to the outside of the pump volute, increasing its
pressure, and sending it out of the pump discharge, as shown in the diagram.
Both of these diagrams show a radial flow centrifugal pump, which has the flow pattern just
described above. This is the most common centrifugal pump flow pattern. Another
alternative is the axial flow centrifugal pump, which has an impeller shaped somewhat like
propeller, that draws fluid in along the pump axis and sends it out along the axis at the other
side of the pump.
Positive displacement pumps are sometimes classified as rotary pumps, reciprocating pumps, and diaphragm pumps. There
are several types of rotary pumps, including gear pumps, lobe pumps, screw pumps, and peristaltic pumps. All of these types of
positive displacement pumps draw fluid into a compartment at the inlet end and move it to the pump outlet for discharge. The piston
pump is the primary type of reciprocating positive displacement pump. In a diaphragm pump, the fluid being pumped is isolated from
the working parts of the pump, eliminating the possibility of leakage through pump seals.
Screw pumps are fitted with two screws that have opposite threads, one turning clockwise while the other turns counterclockwise. The
screws are fixed on parallel shafts that have meshed gears. The shafts are rotated due to the gear movements. The fluid is drawn from
the pump due to the screws turning. The clearance between the moving components and the pump casing is necessarily quite small.
Peristaltic Pump
Peristaltic pumps, also sometimes called tubing pumps, don't quite fit the general description of
rotary positive displacement pumps given above, but this is still the closest classification for them.
For this type of pump, a rotor with lobes squeezes tubing against the inside of a cylinder as it rotates
and thus draws fluid through the tube. The principle is illustrated in the diagram at the right.
A ship's engine room contains several different types of pumps including centrifugal pumps. In the next few sections, the
maintenance of centrifugal pumps is explained. Here we will have a look at the procedure to strip, inspect and reassemble a centrifugal
pump, forming part of the planned maintenance schedule on board ships for the purpose of maintaining the equipment in optimum
operating condition.
The first section gives an overview of a typical centrifugal pump operation
Overview
As we saw earlier; the centrifugal pump was developed in the mid 1800s, although it was used in a crude form before then. The main
design change was by John Appold in 1851; he replaced the impeller straight vanes by curved blades.
The pump converts mechanical energy from the drive to kinetic energy, with this being transferred to the fluid as pressure.
This takes place due to the two main components of the pump: the impeller and the volute. The rotating impeller converts the input of
mechanical energy to kinetic energy, while the stationary volute converts this to pressure.
The fluid to be pumped enters the pump through the suction pipe nozzle, where it is drawn directly to the impeller eye located in the
center of the impeller. The impeller spins the fluid tangentially and radially with centrifugal force outwards. The curved blades create
a low pressure at the eye that allows more fluid to be drawn from the suction nozzle to the impeller.
So basically, the pump operates on the transfer of mechanical energy from the drive motor from where it is converted to kinetic energy
that is transferred to the fluid as pressure energy. The rotation of the impeller with its curved vanes draws the fluid from the suction
nozzle; throwing it outwards, expelling it through centrifugal force from the discharge nozzle.
2. If required rectify pitting or erosion in the impeller and casing with two part alloy epoxy putty. (See my article in the Reference
section)
3. Check main drive shaft bearings and thrust bearings for wear and replace if required.
4. Check wear ring clearance using feeler gauges; in my day at sea it was general practice is to replace with new rings at major
overhaul.
5. Check impeller / shaft key and keyways for damage and undue wear, Unscrew impeller shaft securing nut and check threads are in
satisfactory condition; retighten to manufacturers torque settings.
6. Give all parts a good clean removing any dirt/ medium residue before re- assembly using new parts as required.
7. Enter date of overhaul and parts renewed in the pump maintenance record card.
Drive Motor
1. Grip motor drive shaft /coupling firmly and check for excess axial and longitudinal movement. Rotate shaft at speed by hand,
allowing it to run to a stop whilst listening for excess noise from bearings. Any doubt on either counts, the bearings should be
replaced.
2. Megger check motor windings to ensure no dampness is present and windings are in good condition. Any suspect readings indicate
a full motor strip to check condition of rotor and stator.
3. If these checks are satisfactory, grease bearings as required. Some bearings are now sealed for life and will not require greasing.
Mechanical seal
The pump unit shown above relies on the driving motor bearings for alignement. For larger pumps a leaded bronze or brass bush may
be fitted positioned just below the seal.For the largest pumps, especially those fitted with an inducer the shaft may be extended below
the impeller fixing and a second bearing fitted
Impellers
The kinetic energy of the fluid flowing through the
impeller is converted to pressure energy by the shape of
the volute casing. For high pressure pumps such as boiler
feed pumps a diffuser ring is fitted in the casing which
converts a greater portion of the pressure energy allowing
greater pressures to be generated.
A scroll type inducer may be fitted to the inlet which
improves the efficiency of unit and allows the pump to
operate with low suction pressures.
Wear rings
For efficient operation it is important to ensure that leakage from the high to low pressure side is kept to a minimum. This is achieved
by the use of wearing rings. Traditionally these are fitted to the casing,to increase the longevity of the impeller wear ring tyres may be
fitted.
The clearance given for wear rings is often a source of contention especially when dealing with on-ship made rings. A clearance of
1/1000 of the diameter of the bore is often quoted although this may be very difficult to achieve in practice.
Axial force
Without careful design an axial force is created by the action of the impeller. This is due to the low pressure acting on the suction eye
whilst the rest of the impeller is subjected to discharge pressure.
One solution is shown above where radial blades are cast into the back (stuffing box side) of the impeller. These blades are commonly
called pump-out vanes, and are meant to increase the centrifugal force of the fluid trapped behind the impeller. This causes the fluid to
be "thrown" outwards, reducing the pressure behind the impeller for the same reason that the impeller causes a reduction of pressure at
the suction eye.
Another method which may be found in conjunction with the pump-out vanes are the balancing holes. These are holes drilled near the
center of the impeller, connecting the space in the back of the impeller with the suction eye. This reliefs the pressure behind the
impeller by allowing the high pressure fluid trapped there to flow to the low pressure region at the suction eye. In order for this to be
effective, there must be a tight clearance between the impeller and the casing to reduce the flow of fluid into the back of the impeller.
Alternately dual back to back impellers may be fitted in common with a double casing
Stainless steel
Impeller
Aluminium bronze
Casing
The pump shown above is of very common design. It is used for pumping many types of liquid and gas and is capable of delivering at
very high pressures. This makes it suitable for hydraulic supply.
The tooth profile is similar involute gear teeth for liquid pumps. For gas pumps special profiling with very fine tolerances is
employed.
Scroll
These pumps are seen in many applications and have a higher capacity then double row type. Fluid enters the pump and is screwed by
the idler shafts along the outer edge to the discharge port. Axial thrust of the idlers is absorbed by the integral thrust collar of the
driven shaft. The axial thrust of the driven shaft is absorbed by the thrust bearing.
The scroll sit in a replaceable insert which is sealed to the outer casing by o-rings.
Piston
These tend to fit somewhere between postive displacement and centrifugal. They tend to be of the very large capacity type and are
oftern seen in use for supply of cooling water for steam ship condensers. This is particularly true where 'scoops' are employed as the
axial flow pump offers very little resistance to flow when idling.
During operation cosiderable end trust occurs and a tilting pad thrust bearing is employed. Guide vanes smooth flow into and out of
the impeller.
Inducers
A type of axial flow pump is sometimes attached to the suction side of a centrifugal pump. This is called and inducer and is used
where the suction heads are very low or where suction occurs close to the vaporiation pressure of the fluid being pump. Typical
examples are the main condenser extraction pumps on steam ships and cargo pumps on LNG and LPG carriers
Cavitation
Disturbances in the water flow causes rapid localised pressure variations. This can lead to instantaneous vaporisation and bubble
formation. When these bubbles collapse there is a rapid in rush of water. When this occurs near to a surface this slug of water can
strike at speeds of up to 500m/s and lead to destructive erosion and removal of protective oixides thereby increaseing rates of
corrosion