A pump supplying seal high pressure seal oil to a compressor with floating oil seals was disassembled for maintenance due to low flow problem. This is an axial piston pump with a barrel housing seven plungers. The barrel is surrounded by a bearing and housed in a casing. A splined shaft is responsible for the rotation of the barrel in the casing.
The seal oil bottle low level alarm sounded several times and the standby pump had to be taken in service. Whenever the standby pump was shutdown the low level alarm sounded which indicated low flow of seal oil pump. The pump was removed and taken to workshop for overhauling. On dismantling, it was observed that the clearance between the plungers and the housing had increased from 0.05 mm to 0.10 ~ 0.15 mm in all plungers.
In reciprocating pumps, minor changes in clearances can result in high effects to efficiency. The plungers and the barrel were replaced with new ones and pump was assembled. The pump was installed in the area and is now giving appropriate flow.
No comments:
Post a Comment