Maybe you actively monitor amperage and notice your trend lines are rising. Or perhaps your motor overheats and trips or it cannot generate enough torque to start. These are all signs that your pump is drawing more power than it should.
Operators call for help when a pump system starts making unusual sounds or shows other signs of impending failure. A major wastewater utility in eastern Massachusetts, on the other hand, chose to improve the efficiency and lower the energy cost of its plant water system.
While markets for large industrial and municipal pumps often draw the most attention, there is a thriving market for smaller pumps for commercial buildings—even though the two markets are as different as apples and oranges. Experts Tim Zacharias, president of Cougar USA, and Devin Carle, the president of Hurley Engineering, explore those differences.
Pump system optimization boosts reliability, energy efficiency, and the ability to meet process requirements. But which systems need optimization? This is not always apparent, especially in plants that have tens, hundreds, or even thousands of pumps.
The Hydraulic Institute’s Energy Rating Program has expanded to include efficient circulator pumps. These ratings provide test data from third party audited labs that make pump energy cost savings credible and easier to assess.
Maybe this has happened to you: You install a new pump or put a pump back online after a repair or rebuild. Then you turn it on and the pressure is not what you expect.
Some pumping systems are designed and built to work under consistent operating conditions. They move the same amount of liquid at the same pressure all the time.
Pump maintenance is often left to technicians, and that can turn into a problem. While techs know how to keep a pump rotating, they don’t always have the training to pick up on the early warning signs of trouble.
Maintenance strategies can be reactive, preventative, or predictive. Each strategy has its place, but predictive maintenance often provides substantial benefits, such as catching problems before they reduce efficiency or lead to failure.
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