A broken feed water pump may interrupt the whole of production – How to minimise the risk

If a feed water pump is not working, the power plant is inoperative – there is no steam for the necessary processes. Long lifetime and reliability can be ensured for pump through regular high-quality maintenance. Maintenance carried out by Masino will reduce your costs, as we replace only the worn parts.

If a pump is broken, production may not necessarily be interrupted, but efficiency decreases. The risk is highest in plants where production efficiency has been increased by taking the backup pumps into continuous use. In such cases, a broken pump inevitably means loss of efficiency.

 

Systematic and preventive maintenance is important

Feed water pumps are serviced by means of minor and major revisions. When scheduled appropriately, regular preventive maintenance makes it possible to detect gradual wear and tear to avoid interruptions in operation. Faults can be detected and fixed before they affect production.

Minor revision

  • Only the ends of the pump are disassembled
  • Measurements and checks are conducted
  • The maintenance work usually takes 3–5 days
  • Conducted every 4–5 years
     

Major revision

  • The whole pump is disassembled
  • The maintenance work usually takes 2–4 weeks
  • Conducted every 12–16 years

 

Preventive maintenance is significant, because repairing damage to large pumps is expensive and interferes with production. Maintenance should be scheduled well in advance of the intended time, as spare parts often have long delivery times.

Sometimes, sudden faults emerge regardless of careful planning. We are able to respond immediately, if necessary, even at the weekend and on public holidays.

 

Automation cannot replace people in special circumstances

Condition monitoring is usually at a good level, particularly in large plants, and maintenance requests may have been automated. However, many customers continue to appreciate the opportunity for consultation with an expert, if necessary.

Customers may seek advice when they detect interruptions in the operation of a pump, for example, and have examined them against historical information. We can help them to find the best way to proceed.

 

Comprehensive reports make it easier to understand the life cycle of a pump

Feed water pumps have long maintenance intervals, which is why it’s important to accurately record earlier maintenance work and previously detected faults and wear and tear. At Masino, maintenance always includes a report with images. A report with plenty of images enables the customer to see the repaired damage and the repair methods properly, as well as suggesting the cause of the damage. In addition, the report lists the replaced parts and the justification for their replacement, as well as recommendations concerning future maintenance.

We don’t automatically replace all the parts. Instead, we examine them case by case. This reduces the customer’s costs.

The report is also important for planning future maintenance, as the documentation can be used to compare the wear and tear of parts and their replacement intervals. Pumps at the same plant can also be compared, if necessary.

 

Flexible maintenance on the customer’s terms

In terms of maintenance, each pump and plant has its special features, which is why all maintenance conducted by Masino is planned specifically to each project. We will collect pumps from across Finland for maintenance in our facilities – and we can also carry out maintenance work on-site if necessary.

Three things to consider when planning the maintenance of a feed water pump:

  1. Are the necessary spare parts in stock or do they need to be ordered?
  2. When and for how long can the pump be inoperative?
  3. Have there been interruptions in the operation of the pump?

 

This ensures sufficient background information for maintenance, and the work can be completed on schedule. If you need help and advice with determining the necessary spare parts, for example, Masino’s experts will be glad to help you.

 

Contact us when you need an experienced and reliable partner to take care of your pumps.

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