Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
(OP)
I have 2 pumps (one back up) that regularly fail seals due to the strainers on the suction side plugging up every month or two. There is a strainer for each suction pipe to each pump that can be swung for cleaning on the running pump. I wanted to hear design ideas for how to fix this problem.
Things we have looked at are dP alarms across the strainers to send to the control board for operators to swing and clean the suction strainers.
We've also looked at installing low amp shut downs, but have had problems in the past with the pump shutting down during deadhead conditions. I think we can fix this with a minimum flow bypass on the discharge.
Are there any other ways to fix this problem without significant modification? What is the most successful way in your opinion?
Things we have looked at are dP alarms across the strainers to send to the control board for operators to swing and clean the suction strainers.
We've also looked at installing low amp shut downs, but have had problems in the past with the pump shutting down during deadhead conditions. I think we can fix this with a minimum flow bypass on the discharge.
Are there any other ways to fix this problem without significant modification? What is the most successful way in your opinion?
-Mike





RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
Let your acquaintances be many, but your advisors one in a thousand' ... Book of Ecclesiasticus
RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
-Mike
RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
If you don't have an automated cleaning system for your strainers, then create a "preventive maintenance" program. If the pumps are failing "every month or two", then schedule a cleaning every three weeks. If three weeks turns out to be too short a time (i.e., the strainers are clean when inspected and backflushed), then increase the cleaning intervals. When you get to a failure point, back your intervals back down by a week.
If your source of fluid is fresh/sea water, realize that there are annual cycles of plant and animal growth that may effect your screens. If you are affected by such growth, there may be times when you're cleaning the screens daily -- or even continuously!
P.S., dP instruments are a good idea.
Patricia Lougheed
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RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
You also mention "trouble when dead heading"...thats none too good for your seals either.
RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
Let your acquaintances be many, but your advisors one in a thousand' ... Book of Ecclesiasticus
RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
I want to put something in place just in case it doesn't get caught between rounds. It sounds like dP instruments are the way to go. I have spoken to management about the issue for the past few weeks about more oversight, so at least the ball is rolling on that.
This is turning more into a social experiment than engineering ;)
-Mike
RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
rmw
RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
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I would be frightened to check on prices, but I'd also find constant seal repair costs hard to swallow.
RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
Strainers should be used to protect the pump during process startup and then removed.
RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
Let your acquaintances be many, but your advisors one in a thousand' ... Book of Ecclesiasticus
RE: Suction strainer pluggage design upgrade ideas
I agree - and want to reinforce the above recommendation to get rid of the garbage (automatically!) BEFORE you start using the pump strainer as your final protection.