The slurry pump is mainly used to transport slurry containing solid particles, and has a wide range of applications in the industrial field.
Such as hydraulic slag flushing and ash removal systems in power plants; The conveying system for concentrates and tailings in the metallurgical industry; Coal slurry conveying system in coal washing plant; Transportation system for red mud slurry in alumina plant.
Due to the fact that the medium transported by the slurry pump is mainly slurry containing solid particles, the failure rate of the slurry pump is much higher than that of the clean water pump.
During the use of the slurry pump, we should try our best to avoid the occurrence of slurry pump failures. Operators need to undergo corresponding training before they can take up their posts, and carefully read the slurry pump user manual
In general, there are the following reasons for the malfunction of the slurry pump
1. Improper operation,
2. Mechanical seal issues
3. Bearing issues,
4. Casting sand holes or cracks causing water leakage,
5. The slurry pump has a broken shaft.
This article introduces how to avoid unnecessary losses caused by improper operation!
Problems and solutions caused by improper installation
Improper installation can cause great trouble for debugging, and some problems are very hidden and difficult to detect.
① Foreign objects enter the pump chamber, causing poor operation or inability to operate.
Similar issues have occurred among Ruite's clients.
One reason is that welding slag enters the mechanical seal, damaging it and causing significant losses; The second is some large plastic blocks
The material entered the pump and blocked the impeller flow channel, causing the pump to not pump, so the pump had to be opened to remove the foreign object.
② The installation is not in place, and it is not easy to detect with the naked eye. It was only discovered after the problem occurred.
③ Not paying attention to the gap during installation may cause inconvenience for future maintenance.
Problems caused by improper operation and solutions
① The motor reverses, causing the impeller to detach or even shatter.
After the motor reverses, the impeller falls off and the pump cannot rotate. In severe cases, it can cause the impeller and protective plate to break, resulting in significant losses.
According to the installation and use instructions, before starting the pump, it is necessary to measure the direction of the motor, ensure that the direction is correct, insert the coupling pin, and manually rotate the coupling without any obstacles before starting the pump.
② Not adding circulating water or adding water improperly.
The mechanical seal for water cooling must first turn on the circulating water before turning on the pump.
③ Improper sequence of opening and closing valves during startup and shutdown can cause problems.
The correct sequence is as follows:
Start sequence:
Check the status of the inlet and outlet valves (closed) - Open the clean water inlet valve - Open the atmospheric cooling water valve (secondary impeller seal or mechanical seal) or shaft seal water valve (check water pressure) - Start the pump until stable operation - Open the slurry pump inlet valve - Close the clean water inlet gate valve - Open the outlet valve.
Shutdown sequence:
Open the inlet water valve, close the inlet pipeline valve (flush for 2-5 minutes), close the outlet valve, stop the machine, close the shaft seal water or atmospheric cooling water, and close the inlet water valve.
These are the most common problems caused by improper operation, and the solution is simple. By carefully studying and following the terms in the user manual, these problems can be avoided.
Problems and solutions of pump components themselves
Pumps from legitimate slurry pump manufacturers usually do not have this problem due to several process inspections before leaving the factory. Occasionally occurring casting defects are also difficult to detect. By increasing the testing efforts of equipment manufacturers, such problems can be effectively avoided.
