Screw Pump Repair for Power Station
There are not many screw pump applications more critical than lubricating machinery at a power station, where short amounts of downtime can lead to hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost revenue. Quite often, the installation and pipework are built around the pump design and specification, therefore it is not as simple as installing a replacement unit from another manufacturer when it fails, the risk in trying an equivalent pump can be astronomical and not one that many plant engineers will undertake when a pump has been operational for many years without issues.
Luckily, the engineer at this power station had an identical backup triple screw pump in storage to circulate the lube oil while this unit was with us for refurbishment. As part of their preventative maintenance, they shipped the main pump to us for inspection and repair then installed the standby unit to perform its duty until it was returned. This foresight meant that downtime was kept to an absolute minimum as it was a simple and fast process to switch the two.
Before Repair
We received the SPP Truro HB 32 12 screw pump into our facility for our engineers to thoroughly inspect before undertaking any work. Also manufactured under the name SPX or Truro, this pump range is designed for high pressure applications involving lubricating fluids such as oils or fuels. Capable of producing pressures up to 80 bar, this model is ideal for specialist applications with large machinery at power stations or process plants.
Our engineers stripped the pump and inspected all internal parts for signs of wear or damage, it was identified that the screw set was in excellent condition and did not require replacement, however the mechanical seal, bearings, gaskets, O-rings and bearings flange were in poor condition. After approval from the customer, we cleaned all parts thoroughly and replaced the damaged components. The casing was resprayed, and the unit was performance tested to ensure the designed flow rate and pressure were still produced.
After Repair
After a quick turnaround, the screw pump was received back at the power station alongside an overhaul report, the unit is installed and fully operational while the standby unit is back in storage until it is required again. We always recommend that customers keep either a complete standby pump or spare parts in stock in the event the main pump fails or is off site for maintenance. It is not always possible to source a new replacement specialist pump such as this on a short lead time and the economic consequences of downtime can be disastrous.
See other repairs and overhauls we have performed below:
Imo Triple Screw Pump Overhaul
