As one of the foremost importers of pumps in Australia, we have learned a lot about pump failure. Even the finest pump in the world can fail if it isn’t used and maintained correctly. Occasionally, a pump will have faulty parts, but more often it is a case of inappropriate use or shoddy maintenance.
Operation and Design
Any pump must be used as the manufacturer intended and it must be the right design for the job. For example, a pump should operate between 80-110% of its basic efficiency point (BEP). The BEP is the point at which the pump performs best.
Some engineers purchase pumps with higher BEP’s, anticipating that more use will make a higher BEP pump necessary. This makes these pumps perform in an area that is less than 80% of its BEP. Other engineers are given budgetary constraints and are forced to buy pumps whose BEP’s are on the low end. This forces the pumps to operate at more than 100% of the BEP.
In the case of centrifugal pumps, either of these situations creates an imbalance in the mechanics of the pump, causing it to underperform and decreasing its life cycle. The imbalance creates excessive vibrations. This can cause increased temperature, cavitation and erosion, among other things. It ends a chain reaction resulting in pump failure.
Make sure you have the right pump for the right job.
Maintenance
A proactive maintenance program can help you extend your pump’s life cycle while keeping it at maximum performance. There are too many different kinds of pumps to list every possible maintenance technique, but always follow your manufacturer’s recommendations.
It is always easier to prevent failure through maintenance than it is to fix or replace equipment and suffer downtime.
Pump Solutions Australasia
The other important solution is to always use a high quality pump for your applications in Perth. We import the best pumps from Europe and carry Australia’s best. Call us today for more information: 1300 922 973.
