Industrial pumps are at the core of many industrial processes – so frequent pump failures can significantly disrupt the manufacturing process of any plant.
Most industrial pump breakdowns are caused by cavitation, excess vibration, and premature wear. Luckily, most of these breakdown causes are easily addressed by following a proper maintenance schedule. And, if the damage has been done already, repairs or replacement carried out by properly qualified technicians can quickly remedy the situation.
With over 100 years of combined experience, we at Marley Flow Control are experts in industrial pump solutions and repairs. Since 2002, we have been leading the industry in the manufacturing of cooling towers – while also being a leading provider of industrial pump solutions, Australia-wide. We are an Australian owned and operated brand with a wealth of knowledge that has allowed us to work with some of the country’s largest businesses and corporations.
As industry leaders, we have a high level of expertise and can provide a wide range of services – including pump solutions and cooling tower services. If you need any industrial pump solutions, repairs or services for your equipment, contact our highly experienced team to discuss your options today.
Below we list the most efficient solutions to common pump problems that will help you maximise the output of your industrial pumps.
Using a properly designed pump system
The old saying “prevention is better than cure” certainly rings true when it comes to industrial pump design. Selecting the best pump for the job – custom designed if necessary – is key to minimising any future problems.
If a pump is made out of materials that are likely to chemically react with the liquids it moves, corrosion can quickly become an issue. This problem is most easily avoided when selecting a pump for a particular application. Generally, pumps made of stainless steel, particularly its higher grades, will have higher grades of corrosion resistance – so you need to achieve the right balance between reliability and affordability when choosing your pump.
Also, using an industrial pump that is not well designed for its purpose and/or not properly installed frequently results in excess vibration and cavitation problems. A pump that is not the right type or size for its use can also suffer from excessive wear. Again, these issues are much easier to address at the design stage. For example, as cooling tower specialists, we at Marley Flow Control know that centrifugal pump design is best for achieving an efficient cooling water circuit, and have extensive experience in designing such pump solutions.
Correctly installing your pump
After making sure that your industrial pump is well suited for its intended use, you also need to ensure that it is installed properly. Otherwise, excess vibration may develop – and lead to decreased performance and excessive wear of the pump.
Correctly mounting your pump is essential to ensure its efficient operation without excess vibration, cavitation, and water hammer issues – and proper pipework installation is equally important.
As pumps are used by such a wide variety of industries, Marley Flow Control has a team of highly qualified technicians skilled in both metallic and non-metallic pipework installations. Our technicians are also experienced in working in confined spaces, at height, and in remote locations.
Ensuring your pump is properly aligned
Proper alignment of industrial pumps is one of the key ways to ensure that they operate at top capacity and do not suffer from excessive wear.
Excess vibration that develops as a result of shaft misalignment is one of the common problems that can affect the performance of industrial pumps. Such vibrations can also cause serious damage to a pump over time if not addressed timely.
This problem can be easily prevented by carrying out periodic laser alignment of the shafts. This alignment technology is based on laser beams being fired and received simultaneously by sensors placed on each of the shafts – and delivers fast, accurate and reliable measurements that show if the shafts are aligned properly and whether any correction is needed.
Carrying out regular maintenance
The best way to ensure that your industrial pump does not wear out prematurely is to follow a proper maintenance schedule. Industrial pumps can experience mechanical wear due to vibration and cavitation. They can be affected by fouling which happens when particles settle on the internal surfaces of a pump. Excessive chemical wear can also happen due to corrosion.
Regular preventative maintenance is needed to ensure that any such potential problems can be found and fixed before they result in a pump breakdown.
We offer a wide range of industrial pump solutions
As a trusted Australian owned and operated brand, Marley Flow Control offers a high level of expertise combined with an impressive range of products. We pride ourselves in offering our clients a wide range of industrial pump solutions, as well as cooling tower services.
We successfully service and repair both Marley brand pumps and a wide range of equipment produced by other manufacturers. Our dedicated technicians can repair and maintain your pump to the manufacturer’s original specifications.
We also have extensive experience carrying out laser alignment of industrial pumpsets. Our team has successfully carried out long laser alignments of up to four metres. We have experience working in confined spaces, at heights and in remote locations. After completing a laser alignment, our team will provide you with a comprehensive report showing the change in alignment achieved as a result of our service. Find out how we can use our engineering experience to help find the right solution for your business needs. Contact us here for a free quote.