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HAZLETON PUMPS introduces the SA HIPPO submersible slurry pump on-site mechanical seal replacement system.

12 Ton HIPPO Submersible Slurry Pump that has been upgraded to be able to have the mechanical seals replaced on-site by the user.

Mechanical Seal Chambers

Twin Volute Discharge Design

Hippo Submersible Slurry Pump

6th November 2018

By: Creamer Media Reporter

     

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76578_on-site_mech_seal_replacement_seal_design.pdf  (1.20 MB)

The HIPPO Submersible pump range has been successfully in use since 1984 and HAZLETON PUMPS decided to re-design this range of pumps in order that the mechanical seals can be replaced on-site by the user without having to remove the shaft, bearings, the electrical stator winding or the pump cables with the following benefits:

Handling and Transport:

With the average weight of the HIPPO Submersible Slurry Pump being approximately 1 Ton and mostly used in isolated locations the cost of removal the pump from operation as well as the transportation to the repair location will be at least 40% of the pump’s repair cost.

Pump Replacement Parts:

It was also found that the mechanical seals have a limited life span compared to the other pump components and that should only the seals need replacing, having these seals replaced on-site would have major savings effect on the total cost of ownership of the pump.

On-Site Replacement:

Most owners of HIPPO Submersible Slurry Pumps have well equipped workshops with qualified artisans on-site. It would therefore be a bonus to operational requirements should the mechanical seals be replaced on-site by the user.

On-Site Training:

HAZLETON PUMPS will provide on-site training and support to the pump repair artisans as the replacement of the mechanical seals is not complicated and in most instances the pump operator could replace the mechanical seals. 12 Ton HIPPO Submersible Slurry Pump that has been upgraded to be able to have the mechanical seals replaced on-site by the user.

Upgrade of existing pumps:

The existing HIPPO Submersible Slurry pumps can be upgraded so that the mechanical seals can be replaced on-site by the user at an affordable cost.

IEC 60079-1 Flameproof Applications:

The HIPPO Flameproof Submersible Slurry pump’s mechanical seal can also be replaced on-site provided that the artisan has been trained and is qualified in accordance with the IEC 60079-1 requirements.

Mechanical Seal Chambers:

The original HIPPO Submersible pump was designed with two seal chambers with both seal chambers being filled with oil and the design had been changed in order that the mechanical seal could be removed without having to strip the pump’s electrical drive unit completely.

The Upper Seal Chamber also houses the pump shaft, bearings, electrical winding and the upper mechanical seal while the Lower Seal Chamber only houses the lower mechanical seal.

Both Seal Chambers are also fitted with probes, installed to measure the conductivity of the oil which will become conductive should the mechanical seals start to fail.

The lower mechanical seal will always fail first and when this occurs a warning light or alarm will be activated to warn of this seal’s failure. When the upper seal fails the oil in the upper chamber becomes conductive and the electrical control panel will switch off the pump instantaneously before the electrical stator winding or bearings are contaminated.

The hydraulic end with the mechanical seals is easily removed and the stator housing and the total Upper Seal Chamber can be rinsed out using a suitable solvent and dried. The mechanical seals are replaced, and the mechanical seal chambers are re-filled with oil.

To extent the lifespan of the mechanical seals, double lip seals are also installed below the lower mechanical seals and a deflector is installed on the shaft below the lip seals to displace larger solids and protect the lower clamp plate. The Hydraulic End can be re-assembled, and the pump put back into operation without the pump being removed from site.

The addition advantages:

The design of the HIPPO Submersible Slurry pumps is such that the oil serves the function of dissipating the heat generated from the Electrical Winding as well as to lubricate the bearings and the mechanical seals. This design factor allows the HIPPO Submersible Pumps to have the capabilities of running dry continuously and if the seal chamber is monitored the electrical winding will never fail - even when the inflow rate varies or stops totally.

Shaft vibration:

One of the major causes of mechanical seal failure is vibration of the pump shaft and by utilizing a double discharge volute design all the radial forces on the impeller will be balanced out and thus minimizes the shaft vibration, extending the mechanical seal life.

Electrical Control Panel:

Should the submersible pump be overloaded to the extent that the power absorbed being greater than the maximum power that the electrical windings had been designed for, the windings will also burn out. To avoid this an overload relay will be fitted to the electrical control panel. In most cases additional protection relays are also installed in the electrical control panel which are as follows:

  • Mechanical Seal Failure Detection: Is achieved by having probes installed in the stator and the lower seal chamber. The probe will measure the conductivity of the oil in the chambers and should the seal fail the oil will be contaminated and become conductive.
  • Thermistors: PT100 probes are installed in the stator housing as close to the bearing as possible to detect bearing failure and stop the submersible before serious is caused to the pump.

 

Should all the above-mentioned points be adequately addressed the total cost of ownership of the submersible pump will be kept to a minimum.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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