Kids usually master new technology quickly. They use Facebook, iPhones, iPads, Xboxes—all things digital. Common to all these devices and technologies is the integrated chip (IC). Pump users, on the other hand, have not been as quick to adopt this new technology.

Q. What considerations should be made when selecting the proper boiler feed pumps for a typical 400-megawatt, combined-cycle power plant?

A. The operating range of the plant compared to the operating range of the pump, as well as reliability considerations and first cost, will determine how many pumps are required. Large thermal power stations typically have two or three installed 50 percent boiler feedwater pumps.

Making a correct braided pump packing selection can be a confusing and daunting task. Every manufacturer has its own engineering specifications and features that the user must consider when making these decisions. What criteria should the end users include when making this choice, and how can they get the maximum performance from their packing?

When a newly-repaired pump performs poorly, good troubleshooting procedures can help eliminate a number of possibilities—including problems with the fluid being pumped (the pumpage) or with the pipes, fittings or vessels that are connected to the pump (the system). A savvy technician with a basic understanding of pump curves and performance parameters can quickly narrow the possibilities—especially those associated with the pump.

Pump Curves

Producing energy savings within an industrial plant is a high priority for plant management. Reliability engineers focus on extending the mean time between repairs (MTBR), but they may often overlook the potential energy savings that can be generated if a full engineering study is performed as part of their root cause failure analysis (RCFA). This is especially true with regard to pumps since they are peppered throughout many facilities.

The Jordan, Knauff & Company (JKC) Valve Stock Index was up 27.2 percent during the last 12 months, above the broader S&P 500 Index which was up 22.6 percent. The JKC Pump Stock Index was up 26.3 percent for the same time period.¹

Decatur, Ala. (Sept. 3, 2013) – Morin Repair Services expanded its services and capabilities by opening its new state-of-the-art facility using the latest in balancing, machining, fabrication, engineering, assembly, quality control, logistics, and unsurpassed support all under one roof for full in-house capabilities.

PLYMOUTH, Mich. (Aug. 26, 2013) – Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies announced the recipients of its 2012 Supplier Excellence Achievement Level (SEAL) Awards. The suppliers were selected based on exemplary performance in the areas of quality, delivery, cost management, technology and overall service to Freudenberg-NOK and its manufacturing sites.

The SEAL Awards, now in its fifth year, are divided into Gold, Silver and Bronze levels for chemical and metal suppliers.