Metering Pumps Trouble-Shooting Guide

Some problems arise with greater frequency than others.

By understanding how and why, preventative measures can be applied to reduce productivity loss, maintenance costs, and operator frustration.

The ability of hydraulic diaphragm metering pumps to inject precise, controlled amounts of chemicals under pressure makes them particularly well- suited to a wide variety of process control applications. Keeping these pumps up and running efficiently demands careful attention to proper installation and maintenance procedures.

Fortunately, most metering pump difficulties are rather easy to correct, particularly since most manufacturers make it a point to test each pump before shipment to their customers. Instead, problems most often stem from other components in the pump installation piping, for example, or control mechanisms or with the way the pumps are installed.

Some metering pump-related problems seem to occur with greater frequency than others. By understanding how and why, preventive measures can be applied to reduce maintenance. What follows are a few of the more common problems pump users face.

LOCATION LOGIC One of the first decisions faced by pump users is where to locate the pump. This may seem like a very simple matter, but all too often its where many pump problems begin. An ill-considered placement, where the pump is exposed to extreme temperature conditions, or too far from the supply vessel, can be the source of considerable trouble down the road.

With this in mind, your first step should be to read the manufacturers instructions regarding installation, and follow the recommendations.

Be sure to mount your pump on a firm, level surface, and allow sufficient access for routine maintenance. Ideally, the suction connection should be below the supply vessels liquid level to allow full flooded suction. The pump also should be located as close

3. Clogged or blocked suction strainer.

4. System discharge pressure greater than pump internal relief valve setting.

5. Starved suction.

Pumps properly installed with piping fully supported prevents stress on component connections. The installation of unions will help simplify pump servicing to the supply vessel as practical, to help minimize friction loss in the suction piping.

Always take into account the environment in which your pump will be located, since extreme temperature fluctuations, particularly on pumps installed outdoors, can have a pronounced effect on metering pump performance. For example, pumps installed where temperatures fall below freezing should be equipped with a heat source to prevent chemical freezing.

Its also important to change hydraulic oil in your pump to reflect changing temperature conditions. In addition, youll want to sufficiently protect all components from rain, snow, and ice. Failure to do so could result in a situation similar to the following:

--Clean or replace (suction line was not flushed prior to making connection to pump, permitting solids or debris such as pipe sealant, tape, etc. to enter and block check valves).

--Check and reset relief valve (within pump rating).

--Insufficient NPSH. Shorten suction piping, increase suction piping size or suction head.

Probable Cause

Insufficient hydraulic oil.

Clogged or blocked check valves, or check valves held open by solids. Remedies

Fill to proper level

Problem: A leading Gulf Coast chemical manufacturer experienced total operating failure shortly after start-up of several new metering pumps equipped with electronic capacity control actuators.

Solution: The service technician discovered that the installation contractor had removed the pumps! actuators from factory-supplied baseplates, resulting in serious misalignment problems.

Although installed outdoors, the contractor had wired the pumps and actuators using indoortype non- watertight electrical connectors. This allowed rain to thoroughly penetrate wiring and enter the pumps and actuators, shorting-out critical electronic components.

Alter realigning pumps and actuators, rewiring them with watertight electrical connectors, and replacing the damaged electronic parts, the pumps operated properly

SUCTION PIPING Nearly 85% of all metering pump operating problems can be directly attributed to suction difficulties, either because of undersized suction piping or due to blockage and!or restrictions in the suction line.

Unlike the steady flow characteristics of a centrifugal pump, a reciprocating metering pump with its pulsating flow requires piping large enough to handle the peak instantaneous flow, which is three times greater than the rated pump capacity. Thus, a metering pump rated at 60 gph produces a 188 gph peak instantaneous flow rate. (60 gph x 3.14 = 188 gph)

Problems can be avoided by keeping suction lines as short and as straight as possible. Piping should be sloped, if necessary, to eliminate vapor pockets. Although suction pipe size requirements vary greatly with each application, a good rule of thumb is

Probable Cause

Partially clogged/dirty suction strainer Insufficient hydraulic oil Leak in suction piping Internal or external relief valve is relieving Insufficient suction pressure Worn or dirty check valves. Liquid close to boiling point Liquid viscosity too high Remedies

Clean strainer Fill to proper level Repair piping Reset valve Raise liquid tank level clean or replace Cool liquid or increase suction head Reduce viscosity of liquid; change ball material and/or size. Pump motor fails to start Probable Cause

Blown fuse or tripped breaker Open thermal overload in motor starter

Low line current Open circuit in limit switches, timers, or other control devices in pump motor starter circuit, Motor damage Remedies

Replace fuse after correcting cause of overload. Reset after correcting cause of overload. If malfunction recurs, check heater size. Determine cause and correct. Reset Check motor for physical damage that may hinder operation. Pump runs but fails to deliver Probable Cause

Insufficient hydraulic oil Check valve(s) lodged open by solids. Worn or dirty check valves. Suction or discharge line blocked. Isolation valve closed. Pump is not primed, Check valve(s) installed incorrectly, Solids buildup between diaphragm and contour plate, preventing diaphragm movement, Remedies

Fill to proper level. Clean or replace. Clean or replace.

Clean line. Open valve. Allow suction line and pump head to fill with liquid before pumping against pressure. Remove and reinstall correctly. Remove and clean liquid end and replace diaphragm (infrequent occurence when pumping liquids containing solids that settle out. Tubular diaphragm liquid end highly recommended). Pump fails to deliver rated capacity Probable Cause

Incorrect capacity setting. Insufficient hydraulic oil Starved suction Internal or external relief valve set too low for system conditions and is relieving. Leaky suction piping Excessive suction lift Liquid close to boiling point Liquid viscosity too high Worn or dirty check valves Remedies

Re-adjust capacity setting Fill to proper level Increase suction piping size or suction head. Reset valve to correct setting and within pump rating. Repair piping Decrease lift Cool liquid or increase suction head.

Reduce viscosity of liquid; change ball material and/or size. Clean or replace Pump operates erratically Never use pipe that is smaller than the suction connection furnished by the pump manufacturer. Also, support piping so it does not strain the pump connections.

A strainer with properly-sized screening should always be installed in the suction line to prevent debris or undissolved chemical particles from entering the pump and interfering with check valve operation.

Before connecting the pump, especially in new installations, flush the suction piping thoroughly. Failure to complete this important step could result in construction debris entering and damaging the pump, and possibly voiding the warranty in the process.

Problem: A customer reported an inability to obtain 100% capacity from several metering pumps installed in a suction-lift application. The manufacturers NPSH calculations indicated that the pumps should operate properly with the end users 3/4 Schedule 40 suction pipe.

Solution: The service technician asked the customer to provide the factory with a detailed sketch diagramming the suction piping arrangementwhich did indeed include 3/4 Schedule 40 pipe However, the pump users drawing also revealed a 12 long flexible hose with integral quick-connect type fittings installed in the suction line.

Consulting the hose manufacturer, the service technician learned that the quick-connect fittings had only a 1/4 l.D., which resulted in a more than 80% reduction of the l.D. of the suction line. The customer was advised to replace the hose and quick-connects with larger components, which solved the problem.

Problem: A major chemical producer experienced pump failure immediately upon startup of a new production line at one of their plants. Operaters adjusted pump capacity controls, but could not get the new pumps to feed chemical, and called to request factory assistance.

Solution: The serviceman determined that the contractor had neglected to flush the piping system prior to installing pumps. Cigarette butts, dead bugs and metal chips left over from construction had accumulated in the supply tank and piping, and were flushed into the pump on startup, completely blocking check valves.

Plant operators were instructed to disconnect and flush out the piping and pump check valves, and install a properly sized suction strainer. The pumps operated properly after this was accomplished.

Pump delivers too much capacity Probable Cause

Insufficient discharge pressure Too much suction pressure Remedies

Increase discharge pressure. (pump discharge pressure must be 15-30 psi greater than suction pressure to assure proper ball check valve operation). Noisy operation of BaH check valves Excessive gear wear End play in worm (motor) shaft Improper lubrication Worm bearings Ball valves make a clicking sound as they operate; rattling noises may also be heard under certain conditions these noises are amplified by the natural resonance of piping. These noises are normal and should not cause concern.

Repair gear set Reshim shaft Replace with correct oil

Replace bearings Motor overheats Probable Cause

Motor overloaded due to operating in excess of pump discharge pressure rating. Improper wiring or low voltage Hydraulic oil too viscous High ambient temperature Remedies

Limit discharge pressure to maximum specified. Check power supply vs. motor nameplate data. Drain and refill with correct hydraulic oil. Increase ventilation or relocate pump. If outdoors, provide sun shield. Pump leaking oil Probable Cause

Oil plug loose Pump overfilled with oil Breather cap loose or missing Diaphragm head bolts not tightened Remedies

Tighten Drain oil to proper level Tighten or replace

Tighten to specifications Pump losing oil or hydraulic oil discolored Ruptured diaphragm

Replace diaphragm after correcting cause of failure. Pump hydraulic oil must be discarded and gearbox thoroughly flushed of all traces of process fluid. Replace with fresh hydraulic oil.

* Motors can safely operate at total skin temperatures between 95 C to 130 C, depending upon enclosure and insulation system. This results in normal hot temperatures which should not cause concern.

DISCHARGE PIPING Sizing of discharge piping becomes more critical as pipe length increases. Long pipe runs create higher pressure drops and are subject to mass inertia effects, resulting in the hydraulic shocks commonly known as water hammer. In such applications a pulsation dampener, installed as close as practical to the pump discharge connection, will do much to improve pump performance.

Discharge pipe should be adequately sized for the application, and in a pressure rating in excess of the pumps design. All valves and fittings should be full-ported to prevent restrictions that could affect pump performance.

Problem: An equipment fabricator supplied metering pumps installed on chemical injection skids. Upon start up, the pumps would not deliver 100% capacity and the pumps internal relief valves actuated continually at capacity setting above 50%. Repeated attempts by the equipment fabricators serviceman to solve the problem proved unsuccessful.

Solution: After concluding that the pumps were notihe problemcontrary to the end users adamant claim the pump manufacturer suggested the end user disassemble the insulated downstream piping for inspection.

This led to the discovery that an undersized pipe adapter had been installed In the discharge line, thereby creating a restriction which limited flows to 50% of the pumps capacity. The end user was advised to remove and replace the restrictive fitting, which finally resolved the problem.

Problem: A cogeneration plant had installed several low-flow Diamyte metering pumps.Cn start-up, operators became alarmed when, after several hours, no pumping could be observed at the injection point Assuming that the metering pumps were inoperable, operators shut them down and called for factory field service.

Solution: A technician visited the site, andt discovered that the contractor installed the pumps using 1 diameter discharge pipe, which ran a distance of more than 100 feet to the injection point.

Based on the pumps n?aximum flow rate of 0.14 gph, the technician calculated that itwould take nearly 29 hours to completely fill the discharge line and before any pumping action would be observed at the injection point. The plant was advised to replace the 1 piping with 1 0.0. high-pressure mechanical tubingthe proper size for this particular application.

< Extreme temperature fluctuations can significantly impact the performance of metering pumps installed outdoors.

AUXILARY EQUIPMENT Problems can also occur with accessories such as back pressure and safety relief valves, pulsation dampeners, calibration cylinders, and controls (Figure 1). All must be accurately sized and installed, since improperly matched components can adversely affect pump performance.

Problem: A leading computer chip manufacturer requested warranty service from the pump manufacturer, claiming recently installed metering pumps with electronic controls were not delivering the proper flow rate, based on instrument readings taken from a newly installed PLC.

Solution: Visiting the jobsite, the service technician immediately determined that pump performance was precisely to specifications. He then checked the signal readings from the PLC and quickly determined that it was incorrectly calibrated, resulting in false signals to the pumps

electronic capacity control. After the PLC manufacturer recalibrated their unit, the pumps operated properly.

Loose or improperly installed pipe and fittings can allow process chemical to drip on the pump and ancillary equipment to the detriment of system efficiency.

A FEW IMPORTANT STEPS A measure of prevention is all thats needed to help keep your pump operating at optimum efficiency.

>Read the instruction manual.

Easily done, yet frequently overlooked. Many problems can be avoided simply by reading and following the manufacturers instructions. These can provide a wealth of information not only on the installation of metering pumps, but also the proper start-up procedures necessary to avoid problems.

Establish a regular maintenance schedule. A little preventive maintenance can go a long way in keeping problems from developing. Check oil levels periodically, and schedule complete oil changes once a year.

>Keep spare parts on hand, and replace worn parts as necessary Most pump manufacturers offer packaged recommended spare parts kits, which include those parts youll most likely need to keep you pump up and running.

>When a problem arises, provide the manufacturer with complete details. The more the manufacturer knows, the faster they can help solve your problem. Tell all everything from the pumps location, capacity, and materials of construction, to the accessories involved and the chemical being pumped. Its also a good idea to provide a sketch of the entire installation.

>Use a pump only for the application for which it was specified. If your application changes, be certain that the pump liquid and material of construction are compatible with the process fluid of the new application. If you have any questions or doubts, consult the manufacturer first.

>Above all, ask questions. If theres something you dont understand about your pump, ask the manufacturer. They can provide the information you may need to solve problems before they arise.

Improperly matched components can adversely affect pump performance. All must be accurately sized and installed