KSB Boiler Feed Water
Application: Boiler Feed Water
Pump Details: KSB Model HGC 4/6
Pump Type: Ring Segment 1500hp
A KSB boiler feed pump in service at a paper mill suffered a catastrophic failure due to a dry run event. Having dismantled the pump and performed a complete inspection of the internal components, Hydro confirmed that the impellers and diffusers were severely damaged and the wear rings were broken. The pieces which broke away from the impellers and diffusers had damaged the inside of the casing as they moved through the pump.
Four of the six diffusers had vanes which were so badly damaged they could not be repaired. Hydro manufactured new diffusers and impeller wear rings from a durable stainless steel and upgraded the bolting material that holds the diffusers to the stage casing. To help the pump survive another temporary dry run situation, the case rings were fitted with composite inserts and tack welded back into place to reduce corrosion damage.
Hydro rebuilt this pump with engineered upgrades, and since being installed at the mill over a year ago, it has been their best running pump.