Solutions for Obsolete Parts

Written by: Jeff Smith, Hydro Parts Solutions Inc.
Publisher: Pumps & Systems / February, 2013

 

During the last 20 years of my career, my main focus was on the refining and chemical industries. As I approached retirement last year, I was allowed to make some comments for Pump and Systems related to the problem facing those industries as it relates to the availability of “replacement parts” for pumps that have moved into the age range of 40 plus years; namely, we have a nationwide infrastructure problem if we do not find ways to extend the lives of hundreds of thousands of pumps by having parts availability.

After a brief retirement, I was fortunate enough to find another role to play in the same capacity but more so in the utility industry for both fossil and nuclear power plants. I was actually not surprised to find the same problem; pumps are getting so aged that parts are no longer available. If you give this a little thought you will probably come to the same alarming opinion…..we have a problem that is nationwide and is not industry specific.

The Situation

Just today I visited with a utility company executive who confirmed that this is a problem that is already large and one that will grow AND that thus far there are few initiatives to address the problem. Most people say that when the pump ends its useful life, it will simply be replaced. This ignores the additional and often very considerable capital cost involved in replacing the pump beyond the cost of the pump itself; such as motors, piping, foundations, interruption in service, etc.

The purpose of my comments is to bring light to this problem and to answer a few simple questions:

Who is responsible for addressing the problem? While many will say this is the fault of the OEM and that they should address it, that is simply not correct. The OEM originally sold the pump noting a useful life of 20-25 years. Many pumps are decades older than that. The companies that originally bought the pumps have enjoyed service well beyond the original estimated useful life of the pumps. Our company recently rebuilt a pump that was 82-years old. The owner of that pump should look back on the purchase of that pump as a real bargain. The current owners of these older pumps should accept responsibility for addressing this problem.

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Procurement Tool for Hydraulic Pump Components

Procurement Tool for Hydraulic Pump Components (Impellers)
Use Checks & Balances in the Inventory Receipt Process

Whether you order your replacement parts from the OEM or a third-party supplier, always have a method of checking the parts to insure equivalency of the hydraulic components. It is important to document part attributes for your own records. If inconsistencies are found, actions to take include contacting the supplier for part justification or working with Hydro to perform a solid model study for part comparison.

Hydro has created a tool to help with your receipt inspection process.

 

 

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Visit Hydro at Power-Gen International

Michelle Preusser and Christine Barger, Hydro Inc.

Michelle Preusser and Christine Barger, Hydro Inc.

Visit Hydro at Booth #1000 to share with us some of the challenges you are facing and learn more about how Hydro may be able to assist you. We would enjoy the opportunity to share with you information about our recent pump project successes and enhanced capability to

serve pump users in the power generation industry.

Allow us to introduce Jeff Smith, of Hydro Parts Solutions, to share with you our enhanced capability to support your parts needs, including difficult-to-source cast parts – such as impellers, diffusers, discharge heads, casings, bowls and suction bells.

Hydro’s Booth will be easy to find! Click to view the conference map.

We look forward to seeing you at the show! Continue reading

ArcelorMittal Achieves Energy Savings Through Pump Life Cycle Improvements

Descaling is a critical service in a steel mill; the pressures are high and the rapid changes in flows and pressures can severely impact the pumps’ energy usage. Northwest Indiana Times published an article in April 2011 about the substantial energy savings ArcelorMittal was able to a achieve by implementing upgrades to their descaling pumps (read full article).

Hydro was instrumental in helping ArcelorMittal achieve these energy savings by implementing upgrades to improve the pump’s performance. To learn more about improvements which can be made to descaling pumps, read Hydro’s article on Cost Reductions Through Life Cycle Improvements.

Vibration Training with Mechanical Solutions

In June 2011, Mechanical Solutions worked with Hydro to provide pump users with a free course on Pump Vibration Training. Hosted at the HydroAire 40th St. service center, material was co-presented by Bill Marscher and Eric Olson from Mechanical Solutions Inc. (MSI). The first training seminar was so successful that another one was scheduled and well attended in November 2011.

This vibration training seminar focuses on pump troubleshooting using vibration and other specialized testing and analysis techniques. The course, which is a condensed version of the class previously presented at the 2011 Pump Symposium, covers vibration analysis, testing and evaluation, and provides an overview of when and how to apply them. Hydro plans to host another MSI Vibration Training seminar on October 16 & 17th, 2012. To reserve your seat for this training course, contact the seminar coordinator, Christine Barger, by calling 630-947-4039 or visithttp://www.hydroinc.com/pump-training-seminars for information on upcoming pump training events.