Pre-starting inspection and Typical Safety guards Of The Vertical Turbine Pumps (VTP pumps)

Before starting The Vertical Turbine Pump the following checks should be made.

a) Rotate The Vertical Turbine Pump shaft by hand to make sure The Vertical Turbine Pump rotates freely and the impellers are correctly positioned.

b) Has the electric motor been properly lubricated in accordance with the instructions furnished with the driver?

c) Has the electric motor been checked for proper rotation? If not, The Vertical Turbine Pump must be disconnected from the driver at the coupling before checking.

The electric motor must rotate counter-clockwise when looking down on the top of the driver.

d) Check all connections to the driver and control.

Do not overfill the grease cavity. Over greasing

can lead to failure of the thrust bearing.

e) Check that all piping connections are tight.

f) Check all foundation bolts for tightness.

g) Check all bolting connections for tightness

(coupling bolts, mechanical seal gland bolts, driver bolts etc).

h) Make sure the mechanical seal is properly

adjusted and locked into place. Ensure that all seal spacers are in the running position prior to operation.

i) All guards must be secured in position prior to pump startup to prevent possible contact with rotating parts.

To ensure proper alignment three items are very important during installation and they are:

• All machined mating surfaces (such as the mating faces of The Vertical Turbine Pump and motor) must be clean and free from burrs and nicks. These surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly with a scraper, wire brush and emery cloth if necessary and all nicks or burrs removed with a fine file

• Exterior strain must not be transmitted to The Vertical Turbine Pump. The most common cause of trouble in this respect is forcing the piping to mate with The Vertical Turbine Pump. It is recommended that flexible connectors be installed in the piping adjacent to The Vertical Turbine Pump.

• All threads should be checked for damage and repaired if necessary. If filing is necessary, remove the part from The Vertical Turbine Pump if possible, or arrange to catch all the filings so they do not fall onto other parts of The Vertical Turbine Pump. Clean all threads with a wire brush and approved cleaning solvent, ends of shafts must be cleaned and any burrs removed since alignment depends on the shaft ends butting squarely. Lubricate all threaded connections with a suitable approved thread lubricant (an approved anti-galling compound should be used on stainless mating threads)

j) On Vertical Turbine Pumps equipped with mechanical seals, clean fluid should be put into the seal chamber. With Vertical Turbine Pumps under suction pressure, this can be accomplished by bleeding all air and vapor out of the seal chamber and allowing the fluid to enter.

With Vertical Turbine Pumps not under suction pressure, the seal chamber should be flushed liberally with clean fluid to provide initial lubrication. Make sure the mechanical seal is properly adjusted and locked into place. Insure that all seal spacers are removed prior to operation.

Typical safety guards

After initial startup, pre-lubrication of the mechanical seal will usually not be required as enough liquid will remain in the seal chamber for subsequent startup lubrication.

A screen guard is furnished with all Vertical Turbine Pumps having a two-piece headshaft or an adjustable flanged coupling. This screen must be secured in place prior to pump startup to prevent possible contact with rotating parts. Typical arrangement is shown in Figure A.