Competitive metal fabrication contracts made in China
Will the water pump explode? Competitive metal fabrication contracts made in China
The answer to this question must be yes!
All that exploded were centrifugal pumps. The explosion was not caused by impurities in the pump or a chemical reaction between the pump and a material that should not be in the pump. In fact, in an explosion like this, the water in the pump is very pure – such as boiler feed water, condensate water and deionized water.
How do these explosions occur?
The answer is: When these pumps are running, there has been a situation where the inlet valve and the outlet valve of the pump are closed at the same time for a period of time (making the pump “idle”). Since water cannot flow out through the pump, all the energy originally used for fluid transport is converted into heat. When the water is heated, it creates static pressure inside the pump. This pressure is enough to cause damage to the pump – possibly seal damage and rupture of the pump body. Competitive metal fabrication contracts made in China
Such an explosion could cause severe equipment damage and personal injury due to the release of accumulated energy within the pump. However, if the water is heated above the boiling point before the pump is damaged, a more energetic explosion is possible because the superheated water released will rapidly boil and expand (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion – BLEVE ), its severity and hazards are similar to a steam boiler explosion.
This type of explosion can occur if the pump is running and both the pump’s inlet and outlet valves are closed, regardless of the liquid the pump is transporting. Even a non-dangerous fluid like water can cause serious hazards as shown in the picture. Imagine if the fluid is flammable, then the released materials will catch fire, and the consequences will be even more serious. Further, if the fluid is toxic or corrosive, the released material could cause serious harm to those in the vicinity of the pump.
what can you do?
Before starting the pump, check that all valves are in the correct position. Make sure that all valves on the designed flow path are open, while other valves, such as drain valves and vent valves, should be closed. Competitive metal fabrication contracts made in China
If you are starting a pump remotely, such as from a control room, make sure the pump you are about to start is ready to start. If you are not sure, you need to go to the site to check, or ask someone to check.
Make sure that critical steps critical to safe pump operation, including valve opening and closing positions, are included in the equipment’s operating procedures and checklists.
Some pumps are automatically activated – for example, when the tank is full, the tank is automatically emptied by a process control computer or level control instrumentation. Before putting these pumps into automatic control, such as after maintenance, make sure all valves are in the correct position.
To prevent the pump from starting when the pipeline is blocked, some pumps are equipped with instrument protection devices – for example, interlocks such as low flow, high temperature, or overpressure. Make sure these security systems are properly maintained and tested. Competitive metal fabrication contracts made in China