Hydro was contacted by a major oil refinery to rerate and upgrade a reactor charge pump for a relocated processing unit.

In its previous installation, the pump had a history of persistent high vane pass vibration despite several attempts to modify the pump and support pedestals by the pump’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Due to the reduced feed rate to the unit at the new location, the pump required a hydraulic rerate in addition to the need for reduced vibration.

Read the technical article on Pumps & Systems: digital.pumpsandsystems.com/display_article.php?id=3010371&view=475293

Bob Jennings of Hydro, Inc. discusses how a major steel manufacturer's five vintage descaling pumps were consuming too much power and not producing enough output.

Many pumps in operation today were designed and manufactured decades ago. Due to an increase in energy demand, these pumps are often operating at higher flows, farther from their best efficiency point. As a result, the designs and hydraulic characteristics many no longer be as effective.

Learn how an in-depth engineering analysis led to a full refurbishment saving a steel plant millions per year in downtime, repairs, and maintenance.

Experiencing repeated pump failure? Call Hydro today at (312) 738-3000 or visit hydroinc.com to learn more!

During a mechanical seal replacement at a major gas plant, a reliability engineer identified that their API OH2 centrifugal pump was operating below the Minimum Continuous Stable Flow (MCSF).

In this case, Hydro Rocky Mountain partnered with HydroTex Deer Park's engineering team to provide the customer with an innovative solution by utilizing the existing casing and providing a redesigned impeller to optimize the overall efficiency and life cycle of the unit.

Watch as Ares Panagoulias and Glen Powell, of Hydro's test lab, examine the historic operating conditions in regard to the pump's best efficiency point (BEP) and provide a performance test to validate the upgrades and modifications.

Read the technical article on World Pumps: worldpumps.com/ancillary-products/features/seal-replacement-reveals-causes-of-vibration/

Call Hydro today at (312) 738-3000 or visit hydroinc.com to learn more.

A major oil refinery was having vibration issues on two of their 10-stage BB5 pumps. Both pumps had a history of high vane pass frequency vibration, particularly at the inboard bearing housing.

The refinery reliability engineers suspected that the high vane pass frequency was due to a coincident natural frequency in the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) structural design of the inboard housing, thus creating a critical speed at the operating speed of the pump.

In this video, Jeff Giroux of HydroAire 40th Street and Ares Panagoulias of Hydro's test lab team, discuss the historic resonance problems and provide a bearing housing resonance test in conjunction with an API 610 11th Edition performance test to further identify the severity of the vibration and ultimately provide an engineering upgrade.

Read the technical article on World Pumps: worldpumps.com/oil-gas/features/lab-tests-bring-out-the-best-in-analysis/

Call Hydro today at (312) 738-3000 or visit hydroinc.com to learn more.