As an important role in fluid transportation, centrifugal pumps, in daily operation and maintenance, a seemingly trivial operational error - idling, can cause huge harm to centrifugal pumps. Therefore, correct use and maintenance are a strong guarantee for making your products more durable, efficient and safe in operation, and creating long-term and reliable benefits for your enterprise.
Centrifugal pump idling refers to the state where the pump cavity is not filled with liquid (or there is insufficient liquid) during the start-up or operation of the pump, while the motor is running at high speed. Simply put, it is a "dry burning" state. At this time, the pump cannot transport liquid normally nor establish effective pressure.
Failure to prime the pump before startup (insufficient exhaust): This is the most common reason. Centrifugal pumps themselves do not have self-priming capacity. Before starting, the pump cavity must be filled with liquid to expel air. If the operator is negligent and fails to prime the pump or exhaust thoroughly, air will remain in the pump, and the pump will enter an idling state after startup.
Air leakage or blockage in the suction pipeline: Leakage at flanges, gaskets, valves, etc. of the suction pipeline causes external air to be sucked into the pump, destroying the vacuum environment in the pump cavity, and making it impossible to effectively suck in liquid. At the same time, blockage of the suction filter screen and foreign objects in the pipeline can also lead to insufficient liquid supply and cause idling.
Low liquid level or exposed suction port: When the liquid level in the storage tank is too low, lower than the suction port of the pump, the pump will not be able to suck in liquid. Or improper design of the suction port, such as being too high from the bottom of the tank or close to the vortex area, may also lead to the inhalation of gas.
Inlet valve not opened or insufficiently opened: Operational errors result in the inlet valve of the pump not being opened or being opened too little, cutting off or restricting the liquid inlet channel, leaving the pump with no liquid to suck.
Damage to the pump body or seals: Aging or damage to components such as the mechanical seal and packing seal of the pump leads to seal failure, and air enters the pump cavity from the seal during operation.
System design defects: For example, an excessively long suction pipeline, too many elbows, or an excessively small pipe diameter leading to excessive resistance, or the installation height of the pump exceeding the allowable suction vacuum height, may make it difficult for the pump to suck in liquid.
When a centrifugal pump idles, the lack of liquid leads to the failure of cooling and lubrication: overheating of the pump body causes thermal damage, resulting in aging of seals and burnout of the motor; dry friction of the mechanical seal easily leads to its failure, accelerated wear of bearings and a sharp reduction in their service life; dry friction between the impeller and the pump casing also damages core components, leading to reduced performance. In addition, idling not only wastes energy but also may cause safety risks such as scalding of operators, leakage pollution, fire, and mechanical injury.
In conclusion, the stable operation of centrifugal pumps does not solely depend on the "quality" of the product itself. It is a systematic project covering multiple links such as selection, installation, operation, maintenance, management, and personnel training. Teffiko sincerely wishes every customer: stable operation of equipment, smooth production, and prosperous business! Choosing Teffiko means not only choosing a pump but also choosing peace of mind and guarantee.
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