12 Tips for Centrifugal Pump Safety

Centrifugal pumps are one of the most popular types of pumps used both domestically and in industrial settings.

There are various designs of centrifugal pumps (Figure 1), and they all work in a ...

Search Sign In Home O&M 12 Tips for Centrifugal Pump Safety O&M 12 Tips for Centrifugal Pump Safety POWER Centrifugal pumps are one of the most popular types of pumps used both domestically and in industrial settings.

There are various designs of centrifugal pumps (Figure 1), and they all work in a similar manner at high velocity and pressure.

To avoid accidents when using such pumps, as well as avoid damage to a pump, here are 12 safety tips that should be followed.

Ensure you read the instruction manual that comes with your pump before you install, operate, or perform maintenance on it or its related equipment.

Always check for the recommended specifications for pump components in the manual before making adjustments.

For instance, you should check for the recommended limit for the clearance between the pump’s impeller and the wear plate.

Going beyond or less than the recommended limit will reduce the pump efficiency and cause the components to wear out quickly.

When a centrifugal pump overheats, it not only can damage internal components but also could cause severe burns and injuries to anyone servicing the pump.

It’s important to ensure pumps do not overheat; to avoid the problem, always leave the suction and discharge line open during operations.

However, if overheating occurs, stop the pump immediately and allow it to cool to the air temperature.

Then vent the pump at the drain plug, slowly and cautiously, before restarting.

Also, always allow an overheated pump to cool to air temperature before removing the cover plate, gauge port plug, or fill port cap.

Check for and Replace Worn-out Components.

Check for worn-out components (Figure 2) and replace them immediately to avoid catastrophic damage to your centrifugal pump.

For instance, when the bearing is worn out, the pump shaft begins to wobble, and the pump becomes noisy and eventually will overheat.

You should also check for worn suction line fittings and pipe plugs, and ensure there are no solids such as sand that may cause scratches and rapid wear of seal faces.

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