Winston Engineering Case Study 1

Case Study 1

Title: Pump leaking through mechanical seal
Medium: Water with unknown chemical treatment

Findings & Observation:

Feedback on pump leaking due to the faulty of mechanical seal.

Possible causes on the findings and observations:

1. Pump could be out of alignment, cavitation, and chemical corrosion to mechanical seal or incompatible elastomer, or foreign object entering seal stuffing box chamber.

2. Technician discovered that the impeller and back casing (with pin holes and sign of corrosion) damaged by chemical corrosion. Also found the impeller and back casing were having cavitation of damaged.

3. Pump bearing was malfunctioning due to mechanical seal leaking and water got into bearing causing bearing to fail. Meanwhile the pump shaft also damaged due to bearing malfunctioning and unbalanced impeller (due to chemical corrosion or cavitation).

Solution and Conclusion:

1. Replace mechanical seal, shaft, bearing, impeller and back casing.

2. Check if the pump material is suitable for the chemical used. Check inlet and outlet pressure/flow rate to prevent the pump being cavitation.