Maintenance of Condenser

Vacuum Pump & Seal

Water System
By:
Ganesh Kumar
Sr. Engineer (O&M), APNRL
Two Stage Vacuum Pump
(AT-Series)

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 Major Components of Two Stage
Vacuum Pump

1. IE Head 7. Interstage check valve 13. 1st Stage DE Cone

2. 2nd Stage Rotor 8. 2nd Stage Cone 14. Shaft
3. 2nd Stage Lobe 9. IE Bracket 15. DE Head
4. 2nd Stage Manifold 10. 1st Stage IE Cone 16. Vacuum Pump 1st Stage
5. Manifold Cover 11. 1st Stage Body Inlet
6. Gas Discharge 12. 1st Stage Rotor
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Internals of Vacuum Pump

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 Operating Principle
• The vacuum pump has two-stage rotor which is turned by an
external motor. One portion of the rotor lies within a first - double
flow stage chamber that is formed by the casing, the other portion
of the rotor lies within the second - single flow stage chamber.
• Both pump stages function identically.
• The axis of the casing is offset from the axis of the rotor.
• Water is admitted to the first stage chamber through a passage in
the cone, and acts as a seal liquid. Additional seal water is fed
directly to the vacuum pump from the heat exchanger to seal
clearances in the vacuum pump.
• The Air/water vapor mixture from the condenser is drawn in
through the air inlet. A spray nozzle in the cone forms the seal
water into a spray pattern through which the air/water vapor
mixture must pass. At the point, most of the water vapor
condenses.
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 Operating Principle
• Then, the pumped gasses and seal water are discharged through
the first stage discharge passage to the second stage at increased
pressure. Finally the air and seal water is ejected at atmospheric
pressure through the air discharge to the separator.
• In the separator, the seal water drops from the air stream to the
bottom, and the air vents out the top. An automatic float switch
and make-up solenoid valve, and an overflow loop maintain the
proper level of seal water.
• After it passes through the pump and separator, the seal water is
circulated through a heat exchanger, and then back to the pump.

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 Operating Principle
Vacuum Pump
Comprises of Three
Major Stages in one
cycle.

1. Intake
2. Compression
3. Discharge

Note: It uses water or any other suitable liquid which acts as “liquid piston”.
Hence it is also called as Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump.
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 STAGE-1 : INTAKE

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STAGE-2 : COMPRESSION

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 STAGE-3 : DISCHARGE

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 Operating Principle

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 Operating Principle
3

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 Maintenance Plan
Weekly
1. Carry out external cleaning of equipment.
2. Check all valves for gland leakage if leakage is to be observed, same to
be attended either by replacing the glands or by tightening it.
3. Check the foundation bolt tightness and take corrective action if
required.
4. Check for pump gland leakage, if leakage is observed, same to be
attended either by replacing the glands or by tightening it.
5. Clean strainer for makeup water & seal liquid line.
6. Bearing greasing to be done if found necessary.
7. Attend all leakages either by welding / replacement of gland / gaskets.
8. Checking of alignment of Pump with Motor and do the necessary
correction if required.
9. Spill over oil / water / grease / cotton waste / etc. in surrounding area
and floor to be cleaned up to the satisfaction of EIC.

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 Maintenance Plan
Half Yearly
1. Inspection of bearings of Pump & lubricate, if necessary.
2. Cleaning of seal water coolers i.e. PHE.
3. Inspection of motor-pump coupling & lubricate, if necessary.

Yearly
1. Overall maintenance of the vacuum pump.
2. Remove any scale deposition on pump impeller.
3. Replace the Pump gland packing.

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 Major Breakdown
Bearing Failure
Possible Causes
 Check coupling alignment.
 Check for soft foot - pump properly shimmed.
 Check for equal seal flow to each side of pump.
 Eliminate piping stress – when inlet is disconnected -no
misalignment.
Could be eliminated via
 Monitor bearing temperatures/vibration weekly.
 Use recommended grease.
 Do not mix different greases.
 Do not over-grease.
 Check grease at 6 month intervals.
 Monitor packing leakage.
 Be sure refill grease is same as existing grease.
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 Trouble Shooting
High Vibration
Possible Causes
 Excess Seal water – overload the pump.
 Deteriorated base or foundation.
 Equal seal flow to each side of pump.
 Scale buildup on the impeller
Could be eliminated via
 Monitor pump vibration weekly.
 Proper seal water flow to the pump.
 Check for tightness of the foundation bolt.

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 THANK YOU

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