RE-ENGINEERING OF PUMP PARTS PREVENTS PRODUCTION LOSSES AT BITUMEN PLANT
Case Study

RE-ENGINEERING OF PUMP PARTS PREVENTS PRODUCTION LOSSES AT BITUMEN PLANT

Re-engineered parts to meet customer requirements.
Alternative mechanical welding solution developed.
Time and budget constraints met; production losses averted.

Download
Re-Engineering of Pump Parts Prevents Production Losses at Bitumen Plant

RE-ENGINEERING OF PUMP PARTS PREVENTS PRODUCTION LOSSES AT BITUMEN PLANT

Case Study

CHALLENGE

The customer asked ClydeUnion Pumps to overhaul a twin rotor screw pump used in the production of bitumen. The focus was on the replacement of bearing housings and heating boxes that had been damaged over the years and re-machined several times by the end user to allow correct alignment of the shafts.

Replacement parts were no longer available, so ClydeUnion Pumps had to find an alternative solution to meet the client’s time and cost constraints.

Cutting tool for machining of parts
Cutting tool for machining of parts

SOLUTION

Demonstrating the added value of working with a Celeros Flow Technology company, ClydeUnion Pumps proposed to create new mechanically welded bearing housings and heating boxes based on measurements taken on site. As well as controlling costs and delivering a solution on time, the re-design of these parts also allowed ClydeUnion Pumps to accommodate requirements formulated by the end user’s maintenance team to improve the alignment of bearing housings on the pump casing.

ClydeUnion Pumps developed the new designs and used computer-aided manufacturing techniques to make the new bearing housings and heating boxes. They also performed hydrostatic tests on the heating boxes prior to delivering the parts to the customer.

Purchase of specific cutting tools for machining of parts
Purchase of specific cutting tools for machining of parts

OUTCOMES

The new parts have improved pumping screw alignment, improving overall performance. Improved mechanical seal accessibility makes service and maintenance easier. The choice of mechanically welded design parts meant there were no pattern costs involved and delivery deadlines could be met.

The new drawings and computer-aided manufacturing techniques deployed by ClydeUnion Pumps have also reduced parts delivery time for upgrades of other screw pumps on the site: one of which was an identical pump in spare suffering from severe deterioration. The ability to reinstate the spare pump effectively has removed the risk of production loss due to pump failure.

Back To Top