Pumps are expensive pieces of equipment, and to keep them going, continuous monitoring is important. With time, there will inevitably be wear and tear, which will cause deviations in performance. In other words, your pumps will gradually lose capacity and efficiency over time.
VEMC is one of the leading Kirloskar pump dealers based out of Mumbai, and in this blog, we tell you why regular and frequent performance testing is important.
Establishes mechanical integrity
Performance testing enables you to verify the design and establish its mechanical integrity. It helps prove compliance with industry standards and regulations. A mechanical run demonstrates that a pump runs without causing any mechanical issues such as leakage, high temperature, or vibrations.
Detection of issues
Performance testing is carried out under a range of different conditions. This essentially demonstrates the uniform performance of the pump in both hot and freezing temperatures without developing any faults or defects. A bearing temperature test is important to find out the levels of temperature at which pumps perform well. Temperature is measured before the start of the performance test and the minimal allowable rise of temperature above ambient levels is 70 degrees F. Likewise, as vibration levels increase, pumps may become more susceptible to leakages in gaskets, seals, etc. Performance testing ensures none of this takes place.
Finding operational problems
Performance testing can also be an opportunity to find out if a pump has any operational issues. These include misalignment or excessive vibration. These issues, if left unresolved, could cause serious and long-term damage to the pump, thus having an impact on its lifespan. Get in touch with any Kirloskar pump dealer to find out how to get these issues resolved.
Testing energy efficiency
A very important aspect of operating a pump is the level of energy it consumes. This is important as energy prices are soaring and any waste or increased consumption can raise costs significantly. Statistical reports that are received after performance testing demonstrate the level of energy efficiency of a pump.
Compliance testing
Your pump must comply with industry standards as well as government regulations. They need to comply with several standards, such as Hydraulic Institute (HI) vertical pump tests and ANSI/HI 2.6-1994. Non-compliance with any of these standards could attract severe penalties.
Testing the pump’s performance
Finally, and most importantly, the role of performance testing is to find out whether the pump is providing the performance that it promises. For this, the NPSH test is performed using two methods –– vacuum suppression and suction valve throttling.
Pumps are expensive assets that you wish to make the most of for an extended period. This makes it very important that you keep a regular eye on how it is performing. For more information on performance testing, feel free to get in touch with VEMC by calling 022 43436655 or emailing us at marketing@vemc.co.in. We are the leading and most reputed Kirloskar pump dealers in Mumbai.