July, 2015

Thermal Imaging is very important for commercial sites. It gives a real time view of the equipment’s operating temperature. This gives an operator a good idea of the condition of the pump.

Combining thermal imaging into you regular maintenance schedule will increase pump life and greatly reduce the chance of premature failure.

Standard picture pump 1

Thermal image pump 1

Standard picture pump 2

Thermal image pump 2

Pump 2 is running 7 degrees hotter than pump 1. This indicated excess bearing wear in pump 2. This temperature difference could not have been picked up by the old fashioned “look, listen, feel” technique.

Long coupled pump standard picture

Long coupled pump thermal image

The motor for this pump is running at a relatively good temp. The pump is temperature excellent.

Thermal image over heating electric motor

Mechanical switchboard operating over heating motor

Thermal image of switchboard revealing dangerous hot spot

The worn out bearings in the electric motor that was driving a pump, had overheated so badly that it created a very dangerous hot spot in the electrical circuits operating the motor.

The pump was immediately isolated and on further inspection it was revealed the the contactor from the heat, had welded its self together creating a constant open circuit that could not be tripped by the thermal overload.

This situation could have sparked an electrical fire and would not have been picked up without thermal imaging being added to the sites maintenance schedule.

A swimming centre in the country had some issues with the 50m recirculation pump and motor. The pump and motor were quite old and needed some repairs and up grades.

They looked at the expensive option of replacing the pump but due to budget restraints it was preferred to overhaul the existing pump and motor.

One of the major problems was the constant leaking water from the gland packing. Chlorinated water is very corrosive and it was causing reasonable damage to the pump housing and base.

It was essential to re-engineer the pump and replace the gland packing with a mechanical seal.

Pump and motor old condition

Pump with leaking gland packing

Removing pump and motor

Pump machining carried out and ready for reassembly

Mechanical seal installed with new stainless steel seal follower

Pump reassembled with ceramic coated impeller

Motor with new bearings, cooling fan and fan shroud

Stainless steel seal follower

Overhaul complete