When you get submersible pumps rental, it is important to ensure they are functioning optimally to avoid failures. Submersible pump failure can result in repeated repairs, extended downtimes and higher costs of maintenance. Understanding the common causes of submersible pumps can help in ensuring your pump is functioning efficiently. Here are some common causes of submersible pump failures.
Cavitation
Cavitation is the rapid and subsequent air bubbles collapse in a fluid. When the NPSHA is lower than the NPSHR, pump cavitation can occur. Pump cavitation can cause different issues for your pumping system including excess energy and noise usage and serious damage to the pump.
Reverse rotation of the motor
This problem will occur when the submersible pump is wired incorrectly making the motor rotate in the reverse direction. When a motor rotates in the reverse direction, little water will be pumped and it does some serious damage to the pump hence polishing the pump impeller and leading to cavitation of the pump.
Overheating
Overheating is the most common reason for the failure of the motor in submersible pumps. Overheating can cause the insulation materials to deteriorate and eventually lead to failure.
Dry running of a submersible pump
This problem happens when the levels of water drop to a point where the pump can’t draw a decent amount of water and/or create a lot of disturbance in the water. The dehydration running of a submersible pump is not too long. It will lead to cavitation and damage the diffuser and impeller of the pump making the submersible pump rental cost high due to the destruction of the pump under your care. This will also cause the seal rubbers of the pump to dry out and crack allowing water into the motor.
Moisture and humidity
Humidity and moisture in the air can ruin on the electric motor, especially over time. They can cause corrosion inside the pump or the motor.
Cable damage
Cable damage includes damage often unseen when the cable of the pump is damaged internally. It is important that if a cable has been yanked or gashed that this is checked immediately. The seal arrangement where the pump’s cable enters the body of the pump is a weak spot and it is easy for the air seal to break.
Deadhead causing the shaft to break
This is where the submersible pump has a more vertical head than it was initially designed for such as a valve on the discharge being closed. This causes discharge cavitation that is indicated by the marble’s sound as they get pumped and pit around the tips of the impeller and inside the casing of the pump. At an extreme, this can make the shaft of the pump break.
Failure to allow discharge piping
It is vital to make the necessary calculations when specifying a submersible pump since discharge piping can create friction loss. Otherwise, this will lead to deadheading.
Lack of work
When you get submersible pumps rental that has not been in use for long, it is important to know that these pumps are generally in breaking state when they are not in use.