Summary Reports Pumps Compressors Gas Turbine

Pumps

Pump is a device used to move or transport fluids or liquids from one area to another by using suction mechanism. Pumps are also used in compressing gasses or in forcing air into tires and other inflatable objects or systems. As a mechanical machine, pumps uses energy to move fluids, gases and liquids. There are several ways for pumps to move the above-mentioned elements such as direct lifting, displacement of matter, or by forcing gravity. Pumps are useful devices across industries, especially those that are directly involved in the transport of gases and liquid; of course, pumps are also used at home in other simple mechanics such as in automobile tires.

Basically, there are two major types of pumps: dynamic and positive-displacement. Dynamic pumps are used to covert high velocity liquid into a pathway using pressure. The good thing about dynamic pumps is the low cost of operation, but still it these pumps provide high speeds, especially with directly attached in steam engines and electric motors. On the other hand, positive displacement pumps works by pushing the liquid into a compartment then to the exit section. Positive displacement allows user to easily control the mobility of fluid thus providing the best control.

Dynamic pumps can be sub-categorized into:

• Centrifugal Pump. This type of pump has an impeller and an intake. The impeller is the main pump component that moves liquid to be discharged into the case around the impeller. As the impeller increases in velocity, the fluid decreases its velocity. The velocity proportion between thee two allows the pump to discharge fluid. Centrifugal pumps account more than 80% of the total world's pump production because of its uniform pressure, low cost, and high speed.
• Axial Flow Pump. Axial flow or propeller pumps are used in low-pressure irrigation, and wet-pit drainage system. These pumps focus on the pressure through propelling and lifting of the vanes on the fluid or gas.

Meanwhile, positive displacement pumps are sub-categorized into four types, as follow:

• Reciprocating Pump. Reciprocating pumps are commonly used in deep-water system, wherein small quantity of liquid is transported, but a relatively large pressure is required.
• Metering Pump. This type of pump moves volume of fluid in a time basis to ensure accurate and uniform liquid flow rate. Most metering pumps are used in production and manufacturing plants wherein specific liquid volume must be produced in a specified time.
• Rotary Pump. Rotary vane pump used vanes that are attached to a rotor, which rotates around the cavity. This pump is used in high pressure hydraulic pumps, in power steering, and auto-transmission pumps.
• Moyno Pumps. Moyno or progressive cavity pump is used to transfer fluid in a progressive manner. This type of pump can be likened to a metering pump, which ensures uniform and accurate volume of liquid to flow from an area to another.

Common issues concerning pumps, regardless of type, include: serious pump misalignment, suction problems, over delivery of gas or liquid, motor overheat, and pump oil leaking. To achieve optimum potential of the pump, it is important follow procedures on how to resolve these issues. For misalignment, it is important to wire pumps and actuators properly through watertight electrical connectors. While for suction problemsa, cleaning the strainer, resetting the valbe, and raising tank level are few of the simple solutions that could get the problem done. Moreover, when the pump overheats, it is necessary to limit the discharge or drain the hydraulic and refill it again.

Pumps are important mechanical devices used at home for simple tasks and settings, as well [and more commonly] in production and manufacturing companies. As much as pumps can do potential help to process or do things faster and easier, mistakes in using pumps can lead to extreme danger, both to the environment or to the people within the area, especially with pumps that transfer or move gases from section to another.

Compressors

Gas compressors are used in the pipeline transportation of purified natural fast, in petroleum refineries and plants, in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, in aircrafts, in surface supplied diving, in submarines, etc. This mechanical devise is used to increase the pressure of gas within an area or compartment through relative reduction of its volume. While is being pressurized, they become compressible. This is the reason why a large amount of gas can be placed in a small tank, and can be released in a pressure that produces energy or power.

In the compression process, the temperature of the gas increases in direct proportion to the pressure being initialized to it. The heat of compression, as it is commonly called, is also inversely proportional to the volume of gas; when the volume of gas decreases, the heat increases as the gas elements are more compact within a compartment. This makes compressors used in combustion systems.

Compressors can either be of intermittent or continuous flow category. From the main categories, there are several types of compressors, such as the following:

• Reciprocating Compressor. This type of compressor traps the gas as it enters into a cylinder. Gas is then compressed by the piston and flowed to the discharged line. This type of compressor uses the compressing or pressurizing strength of cylinder valves.
• Centrifugal Compressors. This type of compressor uses an impeller or a rotating disk to pressure gas from entering the rim of the impeller, thereby increasing the velocity of gas. Centrifugal compressors are commonly used in internal combustion engines and in chemical and natural gas processing plants.
• Axial-flow Compressors. This type of compressor uses array of fan-like airfoils to slowly compress the gas that enters the device. Although axial-flow compressors are more expensive and costly to maintain, but they are also most efficient compared to all other types of compressors.
• Rotary Screw Compressor. Rotary screw compressor is made of two helical rotors that are contained a single and airtight housing. When the rotor grooves pass through the suction port, gas enters the device, and gas is then pushed toward the housing walls, which is the compression chamber of the device.
• Diaphragm Compressors. This type of compressor is also called the membrane compressor. Through the membrane, gas is compressed against the compressor box. Using a strong metal diaphragm, gas is pushed to a certain degree.

Probably, the most common problem of compressors is flooding or the liquid control of the operation. Flooding is the main root for all other damages such as the wearing of the bearing and crankshaft, the failure of the motor, and the breakage of valves. To ensure that flooding – and all its possible problems – will not happen to the compressor, it is necessary to check the oil level. Checking the oil for acid test is important; but a good full oil analysis will do the best to report the moisture and wear particles contained in oil.

And of course, misdiagnosis of the real problem of the compressor is another culprit why compressors get stuck and render useless for operations. For instance, a technician may suggest that the compressor malfunctioned even if the problem is just the electrical component. Instead of doing good for the compressor, the problem just gets worse and worst. On the other hand, it should be noted that undercharging or supercharging can damage the device.

Compressors work best for several industrial operations. They are commonly used in gas transportation, especially in pipelines. This device is used in crucial systems such as that of the aircraft. This means that a single failure of the compressor can mean lives. To avoid such situations, keeping the compressor working perfectly is an ultimate task that should be done with care and utmost attention.

Steam and Gas Turbines

Gas and steam turbines are commonly use in various mechanical drive applications and in most power generation plants. Thermal and nuclear power plants have also started to adopt the combined gas and steam turbines in their operations. Most plants would use gas turbines because they are more flexible and easier to use in new plans and in existing plants. The advantages of gas and steam turbines are high efficiency, low-fuel consumption and low-level of carbon emissions. With the advancement in the blading design and the adoption of higher-temperature operations have helped to improve the efficiency of steam turbines. In essence, gas and steam turbines are used in plants and industries that require high-level flexibility in operations and portability.

The following are the different types of gas and steam turbines that are commonly used in most industries:

Types of Gas Turbines

• Aeroderivative Gas Turbines. Unlike industrial machines, aeroderivatives gas turbines are easy to be shut down when needed, and this device handles load changes quicker. As an electrical power generator, this type of turbines are used in General Electric and Rolls-Royce.
• Jet Gas Turbines. This are engines that use exhaust gases to produce thrust. This engine is commonly used in propellant rockets due to their fast and strong thrust.
• Turboshat Engines. This type of gas turbine is used in compression trains, in pumping stations, and in natural gas plants. Most modern helicopters also use this gas turbine.
• Industrial Gas Turbines. Perhaps the non-portable gas turbine used is the industrial gas turbine. Unlike the portable ones, the industrial gas turbine follows a different design, frame, bearing and blading. This turbine is used to power up devices and to recover the residual energy emitted by the device itself.

Types of Steam Turbines

• Non-Condensing Steam Turbine. This type of steam turbine is commonly used in power generation. In this system, when steam is used in a considerable pressure, the power generation capability of the turbine decreases.
• Extraction Turbine. Extraction points allow more steam to go through the turbine for the generation of more electrical power at the low thermal demand. Extraction points may have different pressure corresponding to the temperature being supplied.

Common problems associated with steam turbines include the high vibration due to wrong positioning of rotor blades, the erosion of the turbine casing due to steam condensation, the breakage and damage of the turbine blades to resonance, and the loss of internal clearances. To avoid these problems, it is necessary to check if the rotor blades are properly aligned and placed to avoid vibration, it is also important to keep the blades properly attached and rooted. On the other hand, the most common problems of gas turbines include the following: cracking of critical components due to thermal stresses, the excessive wear of the turbine due to high vibration, and the distortion and incorrect power distribution of the gas due to the creep growth in some areas such as the transition piece picture frames. To eliminate or reduce the occurrence of these problems, it is necessary to use thermal barrier coating. This would allow reduction of hot spotting of the parent material, therefore ensuring the cracking of critical components will not happen.

As much as gas and steam turbines are important components to most power generation plants, it is very important to keep them working and efficient. Maintenance is an important art of keeping the turbines operational. There are important general control and maintenance activities for the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation disciplines that should be clearly understood by turbine technicians. Power system protection comes in handy with the aid of a clear knowledge on how gas and steam turbines work.

Workshop and Valves

There are various tools and machines that are used in the workshop. Around the area, material removing device, milling machines, measuring tools, filler gauges, and types of welds are common sights. By understanding and familiarizing with these various tools used in the workshop, it would be easy for a person to do almost everything in the workshop.

Basic Hand Tools. The most common task in the workshop is opening and tightening the bolt and nut of devices. Spanners are used to meet this need. Common types of spanners are open-ended spanner for multiple contact around the bolt or nut, ring spanner for better handling grip, combination spanner for dual purpose, adjustable spanner for clenching of bolts and nuts, Allen key for quick assembly, and socket wrench for continuous tightening and loosening of nuts and bolts. Moreover, other basic hand tools used in the workshop include the dial gauge for measurement of incremental displacement.

Machines. There are also various machines available in the workshop. These are the following:

• Lathe Machines. It is used to perform various operations such as boring, threading, knurling, drilling, facing, chamfering, and taper turning.
• Drilling Machines. Basically, bench drill is used for drilling of holes through woods, plastics and metals, while pillar drill is used for large objecte and materials. Between the two, the most commonly used in the workshop is the bench drill for its relative size and portability.
• Shaper Machines. Although, shaper machines are not commonly used nowadays, shaper machines are used to produce grooves, flat surfaces, or curved areas.
• Milling Machines. This is used to machine solud materials. A milling machine can cut the material into pieces. This is used for cutting uniform size of metals, plastics and woods.
• Balance Machines. This is used to determine the amount of unbalance in the parts of the electric motors, disc drives, pumps, fans, and turbines. Even if the machine or device is operating, balance machine can determine the problem of the device.
• Boring Machines. For the enlargement of holes that have been drilled, boring machine is used. This machine has greater accuracy in determining the diameter of the holed.
• Grinding Machines. To create better surfaces, a grinding machine is used cut small chip from the material to clear out deformations.
• Pipe Threading Machine. This is a machine used to chuck off threads of the pipe surface. With the aid of this machine, threads are created in the pipe to allow matching with another piece of metal or nuts.

Measuring Tools. For proper, accurate, and precise measuring of materials, the workshop maintains measuring tools such as: vernier caliper for different diametric measurements, micrometer for smaller incremental diametric measurements, filler gauge for measuring of clearance in tight space, and plastic gauge for used for tight spaces where dismantling is undesirable and unnecessary.

Types of Welds. There are two types of welding that are commonly used: arc welding and resistance welding. Arc welding uses geat generated by the electricity to struct between the electrode and the material. The Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) uses the heat of the arc to melt the base metal, while Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) uses the arc between the non-consumable tungsten electrode and the weld pool of the base material.

In the workshop, it is very important to understand how valves are attached or de-attached to the material. With the following mentioned tools and machines, valves can be easily handles for the opening and closing of pathways. These valves are very important in compression of gas or fluids because they keep the passageway airtight and capable of holding pressure from the gas or fluid.