Maintenance of Pumps, Motors and Controls

Abstract

THE three pumping systems in common use, that of the turbine deep well pump is commonest. The plunger pump has done worthy service in supplying small communities and this pump still has a field, even though the use of the deep well centrifugal pump is expanding. Also still in use are some air lift systems used to bring the water to a surface reservoir. From the reservoir the water is pumped by centrifugal pumps into an elevated standpipe. The distinct advantage of air lift pumping is that no moving parts are below the ground surface. Also all operating machinery for a number of quite widely scattered wells can be located in one plant with air transmission lines to the various wells and the flow of the water can be controlled by the engineer in the plant. The equipment consists of an air compressor located at any convenient point where installation expense and transmission losses are not too great, an air receiver, air transmission pipes to the wells, the pumps proper and the water piping and storage system. It is to the advantage of the water works operator to familiarize himself as much as possible with these different types of pumping systems. This paper will give only a general outline of maintenance. We are not here concerned with the design of a water system because, in most cases, that has already been completed when the operator appears on the job. Engineers, who design and build these various plants, know that the success or failure of their work depends largely on the skill of the man who is selected to operate the plant. From the time the plant is turned over to the operator, the responsibility to supply water at the lowest possible cost rests upon the operator.