Precautions for Submersible Slurry Pumps

Submersible slurry pumps operate in harsh environments, with long-term exposure to highly abrasive, high-concentration, and even corrosive media. The standardization of their operation, installation, and maintenance directly affects the service life and operational safety of the equipment, requiring close attention to the following aspects:

1. Selection Considerations

Determine parameters based on actual working conditions, considering the characteristics of the conveyed medium such as concentration, solid particle size, corrosiveness, and temperature, as well as the required flow rate and head, to select a matching model and specification.

Select flow passage components (such as impellers and stirring impellers) made of highly wear-resistant materials, or materials resistant to acid, alkali, and seawater corrosion.

According to the complexity of working conditions, choose pump models with flexible structures and high protection levels. Equip with standby pumps if necessary to avoid project delays caused by single-pump failures.

2. Installation Considerations

Check equipment condition: Before installation, carefully inspect the pump body and motor for deformation or damage during transportation and storage, check whether fasteners are loose or fallen off, and whether flow passage components are worn or blocked.

Ensure electrical protection: Check cables for breakage or cracks; replace damaged cables promptly to prevent electric leakage accidents.

Follow standard installation procedures: The pump body shall be vertically submerged in water, horizontal placement is not allowed, and sinking into sludge shall be avoided to ensure the stirring impeller can normally contact the deposition surface.

Ensure stable installation of the pump body, correct connection and good sealing of inlet and outlet pipelines, and reserve sufficient maintenance space.

Cut off the power supply before moving the equipment; live movement is strictly prohibited.

3. Operation Considerations

Pre-start preparation: Manually rotate the impeller, clear blockages in inlet and outlet pipelines, check the sealing performance of mechanical seals and the supply of shaft sealing water, lubricate front and rear bearings, and check whether packing is sufficient. Confirm the rotation direction of the pump.

Start-up and operation: Run without load for 3–5 minutes at start-up, observe whether the motor’s running sound and vibration are normal and whether the current is stable.

During operation, control the flow rate and head within the range marked on the nameplate to ensure efficient operation and energy conservation.

Monitor motor and bearing temperatures in real time.

Shutdown: Close the outlet pipeline valve and pressure gauge before stopping the motor.

If conveying high-temperature or easily frozen media, unscrew the drain plug at the lower part of the pump body after shutdown to drain the medium and prevent cracking due to freezing.

After each operation, run the pump in clean water for several minutes to remove residual sediment and keep the pump body clean.

4. Maintenance Considerations

Daily inspection: Check the appearance of the pump body, motor, and cables daily. Verify the accuracy and sensitivity of instruments such as level gauges and pressure gauges. Observe for signs of leakage at sealing parts.

Regular maintenance: Check the clearance between the impeller and guard plate every 500 operating hours.

Regularly inspect wear and corrosion of flow passage components including impellers, pump shafts, and guide vanes.

Regularly adjust the tightness of the packing gland and add or replace packing in a timely manner.

For long-term storage: Remove the pump from water, dry it, apply grease to rotating and joint parts, and store properly.

After disassembly and repair, the casing assembly must pass a 0.2 MPa air-tightness test to ensure reliable motor sealing.

Establish equipment operation and maintenance records, detailing operating hours, parameters, faults, maintenance content, and component replacements for traceability and optimization.

5. Safety Considerations

Equip safety protection devices such as overheating protection and water ingress detection during operation.

Live maintenance and disassembly are strictly prohibited. Follow the “Shut down, cut off power, tag out, lock out” procedure before maintenance to prevent electric shock.

When conveying flammable, explosive, toxic, or corrosive media, completely drain and clean the pump and connected pipelines, perform ventilation and replacement, and confirm qualification before operation.

Set obvious safety warning signs at the work site; unauthorized personnel are prohibited from approaching the operation area.

Operators shall not leave the post without permission during operation; monitor the equipment status continuously and handle malfunctions promptly.

Avoid frequent start-stop cycles to reduce impact on flow passage components; optimize parameters via variable-frequency adjustment if possible.

Install a protective screen at the water inlet to prevent large particles from entering and reduce the risk of jamming.

Conclusion

With their unique structure and performance, submersible slurry pumps play an irreplaceable role in mining, metallurgy, dredging, construction, and other industries.

In practical applications, scientific model selection, standardized installation, correct operation, regular maintenance, and strict adherence to specifications are essential to maximize equipment efficiency, reduce operating costs, and ensure long-term stable operation.