Pump Damage and Exchanger Fouling Prevention

OUR UNIQUE SOLUTION TO A COMMON PROBLEM

The Typical Problem:

Debris that builds-up on the sump floor in front of fixed screens (and debris that falls off the screen face when pulled) is drawn into the pump suction and into the Cooling Water system and Exchangers.  When fixed screens are pulled to be cleaned, we often see instances where large pieces of debris (i.e., 2”x4”. 4”x4”, pieces of FRP siding, etc.) moves into the location where the fixed screens were pulled which prevents the screens from going back down to the basin bottom to seal.  This leaves an open gap under the screens with a constant flow of debris entering the Cooling Water system.

Our Solution – The “Vari-Flow” Traveling Screen:

  1. Prevents pump damage since the screens are never pulled for cleaning purposes.  In addition, large pump motors do not have to be stopped and re-started to pull the screens which helps to conserve motor life.
  2. Prevents Exchanger fouling.
    1. reduced fouling increases efficiency.
    2. reduced fouling allows corrosion inhibitors to contact 100% of the exchanger surfaces thereby increasing exchanger life.
    3. reduces the number of tube bundles pulled during outages.
    4. prevents unplanned outages due to exchanger or condenser fouling.
    5. provides for longer run times between outages.
  3. Operations personnel do not have to physically pull the screens.
    1. no need to hookup an overhead gantry system or crane, and no personnel are required to remove the screens to a cleaning area in icing or slippery conditions.
    2. provides for an inherently safer cleaning system, and only requires one (1) operator approximately two (2) minutes to clean a traveling screen.
  4. In facilities with large Cooling Water systems, power consumption at the pumps can be greatly reduced by having traveling screens installed and cleaned at regular intervals which greatly reduces the head across the screening system.
  5. “Vari-Flow” Traveling Screens can be operated multiple ways including manually (no electrical service required), via a local start/stop station, or automated with an electrical drive on a timer or differential level indicator.
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