Ex motor and pump receive special attention
This required special attention as the pumping system was used in an explosive atmosphere, and the repair was to be carried out in accordance with BS EN and IEC 60079 19 and IECEx Unit Ex 005 to ensure its continued safe use once the pump and motor were put back into operation.
A crucial starting point for this repair was recording all the relevant data in EES’s job management system – the EMiR software platform provided by Solutions in IT. As well as providing a record of the job being carried out – something crucial in repairs to Ex equipment – this ensures EES has all the info to refer to once the job is complete, should it need to order any parts in the case of an emergency breakdown in the future.
Machines for use in hazardous areas must be dismantled, assessed and repaired with care following the correct procedures and certification. They need to be treated more carefully than most motors to ensure the critical machined parts that are required to pass inspection are not damaged.
Once the motor was dismantled, all faces were gently cleaned and de-scaled so accurate measurements could be made using calibrated equipment. All the information was then checked against acceptable parameters and recorded onto the required data sheets for the particular protection concept. The mechanical seals were then refurbished and re-lapped. Although not necessary in this case, if the elastomers are damaged, these can often be replaced with new seals.
Thorough cleaning ensured that the parts went together more easily, performed correctly and didn’t leak on a final test. This refurbishment was completed by an EES engineer who had recently attended the AEMT’s hazardous area (ex) repair course, Nathan. EES engineers take great pride in their work, something the company heartily encourages. In this case, the customer was delighted and commissioned EES to carry out the same work on its backup pump set.
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This article appeared in Renew magazine. To read more or request your personal digital or print edition of Renew, click here.
