Another device has frozen and cracked
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This post was last edited by wawa*n*ntaozi on 2018-2-27 at 15:36. At the beginning of winter, the water inside a centrifugal pump casing was not completely drained, which caused the casing to freeze and crack； Another screw vacuum pump froze and cracked during the year. I’m sharing this photo with all the sea lovers; those in the north should pay attention. It is caused by the water in the pump body jacket not having been completely drained. Visible cracks could be seen; someone from the manufacturer came to weld them shut and applied paint (in a different color). Chemical equipment and machinery
After draining all the cooling water from the jacket, it should be blown clean with air, and finally the inlet and outlet ports should be sealed!
Is this a water-cooled Roots vacuum pump?
The areas with lower temperatures right now are probably the northeast and northwest regions; if the anti-freezing measures are not adequate, frost cracking can easily occur.
If it’s really not possible to ensure that the water is completely drained, then it’s better to waste a little steam and keep the area warm using rubber hoses. It’s similar to adjusting the steam flow throughout the day and night to maintain a constant temperature; this is surely more cost-effective than replacing the pump. Besides, damaging the pump due to freezing can also be considered a mistake in operation
When draining water, it is necessary to open the inlet as well to allow emptying; otherwise, the water cannot be drained completely. As for whether it is necessary to seal it off, I don’t think it’s a big issue.
Everything must be governed by rules; acting on impulse only leads to mistakes.
Equipment in the north suffers from freezing cracks during winter; such incidents are extremely common. This requires attention
Equipment that is not used for an extended period should be isolated using blind flanges, the water within it should be drained, the area cleaned with nitrogen, and then sealed off. For devices that start intermittently, install electric heat tracing.
I’ve checked it several times; it has survived the winter without any damage to the equipment.