Consequences of the pump running dry without water
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We are a manufacturer of compressor cooling water systems. In actual deliveries, it is common for the pump bearings and mechanical seals to overheat after the system starts operating normally; we believe this is caused by operators failing to monitor the water level, which leads to the pump running under vacuum conditions. Has anyone ever encountered a situation where certain components tend to fail when there is a power outage, and whether this has an impact on the motor? Does the motor trip due to high current after a power outage?
As you said, it burns out the mechanical seal bearings
A similar phenomenon occurred in our factory: after a power fluctuation in the system, the sealing water supply to the pumps was completely cut off. The mechanical seals of the pump are completely damaged, allowing the fluid inside the pump to enter the oil tank; as a result, the lubricating oil can no longer perform its proper cooling and lubrication functions. It can cause the pump’s bearings to burn out; if the pump is evacuated, it may also damage the motor. Short-term evacuation should not pose any problem. It’s possible that the seal is damaged, causing the bearing to burn out.
The mechanical seals of the pump are completely damaged, allowing the fluid inside the pump to enter the oil tank; as a result, the lubricating oil can no longer perform its proper cooling and lubrication functions. This caused the pump’s bearings and motor to burn out. Prolonged exposure may cause an explosion
What I’ve encountered are cases of damaged mechanical seals and bearings, as well as burned-out motors – but these occurrences are relatively rare, after all, there is some motor protection in place nowadays.
The motor is burned out. Can it cause an explosion over a long period of time? Can an electric motor explode? We deal with explosion-proof motors, and what I want to ask is whether the motor will trip automatically as a form of protection.
As long as the motor protection settings are correct, the protection will definitely trip to safeguard the motor
You yourself have seen the consequences that have arisen, so there’s no need to say more. Let me explain how to prevent such things from happening. Implement a level interlock: the pump will stop automatically when it reaches the lower level limit, and this kind of problem will not occur.
It’s not unusual here for seal damage to occur due to problems with the seal water, or because the slurry inside the pump gets into the seal and causes damage to it.
Based on the situation in our factory, interlocks are available. However, evacuating a self-sealing pump may damage the mechanical seal