Do the pumps in your system switch between odd and even months?
Thread Content
This post was last edited by —Lantian— on 2011-2-11 08:24. Previously, we hardly switched between odd and even months for pump operation; later, the new manager required us to do so, and I thought it made sense. Now, however, there’s a problem: some pumps, such as high-speed pumps and vacuum pumps, perform worse now due to this frequent switching. I wonder if the pumps in your facilities are also switched according to odd and even months?
To the moderator upstairs: The purpose of switching is twofold. 1) To check whether the backup pump is in good condition and free from any damaged components. 2) To allow the pump that was in use last month to rest for a while. Note: Switching between odd and even months means using the pump with an odd number in odd-months, and the pump with an even number in even-months. I’m not sure how you all handle this
This post was last edited by —Lantian— on 2011-2-9 at 18:28. It’s really frustrating; I misread it and that made it hard for me to understand. I thought it was some high-end product since I saw terms like \"odd and even moons\". It depends on what kind of equipment you have – if you have a backup unit, it’s better to use them alternately in order to facilitate maintenance and identify any issues. Otherwise, if one unit isn’t used for a long time, it may develop problems such as rusting
It mainly depends on the equipment; some devices require stable operation over long periods and should not be switched frequently.
The switching between odd and even months depends on the specific technical characteristics of the pump and the operating conditions. For special pumps or those for which switching is relatively difficult in production, we do not impose such a mandatory requirement.
But in reality, switching the equipment every month isn’t necessarily a good thing. We have vacuum pumps, high-speed pumps, and heat transfer oil pumps; it seems that they have just started to operate properly when we decide to switch them. I believe this is not conducive to the proper functioning of the pumps. I plan to switch these critical devices every two months instead
Switching every month is indeed a bit frequent. Personally, I think most machines can have their filters changed every 3–6 months, as it is usually after that time that the filters need to be cleaned or replaced
Our equipment is similar as well; basically, the pump needs to be replaced every 3 months of operation. First, routine inspections are required for the electrical system. Second, it is necessary to check the condition of the backup pump to ensure that it can be used in emergency situations, thereby preventing disruptions to the steady operation of the facility. However, from a practical on-site perspective, some pumps are better suited for long-term stable operation. As long as the pump is in good condition and its sound, temperature, and vibration levels are normal, why should we stop it? Sometimes, it’s easier to encounter problems if the pump is stopped for a while before being started again. But what the leader says makes sense too... so it’s hard to find a balance
We have spare ordinary pump units that are switched every two months; for critical equipment, the switching is determined based on notifications
Switching it every month is a relic of the planned economy era; these days, predictive maintenance is used, and there are very comprehensive and advanced testing methods – it’s sufficient to check whether it can operate in standby mode!
Thank you to everyone above for their advice. I also think it’s not appropriate to make all the changes in January; I will immediately revise the equipment evaluation criteria