What happens to power plant pumps during a shutdown?

Scheduled power plant shutdowns provide a valuable opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the condition of essential pump systems and perform necessary maintenance tasks.

During a recent service call, several horizontal centrifugal pumps of various designs were overhauled, including single-stage split-case pumps, split-case process pumps, double-suction volute pumps and multistage high-pressure pumps. The focus was on replacing mechanical seals and bearings, as well as inspecting impellers, shafts and seal chambers for wear and damage.

In units with high operating hours, even minor changes to bearings or sealing systems can lead to increased vibration levels, leaks, or unplanned downtime. This is why maintenance windows are utilised specifically to identify and address potential weak points early on. Multistage high-pressure pumps and double-flow process pumps require particular attention. Adherence to tight tolerances, monitoring of rotor geometry, and correct alignment of the assemblies are crucial here for reliable operation after recommissioning.

For operators of power plants, process plants or energy generation facilities, such measures are essential for ensuring plant availability. Planned maintenance reduces the risk of unplanned outages and enables cost-effective operation throughout the next maintenance period.

During a power plant shutdown, service technicians perform extensive maintenance work on several horizontal centrifugal pumps. The photo collage shows the disassembly process, the inspection of pump components, the replacement of wear parts, and the subsequent reassembly and precise alignment of the units.
A photo collage of a planned power plant shutdown focusing on pump maintenance. The service team disassembles pump components, inspects bearings and sealing systems, documents the technical condition of the components, and performs final assembly followed by precision alignment of the machines.
Several photos from a service call at the power plant show technicians repairing various process and high-pressure pumps. The images depict open pump housings, removed impellers and shafts, technical inspections, and the proper recommissioning of the pump systems.