LPP-D Pumps Increase Reliability at a Power Plant

Larox valves and pumps have offered substantial savings through improved performance, longer service lifetime and decreased maintenance costs in the energy industry. With over 2000 successful installations, Larox Flowsys has provided a solution for applications such as lime, gypsum, bottom ash, fly ash and sulphur transfer as well as for other demanding shut-off, control and pumping applications that alternative suppliers cannot offer.

Reliability at a Power Plant a Necessity

For years, coal fired power plants have been under strict demand to meet regulatory rules to reduce the SO2 emissions these plants have been producing. To comply, these facilities have either upgraded or added scrubber systems to reduce emissions.  However, the capital expenditure has impacted many of the facilities and now they are demanding products that are more reliable and reduce maintenance cost. This is how Larox Flowsys has gained its reputation as the front runner in the power industry as the valve and pump of choice.

Larox Flowsys in the Process

In 2006, a 2200 MW four unit power facility was having problems with the reliability of a peristaltic hose pump on a sulphur application.  The pump is used to feed sulphur to the lime slurry tank to increase the sulfides prior to the scrubber. The pump was being rebuilt every 3 months (bearings, gear box, motor), the hose was changed often which means more glycerine consumption and the pump casing was changed every year.

The customer complained that the spare parts for this pump type are becoming limited meaning a change was inevitable. The total cost of repairs for any one year ranged from €4,000 to €6,000.

In the last quarter of 2006, Larox Flowsys delivered an LPP-D25 hose pump to the customer which has been in service for a year with the only repair being two hose changes.  The total cost of the maintenance to date is ~ €350 including maintenance time which takes around 15 minutes to change the hose. With this change, the customer has increased availability and decreased operational cost substantially. The process flow rates in this application range from 1.1 to 1.8 m3/h.