TKR

Common issues

• Mechanical seal weeping or leaking, reducing delivered pressure
• Wear ring clearance increasing over time, causing capacity loss and internal recirculation
• Impeller or diffuser erosion from scale or entrained solids in the freshwater system
• Coupling misalignment causing vibration and premature bearing wear
• Hydrophore tank pressure switch or bladder failure causing pump short-cycling
• Bearing overheating from lubrication neglect or blocked cooling

Inspection checklist

• Check for shaft seal leakage with the pump running
• Measure discharge pressure and compare against the hydrophore set-point
• Inspect coupling alignment and confirm the guard is fitted
• Check bearing housing temperature and listen for abnormal noise
• Verify pressure switch cut-in/cut-out settings against specification
• Check the hydrophore tank air charge or bladder pre-charge pressure
• Inspect the suction strainer for fouling
• Verify the non-return valve holds pressure when the pump stops

Service intervals

Typical wear limits

Ranges are typical for this design class. Always confirm against the manufacturer documentation for your serial number.

Critical spares

• Mechanical seal kit
• Wear rings / bushings
• Coupling element (flexible spider)
• Bearing set
• Gasket and O-ring kit
• Pressure switch

Safety

• System operates at elevated pressure (up to around 90 bar for this variant) - fully depressurise before opening the casing
• Rotating shaft/coupling must be properly guarded while running
• Bearing housing surfaces can become hot under sustained running - allow to cool before handling

Class survey

A freshwater hydrophore pump is not normally a distinct class survey item unless it is designated part of an essential system in the ship's approved machinery arrangement; routine maintenance is generally covered by the vessel's planned maintenance system rather than a class-witnessed test.