Primary Services

Pump Selection, Evaluation and Specifications:

Objective, independent engineering consulting services specializing in rotodynamic (centrifugal, mixed flow and axial flow) pumping equipment.

The short-term and long-term consequences of proper pump selection and “getting the engineering right” are significant. At stake are on-time delivery of the machinery package, trouble-free installation and start-up, reliable pump operation and optimal energy usage.

Specified pumps often deserve special attention due to one or more of the following:

high level of input power or energy consumption
physical size or space limitations
hazardous or flammable liquids
high temperatures or pressures
special materials of construction
entrained gases or solids
consequences of failure
wide variations in operating conditions or changing operating conditions over time
variable speed operation
transient conditions
piping and intake conditions
low Net Positive Suction Head Available
new or modified designs

For example, the appropriate margin for NPSH Available above the NPSH Required is a system and pump interface that can affect operational stability of the process and pump reliability. On high suction energy applications, the intake conditions, local internal velocities, impeller flow incidence, fluid properties, material properties and other factors affect the severity of cavitation and component erosion life. An independent review of critical service pumping applications can help resolve such technical issues early on before unanticipated issues arise on test or in the field.

Evaluation of essential pump selection parameters including overall mechanical configuration and arrangement, staging, drive train and driver type, rotative speed, net positive suction head, nozzle orientation, materials of construction, shafting, thrust compensation, couplings, bearings, seals, etc.

Evaluation of pump and system performance including:

system total head versus rate of flow
head versus flow (H-Q) curve slope
H-Q stability of single and multiple pump operation
pump minimum flow
viscous effects
effects of wear and parasitic losses
input power
efficiency
net positive suction head (NPSH) available and required
minimum submergence and vortexing countermeasures

Review/evaluation of reverse flow, reverse speed, locked or free rotor modes of operation

Pumping system optimization

Assessment of equipment foundations, baseplates, mounting, installation and alignment

Review of piping and nozzle loads

Assessment of component cavitation erosion and impeller life

Review of pump inlet piping and open pit intake settings

Design review, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), and value engineering (VE)

Evaluation of pump test piping, control valves, hardware fixtures, and instrumentation

Selection and evaluation of hydraulic power recovery turbines, liquid expanders, and small hydro units

Design and Develop

Ekwestrel’s principal engineer Randal Ferman has more than 47 years’ experience in pump engineering, design and development. He previously held the position of Manager Research & Development at Flowserve Corp, and now works as an independent consultant for domestic and international industries, specializing in pumps and pumping systems. A few of Ekwestrel’s clients include Hyosung Goodsprings, B&W (the Babcock & Wilcox Company), ASAP (Appliance Standards Awareness Project), Lower Neches Valley Authority, Westinghouse Nuclear, Canadian Natural, and Hydro, Inc.

Design and Development

The key ingredients of excellent product design are vision, experience, a good sense of spatial relationships and proportion, and sound engineering. The design process is one of conceptualization and synthesis based on an understanding of the:

functional requirements and conditions of service
governing physical principles
fluid and materials properties
manufacturing processes
economies of product manufacture and ownership

There is a purpose or rationale for every design feature and attribute. The boundaries, limitations and risks associated with new products are not neglected for expediency. Rather, these serve to evoke creative and deliberate efforts to broaden understanding and to pursue improvements in performance and reliability.

Product design and product development

Development and review of:

technical specifications
installation and alignment procedures
operation and maintenance procedures

Do you need a pump design and development consultant? Contact us now to discuss your project and the engineering services we can provide.

Field Services

When pumping machinery fails with little or no warning, there is often little or no time for engineering evaluation. The pump must be repaired immediately.

However, a particular pump’s downtime or maintenance history can indicate an underlying root cause has not been addressed. An experienced, expert engineering approach may be called for comprising:

a multi-disciplined understanding of pumping machinery and pumping systems
a high level of communication with the parties involved
an inquiring mindset that endeavors to change “unknowns” into “knowns” and a refusal to commit resources based on unsubstantiated information and opinion
a rational, methodical commitment to finding the root cause and a practical solution

Of paramount importance, the field engineer commits to resolving technical issues in a timely manner, cognizant of maintenance schedules and production demands.

Summary of field services offered:

engineering and design for pump repairs, revamps, and re-rates
troubleshoot pump problems
custom tailored pump training courses
inspect components, processes and unit assembly
witness shop tests and field performance tests
provide expert, independent field observations and audits
expert witness

Do you need a consultant for field services? Contact us now to discuss the engineering services we offer.