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GIW Technical Series: Cold Weather Operation and Storage

Cold weather operation of centrifugal pumps presents unique challenges. Pumps must be protected from freezing and thermal shock. Bearings require special lubricants to prevent freezing. Motors and other components also require protection from cold. Proper maintenance is difficult in cold conditions and materials may become brittle at low temperatures. With the right design and protection measures, pumps can operate in cold environments.

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166 views2 pages

GIW Technical Series: Cold Weather Operation and Storage

Cold weather operation of centrifugal pumps presents unique challenges. Pumps must be protected from freezing and thermal shock. Bearings require special lubricants to prevent freezing. Motors and other components also require protection from cold. Proper maintenance is difficult in cold conditions and materials may become brittle at low temperatures. With the right design and protection measures, pumps can operate in cold environments.

Uploaded by

Travis Skinner
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GIW Technical Series

Cold Weather Operation and Storage


In certain parts of the world, centrifugal pumps are required to operate in extremely cold
environments during winter. This presents a number of unique operational challenges for pump start
up, steady state operation, standby and storage. The preferred environment is a heated shelter that
protects the equipment from the elements. Where severe cold weather operation is a consideration,
anticipated temperatures and conditions should be clearly specified in quotation requests and
purchase orders.
Thermal shock created by hot or cold slurry suddenly contacting metal pump components which are
at the opposite temperature extreme can create stress concentrations that cause fractures in hard iron
components. The pump casing should be brought up to operating temperature gradually, either with
process flow or external heat.
If the unit will be shut down in below zero conditions, the pump must be drained to prevent the
damage created by expansion of remaining water as it freezes. A bottom horizontal discharge will
accomplish this, or a drain plug could be specified in bottom of the shell in certain pump styles.
Otherwise, remaining system fluids should be eliminated by removing system piping and pumping
out the casing.
When the pump is operating, the stuffing box needs a constant supply of water, requiring insulated
and/or heated supply piping. Flush water must be drained away to prevent ice buildup that could
restrict flow or damage nearby bearing seals. When the unit is shut down, the stuffing box and lines
need to be drained, and the system heated above freezing at restart to insure gland water will be
flowing to the packing. If mechanical seals are used, special care must be taken to avoid sudden
temperature changes that could cause thermal shock and fracture the precision ceramic seal faces.
Bearings are extremely critical. If any moisture or condensation is present inside the bearing races,
ice will form when the pump stops and cools down below freezing. This can prevent proper
function of the rolling elements in the bearing, resulting is scuffing and premature failure. Using
synthetic oil such as GIW Blue 150 is recommended since the pour point of mineral oils is too high
to provide effective lubrication at low temperatures. Depending on bearing size, lighter viscosity oil
such as GIW Blue 100 may be necessary. A heat source is recommended to raise the bearing
assembly and lubricating oil above freezing before start up. There are cartridge style electric heaters
available that can be inserted into dry bores in the housing, as well as radiant heat units. Propane or
other fuel fired heaters could also be considered. Local codes and available energy sources will
determine the most suitable type of heat for the installation.
If the bearing assembly is provided with Inpro bearing isolators, they should be ordered with the
low temperature option of Fluorosilicon or EPDM O-Rings. Otherwise, starting the pump when
cold can spin these seals out of the housing, due to the different thermal shrinkage rates of the
bronze seal versus the cast iron end cover.
Motor vendors must consider the operating environment, as motors need clear ventilation paths that
could be blocked by snow and ice. Heaters are required to remove condensation and moisture from
internal areas, and these generally must remain operating at all times. Gear reducer vendors must be
contacted for their recommendations and heater options. Fluid drives are generally not suitable for
this environment. Coupling vendors must be made aware of temperatures, since heating those parts

TECH Cold Weather Operation and Storage 2007-11-15.doc


2
Cold Weather Operation and Storage

is not practical. Extreme cold can result in binding of the torque transfer elements or failure of the
grease seals.
Extreme cold can affect the ductility and fracture toughness of many materials. Wear resistant white
irons are developed to resist abrasion and corrosion during normal slurry process temperatures. As
the temperature drops to –40°C (-40°F) the toughness of ferrous alloys such as ductile and white
irons tends to decrease significantly. In addition, meta-stable phases like retained austenite in the
white iron microstructure can be converted into martensite. Consequently, the material can
experience substantial volumetric expansion due to this irreversible phase transition, causing
internal stresses and dimensional changes. In severe cases, this may result in cracking. Where
temperatures are anticipated to drop below this level during storage, the pumps should be protected
from the elements to avoid rapid thermal changes. Where possible, a heat source should be
considered to keep the units above this transition temperature.
Maintenance is another important concern. Any pump repair in the field will require special
consideration. Gaskets and o-rings will not be flexible, and may not seal properly when installed.
Parts with tight tolerances such as shaft sleeves or casing to pedestal fits may not go together.
The hydrotransport system must also be carefully considered, since thermal losses in exposed pipe
can quickly drop the fluid temperature below freezing and cause a stoppage in the line. Dimensional
changes in the pipe lengths and flexible couplings should allow for the anticipated temperature
range or the resulting thermal stresses could cause system damage or failure.
Given the proper information at the beginning of a project, GIW pumps can be designed to operate
in virtually any harsh environment if the above considerations are adequately addressed. The most
effective way to insure sub-zero success is to enclose the unit in an insulated structure that will
retain heat generated while the system is running. This will protect both the pump and the
employees from extreme temperature and weather conditions during operation and maintenance.
Providing supplemental heat when required will also be beneficial.

TECH Cold Weather Operation and Storage 2007-11-15.doc

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