Pump Commissioning Procedure & Guidance
1. Inspect Stuffing Box (if applicable)
Make sure that the stuffing box has been properly packed (see sub-section) and above all that the gland has not been
tightened too firmly as, otherwise, damage will occur to the packing and the shaft sleeve. See to it that it is not tightened
unevenly and does not rub on the shaft. The shaft must run freely, it must be possible to run it by hand with ease.
2. Check Oil Level
Check the oil level in the bearing housing is acceptable.
3. Check of direction of rotation
The direction of rotation must correspond to the direction arrow on the volute casing. If the direction cannot be checked
whilst the machine is disconnected, the motor may be started for a moment only. On pumps equipped with mechanical seals
this check may be carried out only with the machine disconnected. Wrong direction of rotation will result in damage to the
pump
4. Prime the pump
Prior to priming the pump, open the piping supplying the external sealing liquid, the cooling water for the shaft seal and if
required, the cooling water for the oil bath. Make sure that the water flows. When priming the pump, please note:
Pump, suction or feed line must in all cases be filled and properly vented. It is recommended to slowly rotate the pump shaft
by hand during the priming procedure. For suction lift duty, the pump can be primed
• By evacuating the air from the pump and suction line with the regulating valve closed in the delivery line
• When the delivery line is filled, by opening the regulating valve or a bypass piping in the delivery line
• Take care that the valves in the suction line (foot valve!) are not stressed beyond the permissible working pressures
If suction head conditions exist, the isolating valve in the feed line may be opened in order to fill the pump. If a connecting
pipe exists between the equalizing pipe and pump delivery branch, the valve in the connecting pipe must be open whilst the
pump is primed. During pump operation this valve remains closed.
When hot liquids are involved, quick priming of the pump causes distortions and should be avoided. By slowly opening the
isolating valve even heating up of the pump is achieved.
5. Start up
The isolating valve in the feed line should be open. The regulating valve in the delivery line, however, should be closed or in
the case of automatic operation, the full backpressure should be on the non-return valve. Make sure that there is a flow in the
pipes supplying the external sealing liquid, the cooling water for the shaft seal and, if required, the cooling water for the oil
bath. Do not switch on motor until this has been confirmed.
If the delivery pressure does not be rise continuously as speed increases, stop the set and prime once more carefully.
Once the pump has run up to working speed, open the regulating valve in the delivery line slowly until the required service
data are reached. Prolonged operating against closed regulating valve in the delivery line may lead to destruction of the
internal pump parts and must therefore be avoided.
Particular care should be taken that the driver does not get overloaded if the weight of the liquid handled is greater than that
originally assumed, that the available suction head is still sufficient in case of larger flow rates or, alternatively, that the
suction lift to be overcome by the pump is not too high, as otherwise damage due to cavitation will occur.
When staring up automatically operated plants, all isolating valves, hence the delivery gate valve too, must be kept open.
6. Stop the Pump
If there isn’t a non-return valve, please close the regulating valve in the delivery line. Do not switch off motor until then.
Close isolating valve in the feed line only if necessary.
If a vacuum gauge without relief valve is attached to the suction branch of the pump, then it must be isolated before stoping
the pump set.
If as a result of prolonged shutdown, a change in the concentration of the liquid, crystallization, or solidification etc., can be
anticipated, drain pump and, if necessary, flush with a suitable liquid.
If there is a danger of freezing up during prolonged shut-down periods, the pump including the cooling chamber, heating
chamber, etc., must be drained.
7. Re Starting
Before restarting the set take care that the pump shaft is at rest and does not rotate backwards. Starting with the shaft rotating
in opposite direction may lead to shaft damage.
