Mike Sondalini — Thought Leader

Consider these Experiences when making a Selection

What you will learn from this article:

• How ultrasonic level detectors work.
• Issues to consider when reviewing their suitability for use. Issues to consider when selecting their location.
• The importance of process and chemical compatibility.

[Read more…]

The cost of maintenance destroys your capital investment returns.

When equipment is first selected the buyer has the choice to buy for quality and long trouble-free operating life or to buy based on least cost. The least cost choice will result in high maintenance and operating expense for the life of the equipment.

When net present value cost of maintenance for cheap equipment is calculated in today’s dollars investors will discover that a large part of their capital will never earn them income but will be spent on maintenance and repair.

Keywords: replacement asset value, internal rate of return, opportunity cost  [Read more…]

What readers will learn in this article:

• Bolts and studs behave like springs when loads are applied.
• Gaskets behave like springs when loads are applied
• Introduced to the use of force diagrams to explain and analyze bolt and gasket behavior.
• Bolt torque-up issues and considerations.
• The effects of thread surface finish on friction.
• Proper bolting practices, sequence, and methods.

[Read more…]

What readers will learn in this article:

• Bearings in dusty environments require added protection against dust ingress.
• The use of shaft seals and how they protect bearings.
• Eight dust ingress control methods for bearings.
• Good contamination reduction practices when assembling bearings
  and parts.

Dusty surroundings are one of the most difficult environments for bearings.

In equipment handling powders or in processes generating dust the protection of bearings against contamination by fine particles requires special consideration. [Read more…]

What readers will learn in this article:

• The flow of bulk materials through chutes is affected by internal properties of the bulk product.
• Friction exists between the chute walls and a moving product.
• Momentum and velocity must be maintained when running bulk
  materials through chutes.
• Bulk materials chute design and use considerations.

For the effective flow of a cohesive (sticks to itself) product, a chute must be designed to maintain momentum & velocity. [Read more…]

What readers will learn in this article.

• Centrifugal pumps can be moved to a new service.
• The impeller size, impeller speed, and motor power need to match the new service.
• That Similarity Law formula is used in calculating the new impeller size, speed, and motor power.
• Introduction to centrifugal pump curves and their use.

When there is a need to determine a new service duty for a centrifugal pump, and no performance curves are available, the recommended method is to use the Similarity Laws. These laws are derived by the use of [Read more…]