Excellent engineering solution in the USA
Weir Oil & Gas Deer Park Texas service
centre successfully completed an engineering evaluation and
mechanical design upgrade on a high energy mainline centrifugal
pump installed at the Magellan Pipeline Cushing, Oklahoma tank
farm.
Magellan Midstream Partners owns and operates
a diverse portfolio of energy assets incorporating transportation,
storage and distribution of refined petroleum products. The
current asset portfolio includes over 80 petroleum products
terminals, a 9500 mile petroleum products pipeline system and an
1100 mile ammonia pipeline system.
The critical 9500 mile mainline unit was
installed to manage output demands for Magellan customers located
in the North of America. Howerver, following completion of the
installation and start up, the pump unit experienced excessive
vibration levels which made the unit inoperable. The original
equipment manufacturer was unable to resolve the issue and Weir Oil
& Gas were asked to evaluate the situation to provide
corrective action planning.
Results of the comprehensive engineering
research concluded that the unit experienced a phenomenon known as
vane passing frequency vibration and the corrective action plan
recommended that a complete redesign of existing impeller was
required. Using rapid prototyping the new impeller design was
installed and the unit completed a series of tests on the
performance test stand. The results met all hydraulic
performance requirements and vibration had been reduced by
half.
The unit was quickly installed back to
service and Magellan Midstream Partners were extremely pleased with
the results.
New impeller design
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