Optimizing Pump Usage for Increased Availability: Main vs. Standby Pump Switching Strategy

Question:

When it comes to using the main pump and standby pump, there are two scenarios to consider. In the first scenario, we alternate between using the main pump for one month and then switching to the standby pump for the following month. This rotation is based on a monthly changing plan, which typically results in using 4200 hours from the main pump and 4200 hours from the standby pump in a year. In the second scenario, the main pump is used as the permanent pump with no switching between the main and standby pumps, except for when performing maintenance jobs on the main pump. This scenario usually leads to using 8000 hours from the main pump and about 700 hours from the standby pump in a year. It is important to determine which scenario will increase availability and why. Is there any statistical evidence to support this?

Top Replies

There has been a great deal of discussion surrounding this topic. For statistical evidence, it may be helpful to consult Vee's book for reference.

Josh, the new guy may not be familiar with Vee yet. Can you confirm if the pump has mechanical seals and provide information on the type of fluid being pumped?

For effective PM & Shutdown planning, Josh and Steven recommend checking out the following discussions on the maintenance forums: [insert link here]. If you're looking for more threads on this topic, simply click on the "Find" tab and enter keywords like 'duty standby'. Happy searching!

In my opinion, the first scenario seems to ensure more regular pump availability since you are evenly distributing the load between the main and standby pump, thus lessening the chance of overworking either pump. That said, I agree that solid statistical evidence would be beneficial. We'd need to review the historical performance data, failure rates, and maintenance schedules of both pumps under the two scenarios mentioned. Ideally, such data would give us a solid basis to carry out a detailed reliability and availability analysis, providing a more concrete answer.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQ: 1. What are the two scenarios for using the main pump and standby pump?

Answer: - In the first scenario, the pumps are alternated monthly, resulting in 4200 hours of usage from each pump per year. In the second scenario, the main pump is used permanently except for maintenance, leading to 8000 hours of main pump usage and around 700 hours of standby pump usage per year.

FAQ: 2. Which switching strategy is more effective for increasing availability?

Answer: - It is important to determine whether alternating between the main and standby pumps or using the main pump permanently (except for maintenance) will increase availability.

FAQ: 3. Is there any statistical evidence to support the choice of pump switching strategy?

Answer: - The discussion raises the question of whether there is statistical evidence to support the decision on which pump switching strategy will be more effective in increasing availability.

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