Can water pumps explode?-Hezhong Environment (Beijing) Co., Ltd. was established in 2003

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Can water pumps explode?

Published Time:

2023-04-21

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The answer to this question is definitely yes!

The images show that all the exploded centrifugal pumps. The explosions were not caused by impurities in the pump or a chemical reaction between the pump and some material that should not be in the pump. In fact, in such explosions, the water inside the pump is very pure - such as boiler feed water, condensate and deionized water.

How did these explosions happen?

The answer is: When these pumps were running, there was a period of time when the pump's inlet and outlet valves were closed simultaneously (causing the pump to "idle"). Because water could not flow out of the pump, the energy originally used for fluid transport was completely converted into heat. After the water was heated, static pressure was generated inside the pump, and this pressure was enough to damage the pump - possibly causing seal damage and pump body rupture.

Due to the release of accumulated energy in the pump, such explosions can cause serious equipment damage and personal injury. However, if the water is heated to above the boiling point before the pump is damaged, a larger energy explosion may occur, because the superheated water released will rapidly boil and expand (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion - BLEVE), its severity and harmfulness are similar to steam boiler explosions. If the pump is running and both the inlet and outlet valves are closed, this type of explosion can occur regardless of the liquid being pumped. Even with a harmless fluid like water, it caused the serious damage shown in the figure. Imagine if the fluid is flammable, the released material will catch fire and burn, and the consequences will be even more serious. Further imagine that if the fluid is toxic or corrosive, the released material may cause serious harm to personnel near the pump.

What can you do?

Before starting the pump, check that all valves are in the correct position. Make sure that the valves on the designed flow path are open, and other valves, such as drain valves and vent valves, should be closed. If you are remotely starting a pump, such as from a control room, make sure that the pump you are about to start is ready to start. If you are unsure, you should go to the site for inspection or ask someone else to check. Ensure that key steps critical to the safe operation of the pump, including the on/off position of the valves, are included in the equipment's operating procedures and checklists. Some pumps start automatically - for example, when the tank is full, the process control computer or level control instrument automatically empties the tank. Before putting these pumps into automatic control, such as after maintenance, make sure that all valves are in the correct position. To prevent the pump from starting when the pipeline is blocked, some pumps are equipped with instrument protection devices - such as low flow, high temperature, or overpressure interlocks. Ensure that these safety systems are properly maintained and tested.