Pumps, Sumps and Bilges

Since I last wrote we've covered quite a bit in workshop, continuing Power Plant.  Time is so short at the moment that I will try and be more brief than usual!  Let me know if anything doesn't make sense.

Last week we learned how to move heavy machinery around the workshop, using lifting and slinging.  We wrote a job plan for a Screw Down Non Return Valve (SDNR Vv) too.  This basically is producing a Haynes Manual type description of how to service this valve.  So, we took it apart, inspected it, and then replaced the packing (provides seal which stops water leaking out where the spindle screws down) and also replaced the gasket (seals the join where the valve cover meets the main body).  Pics below of our valve.

Overview of similar valve to ours.

Our Vv

Vv cover off

Sam holding Gasket.

Vv apart exploded view

Vv guide and Vv lid. Brass part is guide.

Vv lid ready to grind in (four dots of paste)

Richard grinding in Vv lid.

Vv back together.

My Vv job plan exploded diagram - took ages to draw!

Some of our group lifting and slinging.

Yesterday in workshop we looked at gate/sluice valves and also parallel slide valves (these are both isoltating valves).  We also looked at diaphragm valves aka Saunders valves.  We have done another job plan (yesterday) - this time we took apart a centrifugal pump and wrote a description. Today, we did an experiment with a centrifugal pump.  We pumped for 30 seconds from one water tank to another and noted how much water was pumped.  Then we changed the wear rings on the pump and noted how much water was pumped the second time.  A significant amount less was pumped the second time, even though the wear rings were only about 0.6mm different in size to the first - shows how close the tolerances are.  At the end of today we started to cover lubrication and the different types.  Then we took apart a two stage reciprocating air compressor.  We've left it in bits until next week, when we'll be measuring the wear in the bottom end bearings and I think the crankshaft deviation. 

Myself, Sam and Richard with Parallel Slide Valve

Parallel Slide Vv apart

Centrifugal pump overview

Volute (snail shaped casing) + pump impeller.

Also I did some freehand in Engineering Drawing...see photos below.

Isometric projection.

Circles and other shapes

Pacman shape! + a few others.

On another note, Emily and I visited Southwold over the bank holiday which was great - except for the weather.  Some photos below from the DSLR!  The waves were big against the pier, so unfortunately we couldn't go to the end as it was closed off.