Pumps require the right instrumentation to keep them running effectively. The instrumentation in a pump system includes all devices that measure and regulate the process. As fluid is moved through the pump, control devices monitor key measurement parameters such as pressure, temperature, flow rate and vibration. These devices protect the pump from damage and help optimize performance. They are strategically placed along the pump system to track process variables. Pump instrumentation can be integrated with the user’s control system, allowing any issues to be detected remotely. Choosing the right instrumentation is crucial, and many factors play into the selection process. Instrumentation is the eyes and ears of the pump, giving the user confidence that their system is operating correctly.
Cold Weather Pump Reliability: A Practical Winterization Guide
Cold weather has a way of exposing weaknesses in rotating equipment. As temperatures fall, fluids behave differently, materials stiffen, clearances change, and lubrication becomes less forgiving. Pumps that run flawlessly in warm conditions can suddenly experience cavitation, seal leaks, bearing damage, or hard failures once winter sets in.
At IEQ Industries, we see the same patterns every freeze season. The good news is that most cold-weather pump failures are preventable. Below is a practical winterization framework we share with customers to help protect pump systems as temperatures drop.
1. Understand how cold conditions affect your pump’s limits
Every pump has an operating range defined by temperature, viscosity, flow, and NPSH. Cold
Performance matters when it comes to owning and operating a water system, and every component plays a part in delivering efficient, reliable operation. The key to maximizing performance is minimizing waste, sizing a system correctly and selecting components that make the most sense for the application.
Enter what is known as water-to-wire efficiency. With it, engineers can measure the efficiency of a pump and motor together, as well as the pipe, controls and wire necessary to complete the operation. In any business decision, oversizing leads to waste, and the same is true with a pumping system. By using water-to-wire efficiency measurements, engineers ensure they are picking the right size for every component in a system. The goal is to reduce the horsepower
7 Field Ticketing Pain Points in Upstream Oil & Gas—and How Digital Solutions Are Changing the Game
Field ticketing is the backbone of service validation and payment in upstream oil and gas operations—but for many operators, it’s also a source of daily headaches. From paperwork overload to payment delays and coding disputes, the challenges are real and persistent. Recently, we held a webinar focused on tackling these pain points and exploring how digital solutions are transforming field ticketing for the industry. Watch the full replay here to see the discussion in action.
Ready to see how these challenges show up in the real world—and what digital field ticketing can do about them? Below, we break down the most common pain points faced by operations and accounting teams, along with practical solutions and examples from our recent
Navigating the Clean Energy Transition in the Oil & Gas Sector
With global temperatures reaching record levels in 20241 (about 34.79 F [1.55 C] above preindustrial levels and above the target limit set by the Paris Agreement), there is a growing imperative for governments and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The production, transport and processing of oil and gas results in just under 15% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Despite the shift toward renewables, the oil and gas industry is set to remain at the center of the world’s energy supply for many more years. It needs to cut its emissions by more than 60% by 2030 from today’s levels to align itself with a global temperature rise of 34.7 F (1.5 C). The emissions intensity of global oil and gas operations must also be near zero by the early 2040s, warns the IEA.
Beyond the Torque Rating: How Elastomeric Couplings Protect Motors & Pumps
A flexible coupling is sometimes specified late in a pump project. Yet, the elastomeric material that links the hubs can determine whether motor bearings reach their expected service life or have an unnecessarily short life. Understanding how different elastomers behave under load, temperature and chemical exposure enables engineers to pick a coupling that actively defends motor and pump reliability, rather than merely transmitting torque.
Thermoset vs. Thermoplastic: Two Roads, Many Compounds
Elastomers fall into two broad camps: thermoset and thermoplastic.
Thermosets experience cross-linking during the curing process, making the final product
Proper Lubrication for GASO Pumps: What You Need to Know
Lubrication is one of the most critical factors in ensuring the reliability and long service life of your GASO pump. Without the right oil, in the right quantity, and with the right maintenance schedule, your equipment is at risk of premature wear, costly downtime, or even failure. This guide covers everything you need to know about crankcase lubrication for GASO pumps.
How Lubrication Works in the Power End
In GASO pumps, all parts in the power end are lubricated by splash from oil inside the crankcase. This simple but effective system relies on maintaining the correct oil level and using a lubricant that meets strict performance standards.
Important Note: Pumps are drained of oil after factory
Power Plant Reduces Energy Usage & Improves Pump With Case Wear Rings
Electricity consumption in the United States was about 4.05 trillion kilowatt-hours in 20221, and demand for energy continues to grow. In an effort to meet this demand, 987 natural gas power plants are running across the country, and these power plants rely on pumps, motors, boilers and other energy-guzzling equipment to generate electricity. The reality is that it takes energy to make energy. One natural gas power plant in the Great Lakes region proactively looked at the amount of energy used by various pieces of equipment, and they decided to work with one of their trusted service providers to investigate possible solutions to optimize energy usage at their power generating facility.
The operations and maintenance team at the power plant collaborated with service solutions specialists in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 2022 to think outside the box about their ring section boiler feed pumps. Their power
Centrifugal Pump Optimization Using Variable Frequency Drives
Why VFDs are vital for optimizing HVAC and water applications
In most pump applications, the demand varies over the day, the week and year. Centrifugal pumps are often used to move liquid from one location to another in a variety of applications from heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), such as circulating chilled water between chillers and air handling units for cooling, to municipal water supply, transferring clean water from reservoirs or wells into distribution systems. These applications typically operate inefficiently at fixed speeds. Therefore, pairing a centrifugal pump with a variable frequency drive (VFD) allows precise speed control, energy efficiency improvements, reduced mechanical stress and extended equipment life.
There are two main reasons for adding a VFD to a pump:
Mastering the Nuances of Flow Variances in Pump Design
Testing metering pumps and their potential for waste
Testing metering pumps not only quantifies their performance but also evaluates the extent of excess chemical usage beyond the calculated set point, ensuring precision and efficiency in chemical dosing applications.
The primary goal of this test is to evaluate the performance of individual metering pumps while exploring metering pump technology through statistical methods. Fluctuations in flow rates often prompt operators to increase the feed rates of these pumps. This adjustment is crucial to minimizing the risk of inadvertently collecting process data that falls short of true regulatory standards.
Analyzing the mean flow rate and standard deviation provides insights into pump performance and allows users to quantify the excess chemicals needed beyond the calculated set point due to design variances. This comprehensive approach aids in quantifying
