One afternoon in August, an operator called Valiant needing to replace a horizontal pump at a saltwater disposal site. Valiant responded just like any other day: a Valiant technician arrived on site, inspected the equipment, and diagnosed the failure as a broken shaft. Replacing the pump would be a quick fix, but there was another problem.
Because of the previous manufacturer’s design, the thrust chamber section would also need to be replaced in order to couple with the new Valiant pump. This was a problem because Valiant knew it wouldn’t be economical for such a small facility. Rather than leave the operator with a headache and no solution, Valiant suggested a new alternative: rebuild the existing thrust chamber to fit the new pump.
It was a stretch, but the operator knew they would be waiting at least another week (and probably more) to get someone else on location. They wanted Valiant to fix the problem, replace the horizontal pump, and get the system running.
“We asked the customer if we could bring their thrust chambers to our shop to tear them down and see if we could rebuild them. They said yes.”
Engineers At Work
A lead product engineer was in the shop ready to inspect the thrust chamber as soon as it arrived, carefully dismantled it, and determined what was needed to complete the rebuild. Under close engineering supervision, the shop team got to work replacing the bearings, shaft, seals, and pump coupling to quickly get it back to location for the final test.
Everything came together perfectly.
Valiant installed the rebuilt thrust chamber, leveled and set a new pump on the skid, powered up the VSD, and started up the unit with no issues. Happy with the successful work Valiant did to break through their roadblocks and save cost, the customer asked Valiant to do the same work on an identical skid at one of their other SWD sites.
What started out as a simple horizontal pump replacement turned out to be no small feat, but with Valiant’s conviction, we were able to turn this operator’s headache into happiness.
When you have a horizontal pump needing repairs, it should be easy to get a technician out to your site to get the job done quickly.
Still, for one reason or another – whether it’s a shortage of service personnel, unavailable parts, or long lead times – many operators find themselves frustrated and stuck with a system that isn’t moving the needle.
If you:
- Feel like your equipment is more of a liability than an asset
- Aren’t satisfied with service response times
- Need to get your system online quickly
Valiant can help.
Restore, Resize, and Replace Horizontal Pumping Equipment
Because every site and every system has a unique history, ensuring that retrofitted equipment is configured and installed properly requires a trained eye and comprehensive knowledge of the breadth of technology in the field.
When it comes to retrofitting multi-stage, centrifugal surface pumps, Valiant’s experience runs the gamut. From like-for-like replacements to more intensive engineering work, we’ve retrofitted pumps, motors, thrust chambers, and seals to customers’ existing horizontal pumping systems (HPS), even if they are using another manufacturer’s equipment.