Track: Master Thesis Competition

Abstract

A South African pulp and paper mill has been experiencing frequent breakdowns of its centrifugal pumps, leading to significant production losses. To identify the causes of these failures and find ways to improve pump reliability, a case study was conducted. Data was collected through questionnaires and operational records. The study found that the main causes of pump failures were poor maintenance, misalignment of pump components, lack of lubrication, poor baseplate installation, incorrect sealing arrangements, poor design of the pumping system, and foreign materials entering the system. To improve reliability, the study recommends using machine learning methods to select the most suitable maintenance strategy and train internal maintenance personnel on condition monitoring systems. This will help both the pulp and paper mill and pump manufacturers identify their blind spots and improve the reliability of the centrifugal pumps.