The key water maker maintenance issues
Datetime:2013-07-05 Hits:
As with any plant equipment, all mounting hardware plus belts, hoses, connections pressure gauges and flow meters should be periodically visually checked. In addition, operators should check bolts, screws and brackets for tightness. Hoses should be inspected for wear and that they are not chaffed or in contact with other surfaces that may cause abrasion. Another quick yet important check is for leakage of oils or water; finding salt residue could also indicate a leak of water.
The oil level in the high pressure pump crankcase should be checked when the pump is horizontal. The high pressure pump oil should be changed after the first 50 hours of operation post commissioning and every 500 hours thereafter.
Operators should test the seacock on the intake through hull for proper operation. Before the system is run it is important that that the seacock is in the OPEN position and that any overboard valves or product water valves are also open. In addition, the water maker intake through the hull should be checked to ensure there are no restrictions or obstructions to the flow.
It is recommended that pre-filters on the water maker be replaced when the inlet pressure drops to 1 psi or below. Parker Village Marine pleated polypropylene filters are designed to last longer than lower cost string bound pre-filters and will typically provide a more cost effective approach overall with lower pressure drops and higher flows for longer. When changing the filter element it is important to clean the bottom of the filter housing thoroughly.
As a safeguard, users should look to replace the fresh water flush carbon filter element to ensure no chlorinated water enters the system potentially causing damage to membranes. Furthermore, it is important to test the fresh water flush line to make sure that water from the fresh water tank reaches the water maker during the fresh water flush cycle to confirm that no valves have been shut and the line is free from obstructions.
