Flame Retardant Plant Prevents Production Loss Due to Poor Pump Performance

Problem

A redundant cooling agent pump had mechanical problems, causing reflux temperature to rise in all the plant’s reactors

How SAM GUARD^® Helped

• SAM GUARD detected a rise in temperature in the reflux condenser flow back to the reactor
• SAM GUARD also found that the cooling agent pump’s on/off valve was opening and closing frequently
• SAM GUARD issued an alert about the behavior of the pump. 
• Plant engineers found that the redundant pump had mechanical programs. It reactivated the original pump, which worked correctly, and temperatures returned to normal. 

Value

• The malfunctioning pump was causing reactor temperature to rise, which could have resulted in production loss and a rise in emissions
• Traditional controls did not pick up on the rise in temperature