Taco GT Horizontal 302-054, GT Operation And Maintenance Manual

SUPERSEDES: New EFFECTIVE: March 1, 2009

Plant ID No. 001-3930

GT Horizontal

Split Casing Pumps

Operations and Maintenance Manual

302-054

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

These operating instructions must be complied with during instal­lation, operation and maintenance, and must be read by the
operator before commencement of any work. Only fully qualified
personnel may carry out work on the pump set. Non-compliance
with these instructions may lead to damage to the equipment,
serious injury or hazard to the environment.

A: GENERAL

Taco GT pumps are single stage double suction axially split
pumps supplied either bare shaft or complete with an electric
motor. Details of the pump type and model, serial number and
operating data are indicated on the pump nameplate.

The pump must be installed and operated in full compliance with
these instructions. The pump may not be operated outside the lim­its specified on the nameplate and within this manual. The pump
should only be operated by skilled trained personnel. The manu­facturer will not accept liability if these instructions are not fol­lowed. This manual does not take into account any specific local
regulations or bylaws that may be applicable, and it is the respon­sibility of the installer to ensure compliance with such regulations.

A1: Application

Taco GT pumps are suitable for continuous pumping of clean
water and liquids with properties similar to water, with fine solids
content not exceeding 200 ppm.

A2: Area of Operation

May be installed within a building or externally. Wherever
installed, protect the pump from frost, snow and flooding. Care
must be taken to ensure that cold weather will not cause the
pump or pipes to freeze, and installers may wish to consider lag­ging or trace heating.

A3: Spare Parts

Spare parts are available from Taco distributors which can be
located at www.taco-hvac.com. Please quote the pump model
and serial number for all spares enquiries.

The pump user is strongly recommended to carry replacement
spares for parts which are wearing items:

• Mechanical seal or gland packing

• Casing wear ring

• Shaft sleeve

• Casing gasket

• Gland plate gasket

Only genuine Taco spare parts should be fitted. Use of other
parts will invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty and liability for
consequential damage.

A4: Transport

The pumpset must remain horizontal during transport and lifting.
Only use certified lifting equipment suitably rated for the weights
to be lifted.

When hoisting the bareshaft pump only, secure a sling of suitable
load capacity around the suction flange and bearing housing as
indicated (see Figure 1). For new installations, keep the pump on
its original pallet while moving around site or on transport. If the
original pallet is not available, the pump should be securely bolted
to a pallet of generous size to ensure stability.

Lifting the complete pumpset (pump, motor and bedplate) may
be carried out using a forklift or with a set of lifting chains secured
to the lifting points provided on the bedplate (see Figure 2).

CAUTION: Read these instructions before
putting the pump into service.

CAUTION: Installation and operation should
be carried out by qualified personnel only.

CAUTION: Danger of electrocution. Electric
supply must be isolated before working on
the pump set.

CAUTION: Electrical work should only be
carried out by qualified personnel.

Figure 1: Attaching a Sling to the Pumpset

A5: Storage

If not to be used immediately, the pumpset should be stored in a
dry, warm and vibration-free environment. For extended periods
of storage, pump and motor shaft should occasionally be rotated
one full turn. Do not remove flange covers until the pump is ready
to be connected to its pipework.

A6: Foundation

The foundation should be sufficiently substantial to reduce vibra­tions and rigid enough to avoid any twisting or misalignment.

(See Figure 3.)

The foundation should be poured without interruptions to within

1

⁄

2

to 11⁄2inches of the finished height. The top surface of the foun­dation should be well scored and grooved before the concrete
sets. This provides a bonding surface for the grout. Foundation
bolts should be set in concrete. Allow enough bolt length for
grout, shims, lower baseplate flange, nuts and washers. The foun­dation should be allowed to cure for several days before the base­plate is shimmed and grouted.

A7: Baseplate Setting

Use blocks and shims under base for support at foundation bolts
and midway between bolts to position base approximately 1 inch
above the concrete foundation with the studs extending through
holes in the baseplate.

(See Figure 4.)

By adding or removing shims under the base, level the pump
shaft and flanges. The baseplate does not have to be level.

Draw foundation bolt nuts tight against baseplate and observe
pump and motor shafts or coupling hubs for alignment.

Check to make sure the piping can be aligned to the pump
flanges without placing pipe strain on either flange.

Grout baseplate in completely and allow grout to dry thoroughly
before attaching piping to pump (24 hours is sufficient time with
approved grouting procedure).

A8: Grouting Procedure

Grout compensates for uneven foundation, distributes weight of
unit and prevents shifting (see Figure 4). After setting and level­ling unit, use an approved, non-shrinking grout as follows:

(a) Build strong form around foundation to contain grout.
(b) Soak top of concrete foundation thoroughly, then remove

surface water.

(c) Baseplate should be completely filled with grout and, if

necessary, drill vent holes to remove trapped air.

(d) After the grout has thoroughly hardened, check the

foundation bolts and tighten if necessary.

(e) Check the alignment after the foundation bolts are

tightened.

(f) Approximately 14 days after the grout has been poured or

when the grout has thoroughly dried, apply an oil base
paint to the exposed edges of the grout to prevent air and
moisture from coming in contact with the grout.

A9: Coupling Alignment

Although the coupling will have been aligned during manufacture,
it is important that the cou­pling alignment is checked
and, if necessary, adjusted
after installation. Small deflec­tions of the bedplate during
transport and installation can
affect the alignment. A mis­aligned coupling can cause
vibration and reduced bear­ing life for the pump and
motor.

2

CAUTION: When using a forklift, particular
care should be taken to properly balance the
load. The electric motor may be significantly
heavier or lighter than the pump. If possible,
use the original pallet or skid provided.

Figure 2: Lifting the Complete Pumpset

Figure 5a

Figure 3

Figure 4

MAX 90°

FOUNDATION

BOLT

PIPE

SLEEVE

CONCRETE

WASHER

STRAIGHT EDGE

3

Use a straight edge and
gauge to check the parallel
alignment and the angular
alignment.

Adjustment is usually made
by moving the motor, and
adding or subtracting shims
from under the motor feet.

(See Figures 5a and 5b.)

A10: Pipe Connections

Pipes must be independently supported, and arranged in such a
way that expansion or contraction along the length of the pipe does
not impose strain on the pump flanges. Never use the pump itself
to support the pipes. Locate pipe supports close to the pump.

Never force the pipes into place to align with the pump flanges, as
this will impose unacceptable loads on the pump. Where neces­sary, flexible jointed pipework should be fitted to accommodate
small movement of the pipe and eliminate strain on the pump.

It is usual practice to fit pipes of one or two sizes larger than the
bore of the pump’s suction and discharge. For short pipe runs, it
may be economical to fit pipes of the same diameter as the pump
flanges. Do not fit pipes of a smaller bore than the pump flange size.

Most systems require the installation of suction and discharge
valves, and a non-return valve on the discharge pipeline. We would
recommend fitting such valves for ease of maintenance. If the
flowrate is to be regulated or initially set with the discharge valve,
fit a gate valve in preference to a wafer type discharge valve.

Before final connection of the pump on a new system, thoroughly
clean and flush all suction pipes and tanks to eliminate weld
debris and scale, which can become dislodged and block the
suction of the pump. A temporary strainer can be fitted to the
suction line to prevent debris from entering the pump.

A11: Electrical Connection

Where the pump is to be driven by an electric motor, observe the
instructions provided by the electric motor manufacturer.
Electrical installation should only be carried out by a skilled elec­trician. The installation should be grounded at the motor, pipes,
support frame and pump as appropriate.

A12: Vibration Isolation

Pumps installed in some buildings may require isolation from the
floor and pipes using anti-vibration mounts and flexible pipe con­nectors.

B: OPERATION

When correctly installed and operated, this Taco pump will give
many years of trouble-free service. In operation, the pump should
be free from vibration and run smoothly. Any changes to smooth­ness of operation should be investigated immediately. The pump
should be visually checked periodically.

B1: Priming the Pump

Pumps operating on flooded suction conditions (where the liquid
source is higher than the pump) are easily primed by opening the
suction valve, releasing air vent on the pump discharge, and
allowing the pump casing to fill with liquid. (See Figure 6.)

For pumps operating on a suction lift, the usual practice is to fit a
foot valve to the suction pipe. This foot valve retains liquid within
the suction pipe and pump casing when the pump is idle.

B2: Starting the Pump

Before the pump is started for the first time, it is important to
check the following points:

• Check that the pump rotates freely by hand.

• Open the suction valve fully and evacuate all the air
inside the pump casing to prime the pump.

• Close the discharge fully for the first start after
installation or service.

• Momentarily start and stop the electric motor or engine
driver to check that the rotation is correct.

• The pump may now be run. On starting, observe the
discharge pressure.

• Slowly open the discharge valve. The pressure will
gradually fall as the flowrate through the pump increases.

• Open the discharge valve only until the required pressure
is indicated on the pressure gauge.

B3: Over-Pumping

When pipework system losses are estimated, an extra allowance
in head is often made for pipe deterioration, or the pump is over­sized to allow for future expansion. In these circumstances, it is
likely that the pump will operate at a higher flowrate than intended,
which may result in excessive loads on the pump bearings and
driver overload. The operator should limit the flow by adjustment
of the discharge valve, referring to the discharge pressure gauge
to obtain the design conditions. For pumps driven by electric
motor, the operator should verify that the motor nameplate current
is not being exceeded.

B4: Minimum Flowrate

Taco GT pumps should not be continually operated at a flowrate
below 30% of the peak efficiency flowrate unless otherwise
specifically agreed by the manufacturer. If the system is such that
zero flow or less than 30% of peak efficiency flow will occur, a
return line must be fitted.

CAUTION: Isolate the electrical supply
before commencing work on the pump.

Figure 5b

Figure 6: Air Vent Location

AIR VENT