Identify These Mechanical Parts and Their Usage

Here we go.

The top photo looks more like a Y-strainer to me. Maybe we're just talking semantics.

Orientation of the "Y leg" indicates (points toward) the direction of flow.

You're right & I'm lazy!

But a Y strainer is still a type of basket strainer, just pitched at an angle that makes it suitable for use on vertical runs as shown.

I would disagree with that assertion that a "Y" strainer is a type of Basket strainer. Most basket strainers were designed as Dual baskets so one could switch from one side to another in order to have continuous flow and allow cleaning of the "off" side by removing the cover and lifting the basket out to be cleaned. This was typical of larger fuel filters for ships and power plants or even coming out of storage tanks out in the tank farm. Smaller units as for Residential oil burners on the other hand are often just single baskets since one can generally shut the unit down long enough to remove it and clean the basket.

The pictured item is definitely a "Y" type strainer and the small connection would typically have a blow down connection to remove the dirt etc. that is collected on the ID of the strainer which should be at the Inlet side of the filter. It's probably not as effective due to the upward orientation of the connection.

The Y strainers I'm familiar with all use mesh baskets, and the operating principles are similar to a regular basket.

Most single "basket strainers" have more of a "T" housing appearance rather than a Y housing and have a handle on the basket to facilitate removal and cleaning. All the Y strainer internals I've come across are generally open ended- both ends- so the strainer is just a plain cylinder without ends. That was what I was referring to as a distinction in my mind.

The last one is a pair of eccentric reducers. It was typical in the oil refining industry to do this. I was told that it was a question of matching optimum flow speeds. I didn't like it because I had to design ridiculous pipe support and anchor systems to protect the pump from the expansion and contraction forces from the pipe. The pump bodies were built to take only forces typical of piping the same size as the nozzles.

You'l need to learn the names of things if you want to be a plumber.

Piping System and Miscellaneous Nomenclature - Building Code ...

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Thnx guys much appreciated, but no one gave a clue about the 2nd picture of condenser?

The 2nd picture might appropriately be labeled 'deferred preventative maintenance'. There are a number of other things it can also be called.

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All I can say it that the second picture is a perfect picture of a total lack of PM becoming a failure waiting to happen.

Are you getting a head start on the failure reports?

Because your initial description was already correct.

I'm not convinced that the first item is a strainer; the Y-branch part looks too small. Instead, it might be a check valve (one-way flow upward in this case).

It just has a really short strainer?

There are compact size strainers very similar in shape and, with OP information, that could be it.

Nonetheless, in vertical position (although strainers can also be installed like that) and the ball valve... it seems more like a checkvalve at pump outlet, to avoid back flow upon pump stoppage.

I tend to agree with you. The center bolt is what is making me lean to an adjustable something or other, the strainers I have seen (limited amount) have not had center bolts on the flange. As I said my exposure to these has been limited.

I think that 'center bolt' is a threaded plug in the strainer cover. In some cases a vent/drain/blowdown valve is fitted to it.

the top one is a strainer/screen...no question

to me the above looks like a strainer which only allows certain size particles to pass through and when it gets dirty you undo the four bolts on flange take it out to clean or replace.

on the centrifugal pump the two indicated items are the bottom one is the sunction reducer its purpose being to provide the pump with a high volume of the fluid being pumped at a high velocity to the eye of the impeller and the one on top is a discharge reducer so that when the pumped fluid leaves the pump on top of the the velocity imparted on the fluid by the pump the restriction increases the velocity again

It looks like they are using a "plug" valve on the suction inlet for some reason instead of a gate or ball valve. Gate valves were traditionally used on the suction side since there was less of a pressure drop through them compared to a ball valve and often allowed for better NPSHA. It might be that over sized piping was utilized to keep the suction piping losses low for sufficient NPSHA to the pump since that plug valve might have a high pressure drop and they decreased it right at the pump inlet to minimize the drop.

On the discharge side the small discharge flange would create a high discharge velocity and they may have wanted to reduce the fluid velocity to reduce piping erosion. It may also be that because of the need for an expensive pump material-construction someone decided to save money by buying the smaller high speed pump (3000-3600 RPM) instead of a larger slower speed pump (1500-1800 RPM) to move the required volume and develop the necessary head.

Hello!

The 1st picture is that of a strainer. One might call it a Y-strainer as well. The function it achieves is that of arresting particulate matter into the process. The size depends on the mesh size, or seive size, of the strainer basket. This also matches with the information your were given that says "...It blocks the particulate matter."

Sorry, but I cant say about the 2nd picture.

The 3rd picture is that of reducers/ enlargers. Centrifugal pumps are velocity-based devices that increase the head of the pumped fluid. To achieve this end, pumps increase the velocity of the fluid. Therefore, it is essential that the inlet velocity to the pump should be within a certain range, up to 8 ft/ sec. If the velocity does not fall in the range, the flow velocity of inlet fluid, which is a resultant of the inlet velocity vector and the inlet vane velocity vector, will be radically different. Since the inlet blade angle is not a variable in case of a pump already manufactured, it has to be ensured that the inlet vevocily stays within range. Refer to the book that I found very informative called "Centrifugal Pumps Design" by AW Church. I read it some 40 years back, so I might be a bit rusty as regards the name of the Book. This should point you towards studying the 'Inlet velocity triangle' of centrifugal pumps. To obtain the inlet velocity required as per the designed norms of pumps, we have to reduce the size of the inlet. Be careful to understand that had the suction pipe been made continuously smaller in size, we would incur a higher 'suction head loss', and this would hamper the operation of the pump.

Similarly, there will be 'exit velocity triangle', and an outlet velocity of flow. This velocity of flow will be pretty high - depending on the head developed by the pump. So to ensure lower friction losses, therefore improved power consumption, we reduce the velocity in the discharge piping by enlarging the area of flow. Hence the enlarger.

2nd picture.

The "bellow" mentioned it seems is a 2"pipe, half cut, and welded someway to both pipes. What can be seen/guessed is very irregular welding seams.

Unless there is some insulation layer installed around the pipe covering it...

NOTE: If this system is used to carry caustic products (i.e.: caustic soda) and weather around there gets cold, all piping /transport system should be designed with suitable materials, allowing not only insulation, but proper heating (trace heating?) along the pipe routing and elements. Cold soda gets solid... overheated soda becomes seriously corrosive.

I would be worried about the exterior here....You need to get busy with PM on these components....wire brush and some paint might enable you to label some of these and arrows indicating flow and destination would be appropriate....

The 2nd picture to me appears to be two slightly different sized pipes coupled or joined together by using some type of a metal clamp around the flared end of the pipes. A steel clamp that provides rigid cover wrapped around the rubber seal coupling.. that now seems to be leaking!

I pity the poor OP, who has to read all this crap.

OP, we don't have a clue. Sorry.

What do you mean???

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You, SolarEagle and I all correctly identified #2 for what it undeniably is: a PM deficiency.

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That's at least one clue (even if it is spread among three ppl).

It really doesn't matter. The whole neglected conglomeration might well have blown itself to blazes by now.

In which case; it would previously have mattered, but as you astutely point out, wouldn't any more.

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If the OP's response hasn't been muted by the results of neglected PM, either directly by something like mechanical, chemical or thermal shock to or literally burying the OP; or indirectly by figuratively burying the OP in work related to the PMNeglect related failure: I hope their response has been muted because some much time has been spent correcting the PM deficiency.

I think they employ the WFCFTR in lieu of PM.

WFCFCTR+ Wait For Catastrophic Failure To Repair.

I wouldn't be against it.

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Hey, the following has an extra 'C' and a '+' that should have been an '=' ?... right?

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'...WFCFCTR+...'

Right!

That is why I won't do two shows a night, babe. I won't, I won't do it.

Credit:Beetlejuice

A better picture of item #2 would be from farther back so the piping connections could be seen and perhaps from the other side so the opposite side details would be visible.

Picture #2 looks as if it is an expandable clamp. Similar to old coal furnace exhaust, or chimney parts. It has seen some heat and the light weight metal makes me think that it is a protective cover. What is confusing is why the duct work attached to the far side looks to be from a different era, still more confusing is why other plumbing in the background looks fairly new. As it has been stated here already this is in dire need of repair. So the arrow points to what I would have to call fodder for the recycling bin.

Picture #3 These are old bleach bottles painted to look like they are made of metal. Things like this are used on stage sets, they look real enough. I think the vertical one was not quite empty when they put it in place. You could paint up some lincoln logs to look like the bolts missing from the flange connections.

Picture 1# still looks like a valve of some sort. Why cast this part with a flat that could mount a handle, if it is a basket strainer. The casting shape looks to be for a valve. By placement near a ball valve I'd guess it is a check valve and the flow direction is upward. Missing flange bolts again, not high pressure? The real thing peeking my interest are the 2 pieces of red licorice on the H beam.

Ball valve parts play a important role in ball valve when control the flow.

Where is your manufacturing facility located?

A ball valve is below the Y strainer in Picture #1 from the looks of it. The arrow on Picture #1 is pointing to a Y strainer that looks much like this but painted red instead of blue.

#2 you say is connected between the shell and tube barrel and the system piping also commonly used on pumps. Metraflex brand braided or rubber are the ones I am used to installing.

I take that as a vibration isolator that reduces vibration from the equipment and the system piping, however I have never seen one quite like that so its only an educated guess. if I could see more of the piping up and down stream of that joint I may be able to determine my EG.

#2 is a flanged expansion joint on a heat exchanger. Scroll down a ways into this reference and you will see both flanged-and-flued and flanged expansion joints. The f-and-f would usually be preferred, because of high stress concentrations in the flanged only. Matter of fact, I'd say the one in OP's picture has been repaired at least once, probably because of cracking. The main advantage of the flanged is ease of installation, especially on a re-rate. I had one installed on a re-rated fixed-tube reboiler one time.