Page 26 - Practical Machinery Management for Process Plants Major Process Equipment Maintenance and Repair

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair of Horizontal Pumps 11

Note: Depending on the type of epoxy grout used, if the primer
has been on the baseplate for an extended period, the surface
may gloss over and thus prevent bonding. If this occurs, the
baseplate must be stripped of all old primer by sand blasting to
near white metal and recoated prior to grouting. Check the man-
ufacturer's instructions carefully to determine if this is a poten-
tial problem.
b. Ensure all baseplates are provided with at least one grouting
opening in each bulkhead section and/or each 12 sq ft of base
area as a minimum. Vent holes should be provided at the corners
of each bulkhead compartment. These will ensure that the grout
will flow from the pour hole to the extremities of each compart-
ment and that no voids are created by trapped air.
c. The corners of all baseplates and soleplates should be rounded to
at least a 20-in. radius. As the grout cures, there will always be
some shrinkage. Rounding the corners prevents stress concentra-
tions in the grout that would eventually cause cracking.

3. Before setting the baseplate, ensure that all surfaces to be in contact
with the grout are free of oil, grease, and rust.
4. Position the baseplate or soleplate on the prepared foundation, sup-
porting it on leveling screws, rectangular leveling shims, or wedges
having a small taper. These support pieces should be placzd next to
each foundation bolt to prevent distortion. Cover all leveling
screws with grease or a heavy paste wax to prevent the grout from
adhering. If using an epoxy grout, wax, mask off, or grease all ar-
eas that require protection from grout splatter.
5. Use a precision level and level the baseplate or soleplate side-to-
side, end-to-end, and diagonally to within .002 in. per ft. Remem-
ber, it is mandatory that the machined mounting surfaces be flat and
parallel. Corresponding mounting surfaces in the same place should
be within .002 in. parallel overall. This mounting surface tolerance
must be maintained after all anchor bolts have been adequately
tightened. This will prevent overstressing and distortion of the
equipment and/or base once the machinery is remounted.
6. After leveling, check that all support wedges or shims are in contact
with the foundation and plate, then tighten the foundation bolts
evenly but not too tight, and recheck level.
7. Check the elevation of the machined mounting surfaces of the base-
plate or soleplates. Remember, the proper elevation should allow
for a minimum of %in. shim thickness under the equipment. If ev-
erything checks out properly, the baseplate is ready for grouting.