Fan maintenance at a top UK University

Project Objective:
The objective of this service visit was to perform comprehensive maintenance on three centrifugal fans located at the university.

Site Visit Overview:
The Gibbons HVAC Engineers arrived on site and were greeted by the on-site manager. The team had previously completed an online site induction a week before the visit and the site manager then guided them to the LG plantroom, where two of the fans were located. The team began their work with the smaller fan immediately upon exiting the lift.

LG Plantroom Maintenance

Smaller Centrifugal Fan (LG):
The initial task involved isolating the smaller fan and removing its guard. Upon inspection, the belts were found to be significantly worn and slated for replacement. However, a closer examination revealed that the bearings had failed. The bearing housing had deteriorated into the shaft, rendering the fan irreparable in its current state. As a result, the fan was left isolated, with the new belts left on-site. The Gibbons engineers recommended replacing the motor bearings due to their rough and dry condition during operation.

Larger Centrifugal Fan (LG):
The larger fan was running at a low speed and was isolated to begin the maintenance work. Although the team did not have the correct belt size initially, they arranged for an overnight delivery to ensure the belts could be replaced on the second day. After removing the guard and belts, the team inspected the bearings, which were found to be in good condition. The bearings appeared to have been previously replaced with SKF bearings and were well-maintained. However, the motor bearings were found to be very dry and in need of replacement. The team installed new belts and successfully restarted the fan.

UG Plantroom Maintenance

Centrifugal Fan (UG):
The UG plantroom fan was also running at a low speed. The team isolated the fan before starting the maintenance work. They removed the guard and old belts and then inspected the fan bearings, which showed no signs of wear and were adequately greased, likely due to a previous replacement with SKF bearings. However, similar to the other fans, the motor bearings were dry and required replacement. The team installed new belts and returned the fan to service at low speed.

Summary of Findings and Recommendations

Small Centrifugal Fan (LG Plantroom):
Due to the failure of the bearings and the aged condition of the motor, it was recommended that both the fan and motor unit be replaced. The fan was left isolated with new belts on-site.

Large Centrifugal Fan (LG Plantroom):
The motor on this fan requires a bearing replacement due to the dry condition observed during operation. The fan shaft bearings were found to be in good condition and were serviced appropriately. New belts were installed successfully.

Centrifugal Fan (UG Plantroom):
The motor bearings were found to be dry and need replacement. The fan bearings were in good condition and were properly greased. New belts were installed, and the fan was returned to low-speed operation.

Conclusion:

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For more information on Fan maintenance at a top UK University talk to Gibbons Engineering Group Ltd