ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an analysis of the possible causes for an loss of containment (LOC) in a centrifugal pump and second the consequences of such an loss of containment. Centrifugal pumps are the workhorses of the process industries that are generally reliable. However, there are components in a centrifugal pump that are susceptible for failures, which can trigger an LOC. Mechanical seal ensures that the pump does not leak and serves to seal the fluid inside the casing from leaking through the opening for the shaft that is rotating. However, the contribution of the most common root cause of LOC, the dry running of the pump, is way too high to fit the scale for other root causes. The Bayesian Network can provide a live and visual representation of risks during the operation of a centrifugal pump.
