Vibration is known to cause serious problems for maintenance departments. Wrote some tips on potential sources of vibration, pump vibration at critical speeds, piping system vibration and diagnostics, and suggestions for controlling certain vibrations. Stop plant downtime with tips from the industry’s most knowledgeable provider of engineered pump solutions!
Vibration can be a serious problem in pumping systems, causing rough, noisy operation and even damage to mechanical components. There are a variety of conditions that can cause severe vibration, including balance issues and rotating parts, resonance effects, and fluid-structure interactions around the pump or in adjacent piping. Here are some sources of vibration problems in pump and piping systems and ways to control them.
A well-maintained centrifugal pump will usually run smoothly when it is close to its best efficiency point. However, rough operation may occur if the pump is operated under severely non-optimal conditions, such as severely restricted flow. Non-optimal operation results in additional loads on the bearings and pressure pulses in the output flow. There are also potential problems with the air inlet or suction port of the pump. If the available head at the pump inlet is less than that of the unit, cavitation may occur, causing vibration, unbalanced loads on rotating parts, and damage to the impeller and nearby surfaces.
