Centrifugal Pump Troubleshooting Guide

Table 4-6 Troubleshooting Guide -- Centrifugal Process Pumps Symptoms Symptoms D C B A Insufficient Disch. Pressure . Intermittent Operation . Insufficient Capacity . No Liquid Delivery . Possible Causes # A B Pump Is Cavitating 1 2 1 (Symptom For Liquid Vaporizing In Suction System) -Horizontal Pumps C 1 D E F 9 Short Bearing Life Short Mech. Seal Life Vibration & Noise G 1 E F G A B C D Table 4-6 (cont.) Symptoms Insufficient Disch. Pressure . Intermittent Operation . Insufficient Capacity . No Liquid Delivery . Possible Causes Strainer Partially Clogged Pump Impeller Clogged Suction And/Or Discharge Valve(s) Closed Viscosity Too High # 7 8 9 A B 3 8 C D E F G Symptoms Short Bearing Life Short Mech. Seal Life Vibration & Noise Power Demand Excessive H # 7 8 9 Possible Remedies E F G H

Power Demand Excessive H H # Possible Remedies 1 * Check NPSHa/ NPSHr Margin

* Inspect And Clean * Check For Damage

And Clean

* If Pump Is Above
Liquid Level, Raise Liquid Level Closer To Pump

8 9

* Shut Down And Open

Valves

* If Liquid Is Above
Pump, Increase Liquid Level Elevation SUCTION PROBLEMS Insufficient 2 Immersion Of Suction Pipe Or Bell (VertTurbinePump) Pump Not Primed 3 1 1 1 1 2

10

4 10

* Heat Up Liquid To
Reduce Viscosity

* Lower

Suction Pipe Or Raise Sump Level

* Increase Size Of
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Discharge Piping To Reduce Pressure Loss

* Increase System
Resistance 1 2 3

* Fill Pump And Suction

Piping Complete With Liquid

* Use Larger Driver Or

Change Type Of Pump Specific Gravity Too High Total System Head Lower Than Design Head Of Pump 11 12 4 11 2 11 3 12

* Eliminate High Points

In Suction

* Slow Pump Down * Check Design Specific

Gravity

* Remove All NonCondensibles (Air From Pump, Piping and Valves)

* Increase System
Resistance To Obtain Design Flow

* Eliminate High Points

In Suction Piping

* Check Design
Parameters Such As Impeller Size, Etc. Total System Head Higher Than Design Head Of Pump 13 6 5 4 10 2 13

* Check For Faulty Foot

Valve Or Check Valve HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Non-Condensibles In Liquid 4 2 3 1 4

* Decrease System
Resistance To Obtain Design Flow

* Check For Gas/Air

Ingress Through Suction System/Piping

* Check Design
Parameters Such As Impeller Size, Etc. Unsuitable Pumps In Parallel Operation 14 7 6 6 1 A B C D E F G H 14 15 #

* Install
Chamber Supply Tank Empty Obstructions In Lines Or Pump Housing Possible Causes 5 6 # 3 9 A B C 7 D E F 7 G H 5 6 #

Gas Separation

* Check Design
Parameters

* Refill Supply Tank * Inspect And Clear

Possible Remedies

Improper Mechanical 15 Seal Possible Causes #

* Check Mechanical
Seal Selection Strategy Possible Remedies

Centrifugal Pump Troubleshooting Guide

Table 4-6 (cont.) Symptoms D C B A Intermittent Operation . Insufficient Capacity . No Liquid Delivery . Possible Causes # A B Speed Too High 16 Speed Too Low Wrong Direction Of Rotation 17 4 18 5 4 C D E F Symptoms E F G
A C B D Symptoms Insufficient Disch. Pressure . Intermittent Operation . Insufficient Capacity . No Liquid Delivery . Possible Causes Mechanical Defects Worn, Rusted, Defective Bearings SYSTEM # A 25 B C D E F 5 G 8 Table 4-6 (cont.) Symptoms Short Bearing Life Short Mech. Seal Life Vibration & Noise Power Demand Excessive H # 10 25 Possible Remedies E F G H

Insufficient Disch. Pressure . Short Bearing Life Short Mech. Seal Life Vibration & Noise G

Power Demand Excessive H H # Possible Remedies 1 16 * Check Motor Voltage Slow Down Driver 17 6 18

2 3

* Consult Driver
Troubleshooting Guide

Inspect Parts For Defects - Repair Or Replace. Use Bearing Failure Analysis Guide

*
Unbalance - Driver 26 5 7 9 26

* Check Rotation With

Arrow On Casing Reverse Polarity On Motor

Check Lubrication Procedures

Impeller Installed Backward (Double Suction Imp.) Misalignment MECHANICAL SYSTEM

19

10

12 19

* Inspect * Check Angular And

Parallel Alignment Between Pump And Driver

MECHANICAL

Run Driver Disconnected From Pump Unit - Perform Vibration Analysis

Unbalance - Pump Motor Troubles Possible Causes

27 28 # A B C D

4 6 E

27

Investigate Natural Frequency

20

7 20

8 10 11 28 F G H #

* Consult Motor
Troubleshooting Guide Possible Remedies

Casing Distorted From Excessive Pipe Strain

21

21

* Check For
Misalignment

* Check Pump For

Wear Between Casing And Rotating Elements

Inadequate Grouting Of Base Bent Shaft

22 23 3 4

6 7

22 8 23

* Analyze Piping Loads * Check Grouting And

Regrout If Required

* Check Deflection
(Should Not Exceed 0.002"). Replace Shaft And Bearings If Necessary

1-800-767-6700
This material was reproduced from Practical Machinery Management for Process Plants: Machinery Failure Analysis and Troubleshooting by Heinz P. Bloch and Fred K. Geitner by permission of the publisher Butterworth Heinemann of 225 Wildwood Avenue, Woburn MA 01801 (www.bh.com). 10% Discount on copies of this book will be offered with this sheet.

Internal Wear Possible Causes

24 # A B C

8 D E F G

9 24 H #

* Check Impeller
Clearances Possible Remedies