Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
10-11
There are a couple of things you must keep in mind when troubleshooting centrifugal pump
problems:
The centrifugal pump always pumps the difference between the suction and discharge
heads. If the suction head increases, the pump head will decrease to meet the system
requirements. If the suction head decreases the pump head will increase to meet the
system requirements.
A centrifugal pump always pumps a combination of head and capacity. These two
numbers multiplied together must remain a constant. In other words, if the head increases
the capacity must decrease. Likewise if the head decreases, the capacity must increase.
The pump will pump where the pump curve intersects the system curve.
If the pump is not meeting the system curve requirements the problem could be in the
pump, the suction side including the piping and source tank, or somewhere in the
discharge system.
Most pumps are oversized because of safety factors that were added at the time the pump
was selected. This means that throttling is a normal condition in most plants, causing the
pump to run on the left hand side of its curve.
The increased amperage can be caused by a pump that is too large for the application.
The motor was sized for a low specific gravity fluid, but the lines are being flushed or
tested with water.
The specific gravity of the fluid has increased for some reason.
The viscosity of the liquid is increasing with a change in temperature. Some viscosities
increase with a lower temperature, some with a higher temperature.
The viscosity of a liquid can increase with agitation. That is how cream becomes butter.
The increased amperage is caused by two part rubbing together as a result of shaft displacement.
Here are some common causes of shaft displacement:
Pipe strain
There are many parts that can come into contact when the shaft displaces.
The impeller can contact the pump volute or back plate. This can also happen with an
improper impeller adjustment or thermal growth.
The end of the stuffing box can be hit by the shaft or sleeve. There is often a close fitting
bushing installed in this location.
The outside diameter of the rotating mechanical seal and the inside of the stuffing box.
A gasket or fitting protruding into the stuffing box that rubs against the mechanical seal.
The rotating shaft and the stationary seal face.
The shaft and the API gland disaster bushing.
The closed impeller wear rings are a common source of rubbing.
Check the shaft and housing tolerances along with the installation method.
Cooling a bearing outside diameter causes it to shrink and over compress.
The wrong lubrication level. There is too much lubricant in the bearing
The radial flow pump is being started with the discharge valve open. Radial flow pumps
use the most horsepower at high capacity.
The axial flow pump is being started with the discharge valve shut. Axial flow pumps use
the most horsepower at high head.
Here are a few more reasons why you might be using too much amperage.
Your pump is equipped with an axial flow or high specific speed impeller. These
impellers cause the pump to draw more amperage when the pump discharge is throttled.
The stuffing box packing has been tightened too much.
An unbalanced mechanical seal is being used in a high pressure application. There is too
much face load
The impeller has been installed backwards.
The shaft is running in the wrong direction.
The open impeller needs adjusting. You have too much clearance between the impeller
and the volute, or back plate, depending upon the pump design.