Machine Component

VACUUM PUMP-3A
Vacuum Pump NDE Bearing
Spectrum, Vol-1, Oct-2013

ISO 10816 Severity level for class III Machine

Vibration Level Condition

NORMAL Up to 4.5 mm/sec
MARGINAL 4.5 to 11.2 mm/sec
CRITICAL Above 11.2 mm/sec

Running Hour: 8646 Ref Speed: 660 RPM

TIME LINE OBSERVATION

18.07.2013  Vacuum Pump was running normal with vibration 1.5 mm/sec at NDE bearing.

 Peakvue reading was 0.3 at Vacuum Pump NDE bearing.

 Flow induced vibration/Cavitations was observed in spectrum

21.08.2013  Vibration increased to 10.4 mm/sec in Vertical direction at Vacuum pump

NDE Bearing.

 Peakvue increased to 1.7 Gs

 BSF & BPFI were observed in peakvue spectrum.

 BPFI started appearing in all direction (Horizontal, Vertical & Axial)

 Bearing temperature was found to be 73 deg C. whereas it was 55 deg C in

other healthy vacuum pump.

 ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATION:

 Initial stage bearing defect is suspected in vacuum pump NDE bearing

 High acceleration is observed in vacuum pump NDE bearing.

 Check the lubricant condition & ensure proper lubrication of bearing.

22.08.2013  Bearing lubricant was checked and lubricant was replaced after proper purging.

(Bearing could not be inspected)

 Trial was taken Vibration reduced to 4 mm/sec, acceleration reduced to 1 Gs.

EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORT FORMAT NO. 09/06/BD/01
20.09.2013  While vibration was constant at 4 mm/sec peakvue acceleration started

increasing and went up to 2.7 Gs

 Bearing temperature was continuously maintaining at 70 deg C.

 Abnormal sound started coming from NDE side bearing

 BPFI level increased as compared to previous reading.

 ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATION: - Please inspect the bearing for any defect.

 It was decided to dismantle the bearing for inspection following were

observed:-

 Pump NDE bearing was found in damaged condition.

 Lower bottom of outside portion of Outer race periphery (Please Refer

Fig) was in damaged condition while other parts were in good condition.

 Few rolling elements of outside portion (See Fig) were also found in

damaged condition.

 Inner race was found damaged throughout its periphery.

21.09.2013  Bearing replaced and trial taken

 Vibration reduced to 1.8 mm/sec while acceleration reduced to 0.3 Gs.

***CBM ROSA***
EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORT FORMAT NO. 09/06/BD/01

Vibration Measurement Results: Date: 18.07.2013

RMS VELOCITY (mm/sec) PEAKVUE

Location
H V A (Gs)
MOTOR NDE 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.09
MOTOR DE 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.2
PUMP DE 1 1.3 0.8 0.2
PUMP NDE 1.4 1.5 0.7 0.3

***CBM ROSA***
EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORT FORMAT NO. 09/06/BD/01

Vibration Measurement Results: Date: 21.08.2013

RMS VELOCITY (mm/sec) PEAKVUE

Location
H V A (Gs)
MOTOR NDE 0.7 0.4 0.6 0.1
MOTOR DE 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.06
PUMP DE 2.5 2.7 2.1 0.25
PUMP NDE 7.5 10.4 7.2 1.7

***CBM ROSA***
EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORT FORMAT NO. 09/06/BD/01

***CBM ROSA***
EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORT FORMAT NO. 09/06/BD/01

***CBM ROSA***
EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORT FORMAT NO. 09/06/BD/01

***CBM ROSA***
EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORT FORMAT NO. 09/06/BD/01

***CBM ROSA***
EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORT FORMAT NO. 09/06/BD/01

***CBM ROSA***
 EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORT FORMAT NO. 09/06/BD/01

Load due to
gravity/Weight

Thrust load

Damaged Lower
bottom of outer race
(outside portion)

Discharge Side Suction Side (-Ve)

Smooth (inside) outer race (+Ve) Pressure Vacuum
Smooth Top portion and inner race
of Outer race

Damaged Lower
bottom of outer race
(outside portion) ***CBM ROSA***
EQUIPMENT FAILURE REPORT FORMAT NO. 09/06/BD/01

Conclusion

Mode of Failure: - Spalling due to Excessive/high thrust load

Possible Explanation & Supporting facts: - From the above type of damage following three things can
be concluded:-

1. Possible misalignment.
2. Tolerances & Mounting dimensions/Misfit or inappropriate mounting resulting in unequal load
sharing between DE & NDE bearing.
3. Excessive axial thrust load due to cavitations.

 As misalignment was checked and was not present, and there was no presence of 1X or 2X peaks

in the spectrum (in any direction), neither there were any harmonics of running speed

frequency: the above two cases (case no 1 & 2) are ruled out.

 As the failure pattern was same in all the three vacuum pumps-3A, 3B & 4A and also suspected

in Vacuum pump-4B & 2B (though the severity in 4B & 2B is lesser) so the most probable cause

can be cavitations or excessive thrust due to inherent design of the Pump( Which can be

confirmed from OEM)

***CBM ROSA***