PUMP

TROUBLESHOOTING
BY Engineer:
AHMED ABDULLAH ZAYED
E-MAIL azayed76@yahoo.com
Tel. 002-010-3583653
 Pump Troubleshooting
Work request seldom state the exact natural
of problem
Three important questions ask by mechanic
to the operator
(1) When the problem begin? suddenly or
gradually?
(2) What changes in pump status occurred?
(3) What steps has the operator taken to
alleviate the problem?
PROBLEMS

Suddenly Gradually
Sudden and complete One or more parts
failure of part or parts wearing
Suction low (Blocked or forget to open the
valve)
High Discharge (Blocked or forget to open the
valve)
Noises
Vibration
High Temperature
Leak
 REMEMBER

Operator checked the valve

Strainer cleaned or changes
Mechanic must double check
Gathering instrument
Copy of manufactures manual
Types Of Symptoms

Heard
Felt
Seen
 Symptoms can be Heard
Loud rattling or Clanging
Broken part (shut down the pump)
Howling or Grinding
Bad bearing, Timing gears ,misalignment or shaft distortion
Violent Chattering
Loss of suction, air bound, low setting of relief valve, weather
very cold and oil not preheated
Growling
Discharge valve partially blocked
High Squealing
Relief valve continuously open
 Symptom can be felt
Excessive Vibration (Vibrometer)
Worn Or Damaged Part
Bearing, Rotor Imbalance, Shaft Bent or out of
Round , Misalignment
Overheating( Pyrometer )
Friction due to
Not proper lubricated Mechanical seals, Bearing,
Timing gear, Rotors
 Symptom can be Seen
Abnormal Reading of Suction And
Discharge gage
First (Check Valve Position- strainer- check gage)
Second (Too high discharge reading)
Blockage downstream
Third (Too low discharge)
Wear or failure parts, Air leak,Partial blocked
suction, Lack of fluid supplies, Loss of
Priming
 Symptom can be seen (cont.)

Leakage
Lubrication Of bearing, Timing
gears, packing, Stuffing box
Air leaks (Pressurization test)
Pipe flanges, Joints, Mechanical
seals, Stuffing box, Gaskets
 Internal Parts Problems

Wear or damage the casing rings (wearing

rings)
Clogging impeller, lantern ring, Gland
sealing
Worn or damage packing materials or
mechanical seal
Breaking shafts
Wear or damage the bearing
Foreign objects broken parts in the casing
Wear or damage impeller
 Cavitation Phenomena
High noises (Rattling sound)
Like marbles rattling inside casing
High Vibration
Gage fluctuation
Pitting inside casing and vanes
 Decreasing inlet suction pressure
Boiling occurs
Bubbles forming in the low pressure area of the
suction eye
Bubbles collapse suddenly at the high pressure
area
Powerful shock waves
Creating dents or pits inside casing and impeller
 NPSH is designed into a pump for
specific range of temperature
If the pump handles fluids within its
available NPSH
NO Cavitations problem
 Operator forgets to open suction valve
Suction line is blocked or partially
blocked
Suction Filter or strainer is blocked
Pump runs too long with discharge valve
shut and recirculation line is clogged
 Fix Technical problem
Decrease fluid temperature
Booster pump
 Operator Checked the valve
Strainer cleaned Or changes
It will save time