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In rotating equipment, excessive vibrations can be a serious source of many problems both to-be and pre-existing. Finding the sources of excessive vibrations in machinery can sometimes be a challenge, though a necessary step to resolve current issues and prevent future downtimes for rotating equipment. This article explores three common causes of vibrations in rotating equipment, such as centrifugal pumps, in an effort to prevent further issues due to excessive vibrations. Th

One of the most useful and under-appreciated inventions in the world of rotating equipment and valves is most definitely the valve actuator. This is because without an actuator, many industrial processes requiring a valve would become much, much more time-consuming, if even still possible at all. Actuators “control the opening and closing of valves. They can provide either linear or rotary motion and work with different types of valves, including ball and butterfly valves.” 1

There are over a dozen different types of flanges commonly used in industrial piping systems, the most common flange being used today is known as a weld neck flange. A weld neck flange is a type of flange which “features a long tapered hub that can be welded with a pipe.” 1  This is done to ensure that none of the product flow is lost or restricted. Among the many versatile uses for a welding flange, its most common application is in piping systems which have great fluctuatio

Anti-corrosion coatings are nothing more than protective finishes which ensure that they are protected against corrosion from the caustic or otherwise corrosive materials which pass through them. As simple in design as they are, though, they can be in many cases a pillar of a piece of rotating equipment’s integrity and durability over time. Anti-corrosion coatings are typically of a polymer construction, known sometimes as an epoxy. An epoxy is “a polymeric material used in a

A good example of why you need aligned parts Alignment is a critical step of building and repairing rotating equipment, such as motors and pumps. A badly aligned pump will  leak ,  vibrate , and destroy itself quickly. Overlooking alignment will end up costing you money in the future in the form of destroyed and damaged equipment. It’s very important to consider the method of alignment, as laser vs dial indicators have different advantages and disadvantages.  Laser Indicators

Often times, seals and gaskets are in very dangerous environments. These environmental factors  damage seals can be acidic (very low pH levels) or caustic (very high pH levels/alkaline). Seals can also face rapid damage, such as warping in shape and cracking/splitting due to being exposed to very high or low temperatures. Extremely high pressures can also have a quite damaging effect on seals, which can destroy the elastomer of a seal and thus even potentially flatten a seal

One of the more prevalent problems for ANSI pumps is corrosion. Corrosion is “The unwanted wastage of metallic materials due to reaction with the environment. The effect includes the loss of strength of material, a change in appearance, change in surface heat transfer and fluid flow properties, contamination, seizure, electrical contact failure, leakage, and general surface damage.” 1 Corrosion can be very difficult to prevent at times, however, if the correct material is us

Shafts are an integral part to centrifugal pumps. Shafts create rotation for the motor, couplings, and the impeller, altogether generating centrifugal force to pump liquids. Therefore, any issues with a pump’s shaft will inevitably lead to not only unnecessary downtimes, but also the potential for more components of the pump, i.e.  the impeller   or  bearings  to become damaged. There are three likely causes for a pump’s shaft to become damaged, namely: excessive vibrations,

A pump cannot be deemed to be “efficient” if it is not pumping its intended level of flow. When a centrifugal pump is not pumping enough liquid, the impediment is usually due to issues relating to the impeller within. This article attempts to briefly describe the four major causes of low flow in pumps.             The first major cause of low flow in a pump relates to having too much clearance. “If clearances are too wide for the type of fluid pumped, excessive slip will occu

An integral component to a centrifugal pump’s functionality is its impeller. Without an impeller, centrifugal force cannot be generated upon the entering liquid. Thus, without an impeller, a centrifugal pump cannot function at all whatsoever. For this reason, proper care is necessary for a pump’s impeller so as to prevent pump downtimes and ensure maximum length of a pump’s continual operation. Damaged impellers can also lead to  low flow in pumps . The top 3 most common caus

Mechanical seals are an integral part of centrifugal pumps. A mechanical seal is used to prevent liquid from leaking from a pump, as well as preventing outside air and contaminants from entering a pump. Typically, a leakage limit is expressed in terms of volume by a measure such as milliliters per hour. Though infrequent, mechanical seal leaks can definitely compromise a pump’s integrity, resulting in a great need for repairing a pump as soon as possible. The top three reason

Gaskets and seals are both an integral part to pumping processes. Though, like everything, gaskets and seals are not indestructible. Both gaskets and seals are designed to be very durable and appropriately applicable under the conditions they are intended for, yet they are still quite susceptible to deterioration over time. The two general reasons for deterioration of a gasket or seal fall into the following two categories: mechanical extremes and chemical extremes.          

Gearboxes are common rotating equipment found in many industries. A gearbox is an enclosed set of rotating gears working together in unison to generate rotating power. Though designed to be durable and capable of working on despite hindrances such as dirt, debris and other contaminants, gearboxes can still fail. There are three main reasons why gearboxes fail: poor lubrication, gear misalignment and gearbox overload.             Most often, gearboxes fail, sometimes catastrop

(Above) Reason 2: Improper installation of packing seal can lead to damage of a shaft due to shaft-sleeve area being impossible to seal. When sealing pumps, there are two major types of seals most frequently used: mechanical seals and packing seals (AKA compression packing). Most of the seals on pumps are mechanical seals, though packing seals are sometimes used instead. Packing is usually chosen over mechanical seals because packing seals are much less expensive, as well as

Source: https://www.ny-engineers.com/hubfs/centrifugalpump.jpg Induction motors are the most common type of motors used in industrial applications. This article focuses specifically on the top 3 major causes of induction motor failure. Induction motors are powered by alternating current electricity. Typically, centrifugal pumps are powered by induction motors, yet there are countless applications in which induction motors can be found. Induction motors are efficient, inexpen

Source: https://imgur.com/SbQmvhJ Bearings are a crucial component for centrifugal pumps. As to be expected, bearings cannot last forever in a centrifugal pump, and eventually, bearings will fail. “This is because pump bearings usually fail from causes other than fatigue” 1 . These causes of bearing failure vary greatly, however, the reasons include “excessive thrust, misalignment, inadequate lubrication, impact, static vibration, insufficient loading and contamination” 2

Source: https://www.dreamstime.com/plastic-diaphragm-pump-various-size-plastic-diaphragm-pump-gas-liquid-image150993340 Diaphragm pumps can be rather useful solutions to pump downtimes. For example, a diaphragm pump can continue pumping when the original centrifugal pump is down. Diaphragm pumps can be employed as a substitute in the short-term to replace a centrifugal pump in need of repairs. A diaphragm pump is “a type of reciprocating pump used to transfer liquids in whi

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/9404332949/in/photostream/ Pressure surging in pumping systems can be fatal and potentially destructive to pumps. Surging is “A sudden increase in the pressure of the liquid in a pipeline brought about by an abrupt change in flow velocity” 1 . The change in pressure can be a drastic increase or a decrease. A surge is also defined as “An unstable operating condition when the flow through a compressor is decreased to the point th

One may look upon any pump and from the outside, contemplate that only the size of any given pump is what separates one pump from another. However, beyond the housing of a pump, the differences between pumps such as their shapes and functions are vastly different: this becomes clearer when the interior of a pump is seen. One key component for a pump which separates one pump from another is the impeller of the pump. An impeller is “the key component of a centrifugal pump.  It

One often overlooked measure to ensure that a mechanical seal can function at its peak efficiency is to properly lubricate the seal. A properly lubricated seal is important because if a seal is not lubricated, it can lead to break-downs of pumps, as well as other potential damages to parts and machines which utilize mechanical seals. When a seal is properly lubricated, however, then it will be much more reliable and lead to fewer breakdowns. Fortunately, “Lubrication related