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

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

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

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

Some reasons why pumps may end up requiring repairs are due to excessive vibrations. Normally, “Properly installed pumps average 0.71 in/sec overall vibration and have 60 months life.” 1 There are many factors which can cause a pump to vibrate, such as those relating to parts. The parts may be rubbing, old, worn-out or damaged, a base for the pump being too small. Other potential causes for excessive vibration can be pump cavitation 2 , imbalance, vibration from other nearby