SYSTEM

OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Section 8
Pump
 Section Outline

• Introduction
• Centrifugal Pumps
• Pump Operation Basics
• Problems of Inefficient Operation
• Pump Monitoring and Maintenance
• Pump Performance Monitoring
• Pump System Analysis
• Vibration Monitoring
• Bearing Temperature
 Introduction

• A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or

sometimes slurries, by mechanical action. Pumps can be
classified into three major groups according to the method
they use to move the fluid: direct lift, displacement, and
gravity pumps (Wikipedia)
• Direct lift (sewage pumps)
• Dynamic (Centrifugal and special effect pumps)
• Displacement (rotary or reciprocating pumps)

• The centrifugal pump is generally the most economical

followed by rotary and reciprocating pumps.
• Positive displacement pumps are generally more efficient
than centrifugal pumps, the benefit of higher efficiency
tends to be offset by increased maintenance costs.
 Centrifugal Pumps

• A centrifugal pump is a rotating

machine comprised of six main parts
that work together to keep the pump
operating properly.
• They include an impeller, a pump
casing, bearings, a bearing frame, a
shaft, and a mechanical seal.
• The operating principle of the pump
is to convert mechanical energy to
pressure.
• In operation, a rotating impeller
accelerates a liquid and as the area
of the pump casing expands the
velocity of the fluid is converted to
pressure. As a result pressurized
fluid exits the pump discharge.
 Pump Operation Basics

• Best Efficiency Point (BEP), the

flow rate where a pump has its
highest efficiency, is a key
factor to assess whether a
pump is being operated
properly.
• Maintaining a flow between 80
percent and 110 percent of
BEP is a good range to
maximize efficiency and
minimize the risk of excessive
wear or pump failure.
The study determined that average pumping efficiency is
below 40 percent, and more than 10 percent of pumps
were running below 10‐percent efficiency.
 Problems of Inefficient Operation

• Operating to the right of

BEP, a condition known as
“runout,” means that the
flow rate is higher than the
pump was designed to
maintain.
• The high flow increases
the exit velocity of fluid
leaving the pump, which in
turn creates a low pressure
area inside the pump.
 Problems of Inefficient Operation

• Operating to the left of

BEP occurs when the
discharge flow is
restricted, causing fluid to
recirculate within the
pump also creating a low
pressure area which can
lead to increased radial
loading and low flow
cavitation.
 Problems of Inefficient Operation

• In either case, the creation of imbalanced pressure

increases the radial loads on the impeller, which can cause
shaft deflection (the bending of the impeller shaft), which
increases vibration of the pump.
• The vibration and imbalance forces can create stress on the
pump’s internal components most likely to be seen first in
the bearings and/or mechanical seals, the two parts of a
centrifugal pump that fail most often.
• Cavitation is another problem that inefficient pump
operation can cause. It happens when Net Positive Suction
Head (NPSH) the pressure provided at the suction of the
pump less the fluid’s vapor pressure is too low.
 Pump Monitoring and Maintenance

• There are four areas that should be

incorporated in a pump maintenance
program.
• Pump performance monitoring and pump system analysis
• Vibration monitoring
• Bearing temperature
• Visual inspections
• Individually, each of these is important
indicators; collectively, they provide a
complete picture as to the actual condition of
the pump.
 Pump Performance Monitoring

• Ideally five parameters should be monitored to understand how a pump is

performing:
• Suction
• Pressure
• Discharge pressure
• Flow
• Pump speed
• Power
• At a minimum, suction and discharge pressure are essential for
determining the Total Dynamic Head (TDH) of the pump and the
available Net Positive Suction Head (NPSHa). Understanding the pump
TDH is critical to estimating where the pump is running with respect to
BEP.
• There are limitations using just suction and discharge pressure
measurements
• Pump is operated by a variable speed device, pump speed must be factored in using the
affinity laws (TDH is proportional to Speed2).
• Pump wears and internal clearances increase.
 Pump System Analysis

A typical system analysis will include the following information:

• NPSHA
• NPSHR
• Static head
• Friction loss through the system
• A complete review of the piping configuration and valves

The process must also be understood because it ultimately

dictates how the pumps are being operated.

All indicators may show the pump is in distress when the real
problem is it is being run at low or high flows which will
generate high hydraulic forces inside the pump.
 Vibration Monitoring

• Vibration analysis is the cornerstone of all pump

performance monitoring programs.
• The vibration level of a pump is directly related to where it is
operating and in relation to its BEP. The further away from
the BEP, the higher the vibrations will be.
• There is no absolute vibration amplitude level that is
indicative of a pump in distress. However, there are several
guidelines that have been developed as target values that
enable the analyst to set alarm levels.
• Typically, readings are taken on the motor outboard and
inboard bearing housings in the vertical and horizontal
directions and on the pump outboard and inboard bearing
housings in the vertical and horizontal directions.
 Bearing Temperature

• The most accurate method to monitor the actual bearing

temperature is to use a device that will contact the outer race
of the bearing.
• In most circumstances a temperature sensor mounted to the
bearing housing will suffice to alert of possible lubrication
breakdown or lack thereof.
• The other method is the use of an infrared “gun” in which the
analyst aims the gun at a point on the bearing housing where
the temperature reading is going to be taken. This must be
considered when using monitoring the bearing housing
temperature.