Centrifugal Pump Troubleshooting Guide

Table 4-6
Troubleshooting Guide -- Centrifugal Process Pumps
Symptoms
Symptoms
D
C
B
A

Insufficient Disch. Pressure .

Short Bearing Life

Intermittent Operation .

Short Mech. Seal Life

Insufficient Capacity .
No Liquid Delivery .
Possible Causes
# A B
Pump Is Cavitating
1 2 1
(Symptom For Liquid
Vaporizing In Suction
System) -Horizontal
Pumps

Table 4-6 (cont.)

Symptoms
D
F

Vibration & Noise

C
1

F
9

G
1

C
G

Power Demand Excessive

H
H #
Possible Remedies
1
* Check NPSHa/ NPSHr
Margin

B
A

* If Pump Is Above
Liquid Level, Raise
Liquid Level Closer To
Pump

* If Liquid Is Above
Insufficient
2
Immersion Of Suction
Pipe Or Bell
(VertTurbinePump)

Pump Not Primed

Short Bearing Life

Intermittent Operation .
Insufficient Capacity .
#
7

Suction And/Or
Discharge Valve(s)
Closed
Viscosity Too High

Power Demand Excessive

B
3

#
7

Possible Remedies

* Check For Damage

And Clean

In Suction

* Remove All NonCondensibles (Air From

Pump, Piping and
Valves)

Valves
10

4 10

* Use Larger Driver Or

Change Type Of Pump
Specific Gravity Too
High

11

Total System Head

Lower Than Design
Head Of Pump

12

2 11

* Check For Faulty Foot

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

Valve Or Check Valve

1

* Check For Gas/Air

11

3 12

Gas Separation

Chamber
Supply Tank Empty
Obstructions In Lines
Or Pump Housing
Possible Causes

5
6

9
B

7
C

7
E

5
6

* Refill Supply Tank

* Inspect And Clear

Possible Remedies

* Increase System
Resistance To Obtain
Design Flow

* Check Design
Parameters Such As
Impeller Size, Etc.
Total System Head
Higher Than Design
Head Of Pump

13

10

13

* Decrease System
Resistance To Obtain
Design Flow

* Check Design

Ingress Through Suction

System/Piping

* Install

* Slow Pump Down

* Check Design Specific
Gravity

In Suction Piping

* Heat Up Liquid To
* Increase Size Of

* Eliminate High Points

* Shut Down And Open

Discharge Piping To
Reduce Pressure Loss

* Fill Pump And Suction

* Inspect And Clean

* Increase System

* Eliminate High Points

Reduce Viscosity

Piping
Complete With Liquid

Non-Condensibles In
Liquid

Vibration & Noise

No Liquid Delivery .
Possible Causes
Strainer Partially
Clogged
Pump Impeller
Clogged

Short Mech. Seal Life

Suction Pipe
Or Raise Sump Level
Resistance

Insufficient Disch. Pressure .

* Lower

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

SUCTION PROBLEMS

Pump, Increase Liquid

Level Elevation

Symptoms

Parameters Such As
Impeller Size, Etc.
Unsuitable Pumps In
Parallel Operation

14

14

Parameters

Improper Mechanical 15
Seal
Possible Causes

* Check Design

1
A

15

* Check Mechanical

Seal Selection Strategy

Possible Remedies

Centrifugal Pump Troubleshooting Guide

Table 4-6 (cont.)

Table 4-6 (cont.)

Symptoms
D
B
A

Symptoms

Insufficient Disch. Pressure . Short Bearing Life

Symptoms

Intermittent Operation .

Short Mech. Seal Life

Insufficient Capacity .
No Liquid Delivery .
Possible Causes
# A B
Speed Too High
16

E
F

Vibration & Noise

C

C
B

Power Demand Excessive

H
H # Possible Remedies
1 16 * Check Motor Voltage -

17

* Consult Driver

MECHANICAL SYSTEM

Troubleshooting Guide
Wrong Direction Of
Rotation

18 5

Impeller Installed
Backward (Double
Suction Imp.)
Misalignment

19

6 18

* Check Rotation With

Arrow On Casing Reverse Polarity On
Motor

10

12 19

20

7 20

* Inspect
* Check Angular And
Parallel Alignment
Between Pump And
Driver

Casing Distorted
From Excessive Pipe
Strain

21

21

Insufficient Capacity .
# A
25

Short Mech. Seal Life

Vibration & Noise

Power Demand Excessive

B

F
5

G
8

H #
10 25

SYSTEM

Short Bearing Life

Intermittent Operation .

Possible Causes
Mechanical Defects
Worn, Rusted,
Defective Bearings

MECHANICAL

17 4

Insufficient Disch. Pressure .

No Liquid Delivery .

Slow Down Driver

Speed Too Low

Symptoms

Possible Remedies

Inspect Parts For

Defects - Repair Or
Replace. Use Bearing
Failure Analysis Guide

Check Lubrication
Procedures
Unbalance - Driver

26

26

Unbalance - Pump

27

27

Motor Troubles

28

8 10 11 28

* Consult Motor

Possible Causes

Troubleshooting Guide
Possible Remedies

Run Driver
Disconnected From
Pump Unit - Perform
Vibration Analysis
Investigate Natural
Frequency

* Check For
Misalignment

* Check Pump For

Wear Between Casing
And Rotating Elements

Inadequate Grouting
Of Base

22

Bent Shaft

23

22

8 23

* Analyze Piping Loads

* Check Grouting And
Regrout If Required

* Check Deflection
(Should Not Exceed
0.002"). Replace Shaft
And Bearings If
Necessary

Internal Wear

24

Possible Causes

8
A

9 24
E

* Check Impeller
Clearances
Possible Remedies

1-800-767-6700
This material was reproduced from Practical Machinery Management for Process Plants:
Machinery Failure Analysis and Troubleshooting by Heinz P. Bloch and Fred K. Geitner by
permission of the publisher Butterworth Heinemann of 225 Wildwood Avenue, Woburn MA
01801 (www.bh.com). 10% Discount on copies of this book will be offered with this sheet.